An old letter about an old aunt

[brandon]

One of syndicated advice columnist Ann Landers\' last columns

At the time, my reaction was \"ewww, I sure wouldn\'t want to see my great aunt sunbathing naked.\"  But I\'m trying to be more mature now.  I think a better answer might have been to have separate \"Girls\" and \"Boys\" hours while the aunt was visiting.  I realize I\'m being ageist and not upholding naturist values of acceptance.

As for Ann Landers\' advice, \"I do not believe it is wise to have your teenage daughters running around nude in front of their father and adolescent brother...\"

I disagree with her comment, but I imagine she received 100 letters from victims of incest for every letter about nude family sunbathing, so I can understand why she said that.

[BeNdY]

I suppose a reply or response, even from the family involved would depend on how one was raised, or what we are used to perhaps. In my family, I live with my grandparents who are a bit older (but don\'t look it honestly) than the great aunt mentioned here. We have almost always changed, showered, ect without closing the doors. Best example is when we go to a hotel overnight, we don\'t all wait to change in the small bathroom one by one, because that would be a waste of time. More recently my grandparents have gotten pretty causal just like me, and will shower, then go down to watch a couple hours more TV in the nude before heading to bed. It\'s possible that me not owning pajamas is what inspired them? Maybe!

[Danee]

This is so typical of Ann Landers......(her response).  We certainly would not want our teenage daughters RUNNING AROUND NUDE in front of their brothers or father now would we?  But hold up....note she said nothing about her 12 year old BOY ahem..running...around nude in front of their sisters did she?  *Gasp*

My advice would be to sit down with the guys and say: You boys are idiots. You boys are hypocritical and you boys need to reaaaaaaaaally examine your supposedly open minded rationale for being ok with family nudity.  You obviously engage in it, support it, for all the wrong reasons.  

In the likely event that the link becomes one that one has to register for to read in the near future (most newspapers allow it as a link for awhile, then put in in their archives and one has to register to access it), I am pasting the story here.  
DEAR ANN LANDERS: MY 63-YEAR-OLD WIDOWED AUNT LIVES ALONE AND HAS FEW FRIENDS. WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CLOSE, AND LAST SUMMER, I INVITED HER TO SPEND TWO WEEKS WITH MY FAMILY. I EVEN PAID FOR HER AIRLINE TICKET. SHE WAS A PERFECTLY LOVELY HOUSEGUEST, AND MY TEENAGE GIRLS ADORED GETTING TO KNOW THEIR GREAT-AUNT BETTER.
 Here\'s the problem: We have a backyard swimming pool, and the entire family often sunbathes in the nude. My aunt, in an effort to \"fit in,\" decided she would get an all-over tan along with the rest of us. I admired her willingness to show her body in front of the family. Her informal poolside attire didn\'t bother me, but apparently, it was a problem for my husband and 12-year-old son. They did not want to see my aunt walking around without her clothing and asked me to make sure it didn\'t happen again.
 My daughters have invited my aunt for another visit. My husband insists I tell her to wear a swimsuit this time. I am certain it would hurt her feelings if I made her dress while the rest of us skinny-dipped. My aunt was thrilled to be treated like a member of the family, and I don\'t want to make her feel less welcome. Should I do what my husband asks, or should I tell him to turn his head and look the other way? -- Malibu, Calif., Niece
 DEAR MALIBU: APPARENTLY, YOUR HUSBAND IS NOT AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY NUDIST. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS WISE TO HAVE YOUR TEENAGE DAUGHTERS RUNNING AROUND NUDE IN FRONT OF THEIR FATHER AND ADOLESCENT BROTHER. THIS TIME AROUND, EVERYONE SHOULD WEAR A SWIMSUIT. PERIOD.

[Godzilla]

I thought Ann Landers died about 5 years ago from old age?  Isnt her daughter taking over?

Anyway, sounds like the same old \"its ok for men and boys to be naked together, but not with women.  Its also ok for girls and ladies to be naked together, but not with men.\" BS routine.  

I want to be an advice columnist.  I imagine the pay is good, the work isnt hard, and all I have to do is pass out crappy advice to people I dont know.

Sounds like politics.

[BeNdY]

Ann Landers replied:

\"I\'m as baffled as you are... As long as you trust the mother of these girls to supervise for the duration of the party, I see no harm in it.\"

I have seen some of those columns where Ann Landers replied in positive way towards nudity, usually in same sex situations or among parents and children only untill they reach puberty. I wonder why she didn\'t see the potential behind a healthy nudist family with children of any age which will help to promote positive nudist values for generations to come.