A mother has sparked a debate after revealing that she refuses to let her seven-year-old son use public men's restrooms alone.
Parenting can be a thankless task, with everyone having different opinions on how a child should be raised when really everyone is just taking each day as it comes.
One thing all parents can agree on is that the safety of children is of paramount importance but how this is implemented in day-to-day life varies from family to family.
One mother has revealed that she doesn't allow her seven-year-old son to use public restrooms by himself on the off chance "someone dodgy" approaches him.
Posting on Mumsnet, the British mother penned: "When we're out and my boy needs the toilet, I make him come into the Ladies with me. Problem is, he's starting to complain about it and wants to go in the Gents on his own.
"I have let him do this in one particular place where there's never anyone about, so I knew he wouldn't encounter anyone at the urinals. I'm always honest with him but I don't quite know how to explain why I'm not letting him do this anywhere else, like at the swimming pool/gym toilets.
"He knows about the Pants rules and personal space and consent but I don't exactly want to spell out what I'm worried about. What do you tell your kids?"
The concerned mother further clarified her stance by adding: "He has just turned 7. Obviously, he's perfectly able to use a toilet himself, but the idea of him seeing grown men using urinals, or - even if it's a small chance - someone dodgy approaching him, worries me.
She continued: "We all know there are flashers and worse about, I saw them when I was a kid and so did most women I know. At some point he just won't agree to go in the ladies, hopefully by then he'll be ready to handle any bad situations."
The post was met with mixed responses from viewers, with some understanding of the mother's worries. One person said: "I think 8 is probably the oldest I’d let mine in the Ladies but I do remember how scary it was to start letting him!"
Others believed that the mom is being paranoid and that her son is too old to be venturing into the women's toilets with him.
A viewer commented: "You’re going to have to get comfortable with it sooner than later. He won’t be able to go into the ladies for that much longer."
Another sarcastically responded: "At what point will you allow him to go to the gents? A special outing on his 18th birthday?"
There were some genuine suggestions in the comments, as someone said: "Let him go to the gents and you stand outside. Tell him to scream if somebody stops him from leaving. Otherwise, continue with your stranger danger teachings. He's got to learn to go by himself at some point."
What do you think? Should a seven-year-old boy be allowed to go into public restrooms by himself?
