I’m the dad of a 14-year-old boy. Growing up, my parents were very closed off and distant, so I never felt comfortable asking them personal questions, which honestly hurt me quite a bit. I promised myself that if I ever became a parent, I’d make sure my kid felt comfortable talking to me about anything. So recently, my son came to me and said he wanted to shave down there but was scared he might cut himself. He asked how to do it. I asked him if he wanted me to show him, and he said yes. So I showed him the process. He said, “Thanks, Dad,” and that was that. On one hand, I’m proud that I created the open environment I always wanted growing up. On the other hand, I can’t help but wonder if people around me would think it crossed a boundary.
How would that even come up in conversation? Or how would the people around you know?
True, it’s probably just my overthinking working overtime. As a parent you’re always up for criticism, so that’s probably what’s causing it.
Hey man, I appreciate your post for setting an amazing example of what being a father is. Some young men are reading this and seeing all these supportive comments, and that’s going to inform how they behave if they become fathers someday. So, thank you for posting your question. It’ll probably end up helping a lot more people than just your son.