We’re naked on an as-needed basis in our house, sometimes that means when we’re changing or bathing, and sometimes that means when it’s just too hot for clothes. Recently Matilda has made some new friends, most of them considerably more conservative (socially, not necessarily politically) than our family. I overheard one of them the other day saying, in a matter of fact way, “it’s okay, girls can see girls naked, but boys can’t see girls naked.” While I understand the impulse to help our daughters protect themselves in a society that does sexualize so much of what it means to be a woman, I’m not sure that this rigidity is the way to go. In my experience not very many things are as black and white as that. It’s hard to say for sure since, like you, I have two daughters, but I like to think that if they were boys, I wouldn’t do things much differently.

What I want is for my girls to be comfortable with their bodies and with the bodies of others, I want them to develop an intuitive sense of what is appropriate and what is not, based not on fear and shame, but on understanding, compassion and respect, for themselves, and for others. While it would be naive to say that treating nudity casually at home is the only way to achieve this, it certainly seems like a logical, practical, and loving way.

You, Jenn Mattern, are an excellent mother.

We never close the bathroom door, we wander around naked, we usually all sleep in one bed. Big deal.

Keep your chin up.

Wrong. If you expect controversy, you might know better than to (a) read it and if you really can’t resist, then (b) don’t take it personally. Who cares what total strangers think?

Obviously, I was way wrong to think that Jenn would have ever anticipated that she might get negative comments from the Globe readers. I guess I thought she was a more experienced writer or something. My mistake. I still think it’s a lot of fuss about nothing, both the Globe readers’ reactions and Jenn’s reactions to the readers comments.

My partner and i get naked in front of our toddler regularly.
What i have to say to you is this: You and your tush take down America, me and mine’ll get Canada!

Or to look at their naked asses.

I would recommend the former. Hope things feel better soon.

you’re a fantastic mother and i only wish more parents could be as brave as you are and teach their children that a naked body is nothing more than that…a naked body.

thank you for being brave enough to write this article and for being brave enough to mother your children with such tenderness and absolute love.