kids

"Carrie Bickmore showers with her nine-year-old son. Good on her."

Carrie Bickmore has made headlines by revealing she showers with her nine-year-old son.

Bickmore told her radio co-host Tommy Little yesterday afternoon that she had a double shower in her house, and she often showered with Ollie.

“I’m going to say it’s almost one of my favourite times of the day, because it’s very hard to get a boy, to get a son, to talk to you. Often they… give you one-word answers. ‘How was school?’ ‘Fine.’ ‘How are your friends at school? Good’,” The Project co-host explained.

“But for some reason, when we’re in the shower – Ollie has his shower, I have my shower – we just chat and we talk about everything.

“He tells me what’s going on at school, and I love it. It’s such a beautiful time.”

Bickmore said she didn’t realise there was anything out of the ordinary about it until she was talking to a friend.

Listen: Carrie Bickmore speaks about sharing her private life on our No Filter podcast. (Post continues after audio.)

“She said to me, ‘You’re going to have to stop that pretty soon,’ and I said, ‘Will I?’ and she said, ‘Yes, he’s nine!’” the mum of two continued.

“And then I said, ‘Oh my God, what am I doing? Am I scarring my child?’ And ever since I’ve felt really self-conscious about it.”

Really, no need to feel self-conscious. Bonding time is the best. If you can get a nine-year-old kid to open up about his day at school, you’re a winner. That’s what matters.

Who isn’t naked around their kids when they’re little? It’s the most natural thing in the world. You’re constantly whipping out your boobs to feed them. You hold them under the shower with you when they’re covered in explosive poo and there’s no other way to get them clean. They’re regularly bursting into the toilet while you’re sitting on it because they need to tell you something of vital importance.

Bickmore on set. Photo via Instagram.

Seriously, if your children have never given you their opinion on your boobs or your vajayjay, you're missing out. It is, invariably, hilarious.

Why should there be a time limit on this? At what age should you suddenly get self-conscious and cover up so your child doesn't see your naked body? At the age when your child gets embarrassed by it, I guess. If that never happens, great. I've heard plenty of people talk about their middle-aged parents who still stroll around the house naked.

The more your child gets to see of a real, no-Photoshop, no-filter, post-baby female body, the better.

Remember the fuss in 2015 when Perez Hilton posted an Instagram photo of himself showering with his son? Psychologist Mary Widdicks, who bathes with all three of her young children, wrote a piece in the Washington Post defending him.

"Modern psychology recognises that making something taboo or forbidden often leads to a fixation called the forbidden fruit effect," she pointed out.

"Hiding our bodies from our children as if they are something shameful and illicit reinforces for them that all bodies are dirty and thus subject to dirty thoughts. Instead, we should use bath time as an opportunity to show our children that bodies come in different shapes and sizes, some wrinklier and saggier than others, and that there is nothing strange about noticing some obvious differences in the genders."

So there you go. Carry on showering.

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Top Comments

Iggy Crash 7 years ago

Eh, if they have a double shower who cares? Makes sense to me, saves time etc.
Nudity is not inherently sexual.


clare 7 years ago

There is nothing wrong with it, my son is 11 and although he now showers on his own he is still very happy to chat to me whilst I'm showering and vice versa, they will let you know when its uncomfortable for them. My husband also has no issue with this, with his son and 8 year old daughter. I would much rather they be comfortable with his body and nudity and also know what a 40 year old woman's body looks like, complete with a few dimples, rolls and breast cancer scars!

guest 3.7 7 years ago

It's not all about you though, then again you are not famous like Carrie and just like the rest of us here.

As a former 9 year old boy I can assure you this sets the lad up for difficulties and that is my concern, which is for the child.

I don't care if you are 40 and have dimples and rolls, you are an adult and can deal with it. This is putting him directly in the spotlight amongst his peers and that attention is not going to be appreciated.

clare 7 years ago

sorry how is he in the spotlight?

clare 7 years ago

ok i get it now you mean carrie's son will be in the spotlight due to this information coming to the medias attention, might of wanted to clarify that better. i can understand your point of view but you cant shelter your children from everything and i do believe those years of personal chats whilst in the bathroom and lessons of accepting ones body and we are all made differently far out way any repercussions, but that's just my opinion as a parent :-)