Tracy: Let’s talk about nakedness and your kid

Tracy Levinson of "Dock 2" said of childhood nakedness, "When our kids were babies, my husband and I used to laugh when they would run around the house naked as jaybirds before bath time. I also adored it when they shook their cute baby bottoms to the tune of 'Shake Your Booty!'"

Nakedness is not bad. It’s a matter of where it is appropriate and healthy. So many people have a story of being touched inappropriately as a child; it is a parents’ nightmare.

Tracy shared, "I remember being about nine years old. I had a new friend spend the night at my house. We had a fantastic time. But the next morning, after pancakes and eggs she pulled me aside and began to cry, begging, 'Can I stay longer?'"

When Tracy asked her, “Why?” she responded, “If I tell you, would you promise not to tell anyone?” Tracy childishly agreed, and her friend began to share how her new teenage step-brother would make her take baths with him. Then she began to describe the behaviors he would make her do. Tracy was little and had never heard of such things, but something in her conscience knew that what she was describing was terribly wrong.

Tracy said, "I had met the step-brother, and I was furious to the point of shaking. When her mother wouldn’t let her stay longer that day, I felt helpless -- helpless to protect my friend, helpless because I wanted to tell my mom and I wanted her mom to protect her. But I had bound myself to a promise that I felt trapped to keep. Looking back, I wish I had told my mother."

Every once in a while, as Tracy would bathe her kiddos, she would ask in a strong, fun, winsome way (to not to scare them, but to empower them,) “Can anybody touch your privates?” And they would say, “NO!!!!!” And then she would would say, “And if anyone ever tries?” And then they each seriously, and in a fun way, mimicked hard core fighting and karate moves.

In general, Tracy's family doesn't hit. However, the kids were were taught that in the area of protecting their nakedness and body parts that they had full parental empowerment to hit, bite, and be LOUD.

Tracy said, "I also, not often, throughout their childhood would matter-of-factly ask them if anyone had ever tried to touch them. Never probing, but attempting to create a safe place for anything coming to light."

If any of you reading this have had a struggle yourself in this area or something has occurred to your precious kid, Tracy encourages you to seek out some healthy council from a wise and compassionate counselor. To dig deeper into this topic, visit Focus on the Family.