Me and my DP are naturists.  My two SKs (9 SD and 11 SS) are also naturists as is DPs ex wife.  So no problems there.  My ex has a real problem with our lifestyle and does not approve of our children (8 DS and 10 DD) partaking in naturist activities either in our own home or on naturist activities.  At home we are predominantly without clothes as are the children.  We go on some amazing holidays and meet a lot of likeminded people year on year and the kids play with all the other kids so a good time is had by all. 

We are not doing anything wrong but my ex is turning really nasty and saying inappropriate things to our children when they see him.  He is starting to poison their minds and he is ridiculing our lifestyle choice which is beginning to have an effect on their selfconfidence.  He is putting them in a difficult place for them to deal with.

I have the support of the naturist community but am interested to know what outsiders think.  I think my ex is being totally unreasonable but what do you think?

My ex is very stuck in his ways he would never try new things when we were married preferring to stick with the tried and tested which bored me to tears and was one of the reasons I left him and found a more 'alternative' lifestyle with more tolerance attached.  I've suggested mediation, but he won't even try that and my ex is stepping up the threats by instructing his solicitor to write to us to say I am an unfit mother and our lifestyle is not suitable for children etc.

I wish he could be more tolerant.  There's a huge world out there and he lives in a bubble with familarity and poopoos anything different.  The children spend more than 85% of their time with me, DP and the SKs and they thrive in the naturist environment.  Ex is being a swine and being his usual smallminded self.

If I'm entirely honest I can see where your ex is coming from, it would make me uncomfortable. The main reason is it's a lifestyle choice and thus if he doesn't agree with that lifestyle then you're going to have a major clash when his children become involved in it. Tolerance is more accepting that something happens, doesn't mean you have to like it. Does he accept that you're a naturist? If so is it only because he doesn't want his kids involved in it and that's the problem? If that is the case I wouldn't say it's because he's intolerant..he might just wants his kids to maybe fit the social norm.

It could be much more deep rooted however, he may very well feel uncomfortable that his children are naked around adults who are naked as well. For people outside the naturist community it may be difficult to understand. As I said it's not something I'd be comfortable with if it was my children but again I'm not involved in that life style and the unknown is scary. He may very well just have to come to terms with it but if he really disagrees with it then you're unlikely to come to a compromise.

(Sorry that this is short and rather badly written, in rush for work :) )

I'm sorry to say that I too would feel uncomfortable with the idea and wouldn't feel happy about my children leading this life style.  I admit that this is probably due to ignorance rather than intolerance. 

I'm not sure what to suggest as it would appear a compromise may be hard to reach but please understand that your ex is not alone in his views and try to have more patience whilst perhaps teaching him more about your lifestyle and in time maybe he will accept it more if the children are indeed happy in that environment.

Good luck

Angel x

I too wouldn't feel comfortable with this sort of lifestyle for children. As adults we can make a good well informed decision on the lifestyle we'd like. For a life style such as this, I feel children shouldn't be involved until they completely understand what it all involves - so preferably making this decision once they are 16 years old. Just my opinion of course.

Their father has a 50% right to decide upon their current and future lifestyle so his opinions should be heard. Plus the amount of child abusers being found on the news it would also worry me that children were openly naked around grown adults. It doesn't sit well with me I'm afraid.

As adults, yes choose to live your life however you like. But as for children, they are guided by their parents and unfortunately you will both have to compromise somewhere as you both want different things for your children.