DEAR ABBY: Last year a family with three children the ages of ours (5, 7 and 11) moved to our block. These are the nicest kids you could imagine. Our children get along famously with them.
After a month or two, their mom mentioned that they normally skinny-dip in their pool and wondered how we felt about our kids doing so when they were visiting. When I explained that we believe in keeping the body private, she assured me that they would be clothed whenever we visited, and nothing more was said about it.
We have socialized with them throughout the year and really enjoyed it. In addition to their swimming naked, I was told that everyone in their family sleeps in the nude, so I can only assume they walk around naked from time to time.
My husband and I began wearing nightclothes when our first child was nearing 2 because we were both raised to believe that exposing oneself to children was harmful. Yet I keep wondering if it is so harmful, why is this family so well-adjusted?
Frankly, my husband and I would like to sleep in the nude again and I would like to skinny-dip in their pool, but I'm confused as to what is right and wrong. Can you help? -- ELLEN C. IN VALENCIA, CALIF.
DEAR ELLEN: There is no "right" or "wrong" here. How one feels about nudity is a personal decision.