For the past six months or so, my six year old has been complaining about coming into the ladies restroom with me. I have continued to explain to him that because I can’t go into the men’s bathroom, he has to come with me to the ladies bathroom. In the past couple of weeks, he’s become more agitated about it. Over the past weekend, every time he came with me into the ladies bathroom, I noticed him behaving strangely. I realized that each time he saw another female child, he would hide behind me. His anxiety level was high and all he wanted to do was get out of there.

My husband talked to him about it and promised that by the time he was seven, he could go into the men’s restroom by himself. I have to admit that freaks me out a bit. I frankly don’t trust other men in the restroom. It’s really hard for me to send my child off alone where I can’t see him. Honestly, there are just too many people with evil intentions out there for me to feel comfortable.

I know I have to gradually let go and allow him to step out there in the world but this is a hard one for me. From time to time I’ll let him go into a men’s restroom if we’re in a small restaurant and not many people are coming and going. But places like Disney World and the Turnpike plaza and other large places freak me out.

Honestly, am I crazy and overprotective?