Childhood Was This Normal?

[Gs172003]

When I think it was the age of 10, I used to draw pictures of nude women for the boys across the street and give them to them. Keep in mind this was way before the internet and we didn't have cable. I don't know where I got that idea from I just remember doing it. Is that normal at that age?

 

[Gs172003]

And now I wish I hadn't posted this

 

[PointlessExistence]

It's not "normal" as in most girls don't do it. But just how odd it really was would depend on your motivation. Being lonely and using your artistic skills as a way to get friends seems rather harmless and innocent, even if the pictures were of naked women. On the other hand, if there was sexual abuse that drove you towards drawing naked pictures and/or there was some sexual excitement you received from the idea of the boys being aroused by your pictures, then it's a whole different story.

 

[BlueOrange]

My impression is that it fits within normal; which is to say that I can imagine a healthy 10-year-old doing it.

I expect a ten year old to be naive, and to want to get along with their neighbors. I expect young boys to be fascinated by images of naked women. There's a good chance that you might have heard them talking about wanting some nudie pictures.

As soon as they found out that you could provide the pictures, I'm sure that they would have encouraged you to do it.

So, yeah, sounds normal to me.

 

[Gs172003]

It's not "normal" as in most girls don't do it. But just how odd it really was would depend...

I gave it to them because I knew they would like them. Other than that I don't know, my life has quite a few blanks.

 

[Gs172003]

My impression is that it fits within normal; which is to say that I can imagine a healthy 10-year-ol...

I don't remember them asking. What I don't know is how I got the information for the pics or the idea of giving them to the boys. I also remember me and the girls a few houses down dancing naked for them in the basement. The boys were outside watching while we were downstairs. I have no memory of who's idea that was.

 

[PointlessExistence]

If you knew they would like them, then to me that's totally normal. But I think it's something to explore if you could fill in some of those blanks and get back there in your mind.

 

[Gs172003]

And now I'm thoroughly embarrassed.

 

[Gs172003]

I guess I should say I knew because they were male they would like it not because I knew them if that makes sense.

 

[BlueOrange]

if ... or there was some sexual excitement you received from the idea of the boys being aroused by your pictures, then it's a whole different story.

I think it's important to separate 'average' from 'normal' here. And so, being excited by anticipated responses from the boys... I think we need to be careful about how we judge that.

10 is definitely early to be having sex, but my recollection of late primary school is that everyone was starting to experiment with concepts of boyfriends and girlfriends, and that sexual arousal was starting up in confusing ways.

Any behavior can be caused by pathology, and any behavior can be a problem if carried too far. But the vast majority of behaviors are (in and of themselves) normal. Please let's be really careful about activating shame and guilt.

 

[Gs172003]

This was 32 years ago so I could be fuzzy too.

 

[BlueOrange]

I guess I should say I knew because they were male they would like it not because I knew them if th...

And I think that shows an understanding of boys. One you start looking at girls and having erections (which started around age 10 for me), then it starts taking over your brain.

If you drew one naked woman and gave it to a boy who was fascinated by it, then it would not take a genius to work out that it's an easy way to become popular.

If I were a parent in that situation, then I'd want to shut down that activity, but that's much more about worrying re social consequences.

If you were giving the pictures to men (not boys), then I'd be worried that you were being abused. If you were seriously older than the boys, I'd worry that you were being predatory. But as described? It sounds like a young person working out the mysteries of gender relations by finding ways to be popular with the opposite sex. Nothing pathological from the information currently available.