Hi, Steven, Just a few opinions/thoughts about your situation.
First off, being a psychologist does not mean a person has good boundaries, or that they have professional ethics or behavior. Sometimes people are attracted to a career to work out their own issues. (I'm a massage therapist, and I have seen this in my own field. Some people have great professional boundaries, and some, er, do not. )
Obviously, it would have been more appropriate for her to ask if it was "okay", before bathing with your son. (I'm assuming from your post that you would have said, emphatically, "NO"!) In theory I have nothing against an adult bathing with a 2 year old child if there is an established understanding of trust between all concerned. However, secretly doing it with someone else's child, without asking first, and without really getting to know or being known by the parent sounds really, really inappropriate. BTW, did you tell her it was not okay, the first time, then she did it again, later? If so, it sounds illegal, unethical and immoral.
When it comes to children, some women have a huge unmet need for a bond that their bodies are hard-wired for, and have been known to do really inappropriate things.
Another question: do you know for sure that she is certified as a psychologist and currently licensed? I don't want to alarm you, but how do you know she is legit, if she is not currently in practice? You may be able to go on line and find out something about her record as a therapist.
I would get the hell out of your living situation, if you are not able to constantly monitor her behavior with your son. If you think more went on than bathing, you might want to seek out professional help to make sure no damage occurred.
I realize that you may be in circumstances that make it hard to simply pack up and move, so I'm not making these suggestions lightly, however in cases where a child's emotional development is at stake it is probably better to err on the side of protecting the child. If it was a man with a daughter, my guess is you would have already called the cops, Child Protective Services, etc.. right?
I've had female roommates and even ones with young daughters and in general they were extremely careful and protective. Even innocent attention from a man towards a young girl is often looked upon in alarm. If a male took an unauthorized bath with a female roommate's infant daughter, he'd be in the slammer in short order.
You don't have to take my opinion as authoritative advice, but please seek out a real child therapist with experience with this sort of thing and get a professional opinion. If you can't afford it I'm sure there are low or no-cost counselors you can talk with. I'm just speaking as a parent who cares about kids getting to grow up without adults messing with their natural development, too much.
Scott.
I have caught a roomate of mine taking a bath with my 2 yr old son.First time she did I walked in on her and my son naked.She at that point asked me if it was o.k. after she had already done it.The second time I caught her in her bathroom with my son both of them were naked in the bathtub.I immeadately told my son to get up out of the bath!I am confused because she is Psychologists.Is this appropiate behavior for a Doctor of Pyschology.I have been working for this lady for the past 30 days.Living with her since the 2nd of February.Its only been a little time since we met her .She is a a doctor in Pyschology.Is this appropiate behavior?
She says she has been divorsed twice,out of work for 5 years (disabled with fibromyalgia)?Can she practice and diagnose people if she has this disease and what should I do about her talking a bath with my two year old son?
Thanks for feedback
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