7 yo boy obsessed with marrying me (mom)

[blueliliflower]

I'm beginning to get concerned, my 7 yo son has been wanting to marry me for a few years now and gets extremely jealous when he sees my husband and I embracing for any reason.  He usually comes immediately over and says "No, me, me, me!" He's constantly talking about "having sex" and "making out with me" though to him this just means kissing and hugging a lot.  He tries to kiss me on the mouth and I constantly have to remind him I'm his mother and that is inappropriate. Not only that, lately he's obsessed with talking about his butt and penis, randomly incorporating these words into everything he says in very disturbing ways.  He says he does not talk like that at school and when I ask why he does it at home, he says because he can...though I beg to differ. This has gone way beyond the typical fart, poop and pee jokes that seem to be so common around kids.

Is it time to seek professional help on this issue?

[Sumanadevii]

I had a seven year old that was not attentive in his classroom.  The teacher told me that he was spending his day socializing.  Imagine my surprise to find he had married a little girl in the class...complete with a bridesmaid and best man.  He was busy protecting her and making sure SHE was completing her work!   We soon found there were four married "couples"....I had a serious talk with him.  I told him it was inappropriate for his age and to find a different game.  His answer?  "But I love it, Mom.  I love being married."...Kids are kids.  They grow up and eventually understand what marriage is...As for kissing you on the mouth, many families kiss on the mouth (including mine) and see nothing sexual about it.

[OHRPh]

I hate to alarm you, but these sound like signs that he may have been sexually abused. His fear of being alone in a room, along with all the sex talk and mentioning of his private parts...all of it fits in with it. I would have him examined by a medical doctor ASAP. Even if medical signs are not found, he may still have been abused or subjected to something inappropriate in some way. So if the medical findings are inconclusive, I'd still follow up by taking him to a child therapist and expressing your concerns.

[yngdad]

Sorry, my last message was meant for u. (Still getting used to how this site works) I just read where u said ur son is afraid to be alone. That is normal in some kids. My oldest son still sleeps with me and absolutely refuses to sleep in his own room. Just keep reasurring him that there is nothing there and he will be ok and u will be right down the hall if he needs u.

I'm a male and I'm still trying to figure out the boy thing.lol

[blueliliflower]

Thank you! Your response has been very helpful...I'm still figuring out the boy thing :D.

[yngdad]

U say u don't think he has been exposed to anything sexual, then there is nothing serious to worry about. Kids like to talk about marrying their parents because they don't quite understand how that works yet. As for him talking about his butt and penis, it is a boy thing. I have 3 sons and raised my little brother. The normal fart, poop, pee, burpinh jokes are now accompanied by body part talk. Tv and music are main influences on that. It isn't right that he talks about having sex with u though. But, as long as he thinks its kissing and hugging it is alright. U should start worrying when he knows what real sex is.

[blueliliflower]

This child has pretty much been with me since the day he was born.  I'm a stay home mom and very engaged in my kids lives.  I really don't think he's been exposed to anything inappropriate. He knows about sex only in that he knows that's how babies are made and it involves hugging and kissing but no further details than that. He knows about kissing on the mouth from seeing weddings and I'm sure the occasional mild movie kiss...think every Disney movie that ends with the princess kissing the prince. Everything else is just his basic anatomy that he talks about way too much.

There is one other thing...he is very fearful of being in a room by himself or going to another room on his own. This has been a whole other challenge.

He is a very bright boy...I'm wondering if reading the whole Harry Potter series at 6-7.5 years of age was too much for him...maybe causing too much anxiety.  But really he's had the fearfulness for longer than that.

Thank you for your responses. I shall pursue further help on this.

[AnnieBrooke]

What has happened to him out of your supervision that he would be using such sexualized imagery?  A lot of little boys want to marry their mommy (or, in the case of one three-year-old I know, want to marry their mommy and daddy), but that is just what they say to express the desire for permanent family togetherness.  Your son is sounding like he has been exposed to some more explicit sexual imagery or ... who knows.  Anyway, it might be a good idea indeed to seek professional advice.

[anshu11]

sorry ma'am
seek a child psychiatrist as soon as you can.It must been torturing you.