9 yr old son caught wearing 10 yr old sister underwear

[mommy2_5]

During a visit to the ER with my son (fell off bike and landed - ribs first - on handlebars), they needed to take his shorts down to examine his abdomen. He at first resisted but it needed to be done quickly so I helped loosen his belt and he kept insisting he wanted to do it by himself. To my shock, he was wearing a pair of his older sister's underwear (she's 10) over his own underwear. I didn't say anything to him right then and there but when the Dr. stepped out I calmly asked him why he was wearing them. He at first said he didnt know, he then said they were just in his shorts already (and his legs magicaly fell into them??). I said that I wasn't mad, I just wanted to know why...he said "look at that commercial on the tv mom!" So he clearly didn't want to talk to me about it and i didn't want to push him considering he might be sitting there with a broken rib or lacerated splean.

Over the past few years, maybe since he was 6 or 7, I've found a pile of mine or my daughters undergarments stashed in his room. It puzzled me and I asked him casually about it but no real answer from him. I just said that it wasn't nice to take people's things.

This is the first time I've seen him wearing them and I'm more interested/concerned about why he is doing it more than him actually doing it. More than anything, my heart breaks for him because he must feel 'abnormal'...he must feel that doing this isn't right and it's hurting his self esteem!

I don't know how to help him or why he is doing this. I just want him to feel like a normal little boy. Is this normal? Should I be concerned? He is a well liked child, many friends, very boyish (skateboards, bikes, video games), good in school, he dresses in all the skater dude gear...the only feminine quality he has is being the most sensitive child of out of the five (easily has feelings hurt, most in tune with how others are feeling, caring, sensitive) He's also always been a very curious child (but I have others that are too)

[margypops]

I felt your hurt and caring in your post ,you know this could be as simple as a mild sexual feeling he has, perhaps the under wear looks attractive and he likes to look and feel it, as you say he is a curious and my guess, an intelligent child,I bet he doesnt even think about being abnormal, guys dont really think things out do they? You could for your self have a more detailed chat with him but my guess is this will pass and if it doesnt ,he's still your Boy and always will be.