If you’ve been to Times Square lately, you probably couldn’t help but notice all of the costumed performers dressed as a wide array of characters from Mickey Mouse and Buzz Lightyear to the Naked Cowboy (who is actually wearing something on the bottom, by the way). If they happened to stop to snap a photo with you, they expect a tip. Many, many street performers make their living this way, but these days, there’s more controversy on the streets of New York than the basic hustle. The appearance of Desnudas are on the rise here and lots of people aren’t happy about it.

What’s a Desnuda you ask? The word means naked in Spanish and has become a popular term for the women “dressed up” in body paint and working in Times Square alongside Elmo and Spiderman. Parents aren’t the only ones outraged by this new trend in one of NYC’s hottest tourist spots—local law enforcement and city officials are unimpressed as well. The problem for those angered by the presence of the Desnudas, however, is that going topless is completely legal in New York City, so there’s absolutely nothing that can be done to prevent them from being there.

I can see why parents are outraged by this. Proponents of the experience are arguing that the body paint is an expression of art, but I call bull. While body painting can be used as artistic expression, there’s nothing artistic about a painted on bikini top or nipple pasties. Many of us try to teach our children modesty and that private parts are supposed to be private; this task can be much more difficult when you pass semi-nude women on the street while on a family vacation.

Or is it? In all reality, the Desnudas aren’t going anywhere, so maybe it’s a good opportunity to bring this topic to the attention of your children and start a real conversation. I know simply seeing moms breastfeeding in public has triggered some awkward stares from my young son, and we’ve had to talk about privacy, body parts, what those body parts are supposed to be used for and physical safety. I can only imagine what that conversation would look like if he spotted nearly naked women walking around on the street.

(Side note: I’ve breastfed my babies and done so in public, so this isn’t a shot at nursing mommas or a comparison between feeding your baby and going topless for tips. My point is that bodies are natural, they’re out there and we, as parents, need to be having these tough conversations with our kids.)

#FreeTheNipple has become a strong movement in countries around the world with women going topless in many big cities to protest the sexualization of breasts in modern society—especially when it comes to breastfeeding. The way we view the human body is constantly changing, and maybe a family vacation in the Big Apple is as good a time as any to impart to our children, that hey, breasts are just another body part. No need for all the fuss.

In the case of Times Square Desnudas, some are hailing them not only as a “non-problem”, but as a welcome addition to the atmosphere that makes NYC the vibrant, diverse place that it is.

Not all parents will agree with my sentiment here, and that’s ok. One of the beautiful things about living in the Unites States is that we have the right to our own opinions and that (mostly) extends into our child rearing practices. The freedoms that allow us to raise our little ones the way we choose are also the freedoms that allow these ladies to hang out in Times Square with nothing but paint to shield their breasts from the public eye. The Desnudas aren’t leaving New York any time soon, so it’s up to each parent to decide if Times Square is an appropriate place to visit with their kids on a family vacation.

Would you take the kids?