Were you encouraged to kiss relatives as a child

[Anonymous]

If so, at times were these people you preferred not to kiss. Were you kissed or hugged by people that you didn’t want contact?
I am NOT talking about molestation. So please let’s not go there.
Today, do you encourage your kids to kiss aunties and uncles? If not, why?

[Anonymous]

Yes, I was very much encouraged to hug and kiss my elderly great aunts and uncles. I never had an issue with it, especially because I could tell it pleased my parents and grandparents when I did it. I would never ask my children to do that, though, and they never did.

[Anonymous]

I was encouraged to say hello and goodbye. If I chose to do that with a huge or kiss that was up to me. I didn't like kissing my two uncles when they grew facial hair but that was just a few times. No relatives ever pushed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I was very much encouraged to hug and kiss my elderly great aunts and uncles. I never had an issue with it, especially because I could tell it pleased my parents and grandparents when I did it. I would never ask my children to do that, though, and they never did.

My mother was all into that and in hindsight, I now understand it was all about her wanting to impress her relatives with daughters who were “perfect little ladies” and knew how to “properly” greet their mother’s relatives (we hardly knew). I don’t make my kids do any such thing because it grossed me out as a kid and made me feel powerless against my mother’s wishes.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I hated it. Never, ever made my own kids kiss anyone.

[Anonymous]

Never. We also never hugged or kissed in our family. Our relatives were the same. I would not have wanted them to and glad it did not happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never. We also never hugged or kissed in our family. Our relatives were the same. I would not have wanted them to and glad it did not happen.

Are you Asian? The only families I know of that don't show physical affection are.

[Anonymous]

Yes and I would never do that to my own children it’s a stupid thing

[Anonymous]

I'm French, so kissing on both cheeks is in our culture. But my parents allowed me to wiggle out of the embraces and kisses of relatives, thank goodness.

[Anonymous]

Big Irish family here. As kids, my cousins and I would make the circuit of the room and kiss all the old folks on the cheek when it was time to leave. The grannies might give us a little squeeze (as they slipped a dollar or two “for a treat” into our hands) It never bugged me because it felt no more affectionate than shaking hands.

[Anonymous]

Yes but also people did this too and more hugs than kisses.

[Anonymous]

I hated it as a child. Worse yet, it was people that we didn't even know that well. It was not my grandparents or my aunts and uncles. It was my parents' uncles, aunts, and others who weren't related. We scrambled away from that. Once I was dragged by my arm to kiss a relative or be kissed by them. No more. My kids were told NOT to kiss and hug strangers or anyone they did not want to kiss or hug.

[Anonymous]

My parents had me “say goodnight/goodbye to grandma and grandpa”. I could hug or kiss if I wanted to. I never minded. I have my kids do the same.

[Anonymous]

Thoughtful parents know not to force their kids into physical contact when kids don’t want to.

[Anonymous]

Kiss, no. But hugging on arrival/departure was the norm. My husband’s family does neither, but he also has pretty much no extended family, whereas I’ve got extended cousins out the wazoo and all were just cousins regardless of the actual relationship.