Trust your instincts, but there is a healthy compromise you can consider. Otherwise you'll be on here complaining g a year from now that grandma seems closer to the cousins than to your kids. |
Good info here. Sample size: 1. |
+3! I had an uncle who always gave me a creepy vibe, but seriously never laid a hand on me, even innocently. Couple years later, he molested my cousin. |
We "force" our daughter to be polite. She has to give hugs to certain people, and she has to say hello to others. While I understand the argument against doing so, I know my child. She is very much like me, and she is not a people person. It took me to long to learn as an adult that you have to be nice even when you don't feel like it(I usually don't-my instinct is for the world to just leave me alone, except for my family). I would rather she learn that now. |
NP. OP you are spot on correct in your assessment of inappropriate, but you seem to be taking no action to talk to her? AND you need to be teaching your child to use words, not just actions, to say "no I am uncomfortable with having to trade unwanted rouch for approval" in some kid lingo.
Hi Marybetty, Johnny is not looking forward to your visits anymore and I feel bad about that." I suspect she'll ask way and you need to be prepared to say why. You need to express in words clearly and without apology what he cannot. "He is not 'bad' for not touching adults when he doesn't want to. He knows when he is being manipulated and I see it too and it makes me uncomfortable not just for him, but because we are teaching him how not to be manipulated by people, especially for purposed of physical conact." |
+1. |
Being polite doesn't mean hugs and kisses are required. One can be polite by making eye contact and engaging in conversation. Maybe even offering a handshake. But in the real world, adults aren't expected to hug and kiss others against their will. |