We have three daughters who sometimes get moody. When they get moody they get shady. Especially when it comes to doling out affection to those close by like us our even their grandparents. If they haven’t seen them for a while we’ll tell them to give them a hug anyway. To me it shows a sign of respect that you can’t just act “funny” whenever you want because they sure wouldn’t want that feeling returned to them.
CNN writer Katia Hunter doesn’t feel the same.
From CNN:
My daughter occasionally goes on a hugging and kissing strike.
She’s 4. Her parents could get a hug or a kiss, but many people who know her cannot, at least right now. And I won’t make her.
“I would like you to hug Grandma, but I won’t make you do it,” I told her recently.
I figure her body is actually hers, not mine.
The article goes on further to link you forcing your child to give hugs and affection with opening them up to sexual abuse. It then states that there’s no difference between forcing your child to kiss grandma and wanting your daughter to have sex just to make her boyfriend happy. [Blank Stare]
I don’t make or want my kids hugging everyone that they meet on the street but their grandparents… c’mon yall. I think this article is reaching just a lil bit but we’re not here for me, we’re here for the people and your opinions. Please leave us a comment letting us know where you stand on this issue. We would love to hear your point of view.
BMWK check out the article and then let us know where you stand on this. Do you make your kids give affection to grandparents or close relatives when they don’t want to? Does having them do this open them up to sexual abuse?