The relationship we build with our grandparents can be one of the purest and most rewarding ones we ever have. However, making our children kiss or hug them, even when they don’t want to, is not very acceptable. A viral TikTok video raised so many questions on this topic, but also woke up a sense of awareness in people. Even experts have something to say about children giving consent to their grandparents for hugs and kisses.
We at Bright Side stumbled upon that video and we saw that its proposed approach got many different reactions from people. So, we decided to dig a little bit deeper and see this question in a more detailed way.
The video raised awareness about children’s consent.
Recently a mom from Australia posted a video on TikTok talking about how she teaches her 2-year-old daughter. Her video went viral on many different social media sites. In it, she talks about how her daughter gets to choose if she wants to get hugs and kisses, even from her grandparents.
But it’s very difficult for her and she finds it very unhelpful when other adults in her life question her decision, and end up asking her, “What?! We have to ask for a kiss and a hug?”
“As a parent, I practice consent with my daughter and something’s really been bothering me, so I thought, why not take it to TikTok so we can talk about it,” said the concerned mother in her viral video.
Obligatory kisses and hugs are not the right way to express love.
The TikTok video divided people into those who agree and those who disagree with the message. One grandparent said that forced kisses and hugs are not the right way to say, “I love you.” While many people supported her statement, one had a good point, “How would you ask a baby?”
Well, maybe babies don’t talk but they have their own way of communicating with the world. In their first few months, they are used to mom and dad, or the people they were surrounded by the most. However, when an unfamiliar face picks them up, the baby might start to cry and become fussy. Also, they might look scared and act like they are hiding.
You should give children time to get to know you and, once they do, they will give you a hug and a kiss. But forcing this is not ok, it’s like you are forcing love.
