Recentley, a series of images of a mum kissing her teenage son on the lips made my brain melt.
The images, published by The Daily Mail, showed a 42-year-old midwife puckering up in various poses to her 16-year-old son.
The redheaded son is shown leaning forward into her affectionate kisses, which reportedly “only last a second or two, unless Jordan is in a more jovial mood, in which case he draws it out longer and adds a ‘mwah’ sound.”
(You can see the original images here.)
If it took you a second to compose yourself after reading that account, you’re not alone. The article was sent to me by a friend with a two-word remark: “I’m… uncomfortable.”
Top Comments
Completely disagree and wholeheartedly approve of kissing on the lips unless the child/teen is signalling discomfort (it would be cruel and self-defeating to force someone into what ought to be an expression of genuine affection...)
I feel like this is a cultural thing and it's really not your place to comment. I'm 20 and I still get kissed on the lips by most family members, it bothered me a bit in my early teens mostly because I was embarrassed, in the same way others can be embarrassed about having unusual school lunches or loud family activities. While there are families who feel that physical contact should be minimal (esp, between opposite gender family members) some don't kiss at all, sit on each others laps or full- frontal hugs (as opposed to side hugs) to say that a kiss on the cheek is fine but 2cm away on the lips is somehow too sexual is plainly ridiculous.