Panelists this week answered the following:
Mary Zanger: “Yes. Our culture confuses children. TV exposes children to lip kissing; TV also exposes children to other types of kisses as well. We see the cheek kissing of diplomats arriving at high-level meetings or the cheek kissing after Wimbledon tennis matches. Armed with the knowledge of affectionate kissing between friends, children might learn how to happily plant a ‘buss’ on granny’s cheek. Until then no insisting and Granny understands.”
Nants Foley: “I don’t think children should be forced to kiss anyone against their will. But I am less worried about Grandma than I am about Santa Claus. How many adults spend years in therapy because they were forced to sit on the lap of some scary man in a red suit with a huge white beard once a year?”
Marty Richman: “Yes, there is no need to force children to kiss anyone, be it parents, grandparents siblings, or friends. If the child sees that kissing loved ones is normal within the family unit – as it is in mine – they will usually pick up on that and apply it when they have those feelings. If a child does not want to kiss anyone or someone in particular that’s ok too. Merely saying, “let’s kiss grandma goodnight” is not forcing, if the child balks just let it go, they have their reasons.”
Ruth Erickson: “Nothing should ever be forced, but showing affection for a senior member of the family can build a special bond between the generations.”
