Don't Touch Me

There was a show on the other day about how to keep your kids safe in the world of predators on children. One of the tips mentioned was don't make your kids hug people if they don't want to...big people can be scary to little kids, especially relatives they rarely see.

FINALLY, I thought! Someone understands me :). I will hug sometimes, people I like and feel comfortable with but other than that, hands off! I don't even really like shoulder rubs. Call me crazy but there is something about someone being all up in your personal space that I don't like. Remember when you were growing up and you liked a boy (girl). They would hold your hand and even if your hand went numb you wouldn't move because you wanted to keep holding their hand? So funny to think back on but even then, I was skeptical of being touched.

Being a mom has been a challenge in this category, especially while nursing! Kids want to touch you all the time. They pull on your clothes, want to be carried or held constantly, touch private places you would rather they don't touch, love to tickle and basically just hang on you. As the girls get old enough to understand I tell them to 'back off jack' (not in that exact phrase). They know that if they need a hug or want to sit on my lap, they need to tell me that they want it and not just invade my space. It works about 10% of the time :) I think my mom was similar. I remember for sure that we were not to touch the tops of her legs when she was sitting...I think it was a weird ticklish spot or something.

Well, my eldest is becoming a chip off the old block(s)! Today was her first day of kindergarten. All the other kids were slightly clingy and she cautiously ventured to the reading circle by herself. The teacher read the story "The Kissing Hand". It is the one about the raccoon who was going off to school and was going to miss his mother. So she kissed his hand so that he could stick it in his pocket for later. At the end he kissed her hand for the same reason. When the story was over, the teacher told the kids to say goodbye to the parents and then we were to leave for the rest of the morning. I went up to her and asked her if she wanted me to kiss her hand like the book and she said, "No, don't touch me!" I laughed inside as she said, "Just give me a hug". She wanted the reassurance of a hug but a kiss was too much for her :). I love her and I am so proud that she did great at school. If she doesn't like to be touched...well, I love that too! Hopefully that will carry over into middle and high school! Boys beware, my daughter will tell you "Don't touch me!"