Kiley wrote:
My guys are affectionate too. I've just told them that kisses on the lips are for spouses or sometimes people who are thinking about being spouses like boyfriends and girlfriends (I know that's a huge oversimplification but it was close enough at the time). I tell them that sometimes people will give a quick peck on the lips if it's not that kind of situation, but that it has to be really quick. I then suggest other places I'd rather be kissed like the forhead or cheek and other things that I enjoy as signs of affection. So far it's worked for me
My 11yo still likes to give me a quick peck on the arm. I'm not sure why it's the arm, but he's so shy and has such a high degree of social anxiety I'm not going to try to change it.
Moms usually know best. If you think it's OK and better not to try to redirect him, then I wouldn't worry too much about it. As you say, he's much younger emotionally.
My little guy likes to kiss my hand, too. It's so cute because he does it such a a soulful way sometimes, like he's in an old movie. He's a very serious kisser!
I think telling him that kisses other than quick pecks are for boyfriends and girlfriends might be the way to go. He will then almost certainly go on to say that I'm his girlfriend, but I think he's old enough now to start to learn the distinction.
I just hate to do anything that seems to criticize his way of giving affection, you know? Because he seemed so detached from us as a baby and toddler and I still cherish every drop of it.
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Sharing the spectrum with my awesome daughter.