“Is it just me, or does it seem a bit strange when parents kiss their children on the lips?” This was a genuine inquiry I posed to my partner during my first pregnancy. To me, the concept seemed straightforward: lips are meant for romantic partners—end of story. Little did I know, there was an entirely different perspective that I had yet to consider. The thought of kissing my child on the lips felt foreign.
“My plan is to kiss our kids on the lips,” he replied. To him, it was a perfectly normal expression of love. I assumed he was simply from a particularly affectionate family, so I reached out to some mom friends for their opinions. As it turns out, I was the odd one out; many parents embraced the idea of lip kisses as a way to express affection.
Perhaps my upbringing played a role in my reluctance. My family wasn’t known for being particularly touchy-feely. Sure, I still share goodnight hugs with my parents and occasionally annoy my mom by climbing onto her lap, but overall, we maintained a certain distance. I could count on one hand the instances my dad kissed me on the cheek, and I found no fault in that. To me, it felt normal, and I never questioned his love.
While I had never seen anything wrong with kissing a child on the lips, it was simply outside my realm of experience. As I entered motherhood, I found myself confronted with these unexamined beliefs, and it became clear that I needed to choose a side—after all, my actions would inevitably reflect my stance.
When my daughter was born—healthy and snuggly—I reveled in cuddles, hugs, and kisses on her cheeks, forehead, nose, and even her tiny toes. However, I still couldn’t bring myself to kiss her on the lips. It felt odd to me, until one day, everything changed.
She was nearing her first birthday, a curious little explorer who loved to crawl and giggle. I was on the floor, folding cloth diapers while she enjoyed some independent playtime on her blanket. Suddenly, she rolled over, climbed up my leg, and planted a big, drooly kiss right on my lips. In that instant, my perspective shifted. Until that moment, I had believed we were both comfortable with our established boundaries, but she wanted more—she wanted to show her affection in her way.
That experience changed my outlook completely. It was one of those profound moments of motherhood that made me reevaluate long-held beliefs. The kiss transformed my understanding, and I embraced the idea that kissing my children on the lips was not strange at all. I realized that, while I would never force my kids into any type of affection they weren’t comfortable with, kissing became a natural expression of our love.
Fast forward to today: my once drooly baby is now 5, and her little brother is 4. I regularly kiss both of them on the lips, and none of us find it unusual. If you think it’s weird, I totally understand—we all have our own boundaries for various reasons. But if, like me, you’ve come to see it as normal, then you are in good company. For those looking for a guide to navigating parenthood, consider checking out this insightful post.
In conclusion, the journey to understanding the nuances of affection as a parent can lead to unexpected revelations. Embracing these moments, whether through kisses or other forms of love, is what truly defines our relationships with our children. If you’re considering the path to parenthood with options like insemination, look into this excellent resource and explore at-home insemination kits for more information.