Friday, July 15, 2016

Kissing babies

Apparently, at least according to the Trending column in Facebook, there was a big fuss after Victoria Beckham posted a photo of herself kissing her 5-year-old daughter on the lips. All kinds of craziness and accusations flew around.

Which strikes me as crazy. 

When babies first learn to kiss using their lips the most natural thing is for them to put their lips to the lips of another. Whether it's Mummy, Daddy, big brother or sister, or even Granny. 

They soon discover for themselves what and with whom they feel comfortable and most will offer a cheek or a hug instead of lip to lip contact. Indeed, they very early on become embarrassed by any sign of affection in public! 

The Beckhams seem like a close family and I don't think it's just put on for the media. Long may mums and children - and dads - share kisses without criticism.

And who could resist, and offer a cheek to, a runny-nosed sniffly adorable smiling baby when her lips are pursed towards yours? Not me certainly. Which possibly explains the number of colds I had last winter.

It's a different matter, of course, when it's a strange adult who forces a lip-to-lip greeting on you, as an old friend of my uncle's did to me a few years ago. Shudder!

2 comments:

Nick said...

Another fuss over nothing by sanctimonious busybodies.

Liz Hinds said...

Absolutely, Nick.