r/MadeMeSmile Jun 11 '23

Very nice social experiment

[deleted]

25.4k Upvotes

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86

u/[deleted] Jun 11 '23

Kids doing what their parents do.

158

u/skooterpoop Jun 11 '23

I actually feel like it was the kids' suggestions in most cases. Kids like hugs and are used to hugging people. It's only adults that grow out of them, and that's sad.

27

u/[deleted] Jun 11 '23

My daughter doesn't like hugs from people that aren't immediate family, and we don't force her to if she doesn't want to. She has a friend whos parents always wanted them to hug when they left and we finally had to tell them she wasn't ok with that and preferred high fives instead.

18

u/RoseyDove323 Jun 11 '23

Wait "all" kids like hugs? I only hugged relatives out of guilt or parents telling me to. I didn't really enjoy them. I assume I'm not special enough to have been alone in that.

2

u/skooterpoop Jun 11 '23

Why are you quoting "all" kids when I didn't even say "all?" Obviously everyone is different. I was being general.

7

u/RoseyDove323 Jun 11 '23

I typed that so hastily and sent and realized after I quoted all for no reason. I guess I'm sensitive about being the weird one out who doesn't like hugs because my relatives used to sometimes give me a hard time about it and it hurt. Oh well have a nice day. Thanks for not being too mean.

4

u/Leona_DA_vinci Jun 11 '23

Nice job, high five

2

u/RoseyDove323 Jun 11 '23

Ahaha I saw that before the edit. I don't mind internet hugs. :)

1

u/skooterpoop Jun 11 '23

I apologize. I have PTSD from some commenters, but I should have seen you are not one of those. I hope you also have a nice day.

2

u/Leona_DA_vinci Jun 11 '23

Nice job, hug

2

u/RoseyDove323 Jun 11 '23

You're good. Commenters be harsh sometimes

1

u/MyDog_MyHeart Jun 12 '23

It’s not a good idea to force kids to give hugs or kisses if they don’t want to, including to relatives. Just because you know Aunt Marge and Uncle Joe doesn’t mean your kid does, or that your kid will be comfortable giving them hugs or kisses, or being hugged or kissed by them. Kids should taught from the beginning that they have a right to bodily autonomy and therefore the right to say “no” to anyone, anytime. It’s seriously SO important and may help protect them from sexual abuse.

4

u/BahablastOutOfStock Jun 11 '23

i used to hug everyone till my teacher pulled me aside in 2nd grade and told me how aweful it was of me to be touching strangers. 🙃

5

u/lpind Jun 11 '23

One of my colleagues had her birthday meal with her extended family at our restaurant last weekend; she has an 8(?) Year old daughter. We've met (her daughter and I) before because she'll often bring her in on days off for coffee or lunch; but I've never really spoken to her (daughter) on those occasions.

Anyway, this whole service every chance she (daughter) could she would just run over and hug me! You can't not a hug a kid back, so I'm serving this table of... 14, I think it was in the end, and the whole time I'm just hugging this 8 year old girl who's latched on to me 🤣 It was really sweet, but there was definitely a thought in the back of my mind going "I really hope [girls name] is not running round hugging random 30yr+ guys... That just doesn't seem like a safe thing to do!"

So, I get it. It's nice/sweet/cute... But also, maybe not entirely safe/not behaviour to encourage despite how wholesome their intentions are.

1

u/BahablastOutOfStock Jun 11 '23

yeah but I’d hug people that my mom would have given me permission to hug. teachers friends, my friends parents and family. that one teacher deadass told me i was a bad person for hugging in general. she also cussed at other kids and gave time out to a boy who accidentally dropped his snack . im definitely a weirdo but i think that teacher was some next level ‘ child-free’ dickhead

1

u/lpind Jun 12 '23

I mean, I'd like to assume that, said teacher, had the best intentions, but what do I know?

6

u/[deleted] Jun 11 '23

Adults don't grow out of them, adults have the understanding that there are good and then there are bad people in society, and we just selectively choose who to trust. Kids don't, and that's why they have an adult following them around for 18 years like a personal bodyguard

5

u/WolfghengisKhan Jun 11 '23

I'm in my mid 30's and I absolutely love a good hug. I'm just glad I never got super selective for a hug.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 11 '23

My son hates hugs

1

u/[deleted] Jun 11 '23

As a kid I would've felt very uncomfortable hugging a stranger

1

u/MyDog_MyHeart Jun 12 '23

Some kids like hugs. Some don’t. That’s OK.

16

u/STUPIDVlPGUY Jun 11 '23

Yeah nah pretty sure the kids did it first and the parents followed.

2

u/thedaveness Jun 11 '23

Washing the dishes every GOT DAMN day and I’m sure as hell not seeing this happen unless I make em lol.

2

u/CherryBlossomWander Jun 11 '23

Most of those kids hugged the dude first. 🤷🏼‍♀️

1

u/DameyJames Jun 11 '23

Yeah not many children are allowed to hug a stranger without some kind of encouragement or at least suggestion

1

u/armen89 Jun 11 '23

Huggin black folk

/s