kissing on the lips

[XmasEve]

DD is 3 months and the other day DH made the remark, in passing, "that I won't be able to kiss her on the lips much longer." (This came up because he has a cold and obviously doesn't want her to catch it.)

He sounded so sad. I asked why not, and he gave the vague "it's just not right" kind of answer. I pointed out that I still kiss my dad on the lips, and he seemed to take that in as food for thought. End of discussion.

Later, by myself, I realized that my dad DID try to stop kissing me on the lips when I was a little girl, but I balked because he "had a scratchy face." Still does!

I don't think it's wrong for dads to kiss their daughters on the lips. But I can see how others would.

I thought I would see what this forum thought.

[mamaduck]

I think it is perfectly wonderful. People kiss each other all the time in some other cultures -- in Russia, grown men kiss each other on the lips. Kissing on the lips is not inherently sexual -- it is affectionate.

I'll kiss my sons on the lips as long and often as they'll let me. Though I was recently informed by my 1st grader that, "There is no kissing moms at school. But you can slap me five."

[Irishmommy]

Dh's mom still kisses him on the lips, and it bothers me (and him). But it doesn't bother me if he kisses the kids on the lips.

[chfriend]

My family of origin kisses on the lips sometimes, on the cheek sometimes. I've always been glad I have a physically affectionate family. It seems like a cultural thing. Took my dp a month or two to adjust, but she's comfortable with it now. We both kiss dc (2.5 years) on the lips.

[Threefold]

My family of origin has always kissed on the lips and my dad is actually my step dad. It's never seemed weird or inappropriate. I'd kiss my own 27mo ds on the lips, but usually when I try I get a mouthful of teeth 'cause he's smiling

[BowenTherapist]

hmmm good question, personally i am uncomfortable kissing anyone but dh on the lips. this is more than likely because of how i was raised. i only occationally feel comfortable with the "brushing cheeks and making kissing sound" type of "kiss" with my folks. this is only at holidays:
but i kiss dd on the cheek all day, but not on the lips, just don't feel comfortable with it :
(growing up i saw my parents fight waaaay more than they ever expessed affection i seriously think i saw the kiss three times in 27 years!!! )

[bellamama]

I will ALWAYS kiss my dd on the lips, no matter her age. It is the most irresistible thing in the world when she puts her hands on each side of my face and kisses me smack dab on the lips. She loves it and it is absolutely unthinkable for me to ever imagine not kissing this way. I'm pretty sure My dh feels the same way. Kissing my baby girl is like kissing an angel

[MelMel]

we kiss dd on the lips, but she's only 6 months, she doesnt kiss back, but LOVES when we blow raspberries in her mouth...and she trys to do it too, usually gets our chins.

i dont think theres anything wrong with it, as long as we dont take pictures

i kiss my neices on the lips, dh kisses them too....even though he isnt a 'kissy' type of guy, but lil kids LOVE kisses, and i think thats what family's do.....some of them, i guess. i kiss my step dad on the cheek, and he has only been my step dad for a couple years.

guess getting dna samples would be confusing around here

i guess its how you grew up, mil always kissing dh, but wont kiss dd on her lips, seemed shocked when it was brought up before?!?

:sinister :sinister :sinister :sinister

[sadean]

We are an all out, kiss 'em all family That being said, I don't kiss my ds#1 on the lips in public much anymore unless he instigates (don't want to embarrass him). DH has never had an issue with kissing any of us public or private (though of late, I think he also is more careful not to embarrass ds#1 in public), and if he had his way there would probably be MORE kissing going on

I came from a family of origin where my mother kissed us on the lips all until we were adults. She still kisses everyone on the cheek, including the folks who marry in. My step father and mother kiss each other, but he almost never kisses the adult kids or the grandchildren. We get hugs and the kids can bounce on his knee (when he is feeling well enough). He is very emotionally reserved, but I believe he gives as much as he is able too. DH says that his parents are rarely affectionate with each other in front of other people (I never seen them even hold hands, let alone kiss ), but they are very loving to the children and kiss them on the lips. My fil kissed me on the forehead after ds#1 was born and it was weird, but amusing

[N2theWoods]

hmmm. Well, gosh - I've never thought about it. I always kissed my mom & dad on the lips & still do. It never occurred to me it might be seen as "weird" by anybody. Certainly no one ever said anything to any of us. I just didn't like it when my dad would lick his lips first (lol). It is always very chaste & friendly & affectionate. Of course, I kiss my best girlfriend on the lips too and love that we are affectionate & loving. Would like my kids to inherit that.

But now that I think about it - my mom & brother would kiss but not my brother & my dad!

[XmasEve]

Cool, so I guess it's a personality thing then. Kiss on the lips, don't, whatever, as long as you're both comfortable. I'll take that to DH-- it'll make him feel better!

Thanks!, Meg

[stafl]

Every time DD, age 2, sees DH kiss me (and it's quite often at our house), she insists, "Daddy kiss Jenny, too" - he has no choice in the matter! I think he might have been a bit uncomfortable the first time or two she planted one on him smack dab on the lips (his parents show no affection towards each other or anyone else) but now it makes his heart melt every time!

[GoodWillHunter]

Originally posted by sadean
We are an all out, kiss 'em all family That being said, I don't kiss my ds#1 on the lips in public much anymore unless he instigates (don't want to embarrass him). DH has never had an issue with kissing any of us public or private (though of late, I think he also is more careful not to embarrass ds#1 in public), and if he had his way there would probably be MORE kissing going on

That's the way our family is. I can't remember the last time my dad gave me a kiss. I know I kiss him on the cheek when I'm feeling particularly emotional. I don't kiss my mom at all. She's not very affectionate. So, to compensate, all of my kids are used to getting kissed and hugged to the maximum. My DH also kisses and hugs 'em all. As much as possible.

[dietrich's_dada]

I plan to kiss my son as long as he appreciates it.

[mum2sarah]

My dad still kisses me on the lips. My mom kisses me on the cheek, but she rarely ever kisses me on the lips growing up. My dh and I both kiss dd on the lips and I can't see that stopping unless dd becomes uncomfortable with it.

[mamawanabe]

Very interesting. I have no recall at all of EVER seeing my parents kiss or hold hands or hug. And no recal of my dad ever kissing me. In fact, hugging was weird and rare (reserved for when our dog died or a trip fell through). More affection with my mom though.

Now I definately want to be an affectionate family, but the idea of kissing my 18 yr old son on the lips seems a little weird to me. Hopefully it won't be . . .

[the sunshine]

Well, I am forty and my dad still kisses us all on the lips. There were a few awkward years way back, but really, it's just his way. No problems!

[Lucky Charm]

I kissed my dad on the lips til he passed away. and so did my brother.

My husband kisses all our kids on the lips.

[rhemp]

On the homesteading show on PBS (can't remember the name) when the older couple's sons came to visit the dad kissed the oldest boy (prolly 24 yr. old) on the mouth. It was one of the sweetest exchanges I've ever seen. I love my kisses from ds and so does dh. Them's so sweet!!!

[EnviroBecca]

I think it's fine to kiss kids on the lips and there should be no stigma for emotional reasons. But I did want to mention that if you have oral herpes (you get "cold sores" on your lips) you can pass it to your kids by kissing during or just before or after an outbreak. While it is sadly true that the majority of Americans have oral herpes, and while many who have it feel it's not a big deal, IMO it is kinder to avoid giving it to people.