Kissing....Lips or Cheeks?

by teenyuck 13 Replies latest jw friends

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  Beck_Melbourne

  Hi Puff

  In my culture...it is kiss...walk along....kiss...walk to the next rellie...kiss....some are on the lips...some are on the cheek...some are two on the lips and one of the forehead....and so on. But this is the tradition and is part of my culture....all the hosts kiss each and every guests.

  When my father died...my aussie partner accompanied me back to NZ and was introduced to my cultural heritage....for him it was quite overwhelming....he said he's never kissed so many people before over a three day period. He was creeped out many times lol...and he would hide away when it came time for kissing again. But for me...it is how things have always been...and I've never been bothered by it...although I do worry about hygiene and things like cold sores etc...but it comes down to 'should I be rude or try and get the cheek on cheek thing happening'. Gotta go with the flow I guess.

  Beck
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  Smoldering Wick

  It wasn't until I was 13 that I realized I had never kissed my mother. She wasn't affectionate. I remember walking into the kitchen one afternoon after school and forcing myself to kiss her (on the cheek) it felt WEIRD! She sat there expressionless. LOL

  In the culture where I grew up, it is expected that when you enter the Kingdom Hall you shake everyone's hands...even the little children. The women give a fake air kiss...cheek against cheek with a kissing sound in your ear.

  I decided I needed a little more love. I would hug everyone. Even the elders! I occasionally gave real cheek kisses.

  But, a kiss on the lips...ewwww gross. Especially with the elder who always had a few remnants of that morning's taco stuck in his teeth.

  I do miss all the hugging. But, I'll pass on the slobber.

  Wick
  (needs a hug class)

  "God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh." ~Voltaire
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  2SYN

  In South Africa most people are extremely reserved, and this sort of thing is rare. Recently tho I've been forcing myself to be more physical with my family, and it's paid off - I feel a lot closer to them now.

  The earlier in the forenoon you take the sun bath, the greater will be the beneficial effect, because you get more of the ultra-violet rays, which are healing. - The Golden Age
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  teenyuck

  I wanted to respond...I got a long call from my mother during my "computer" time...

  Beck_Melbourne-my mother's side were the kissers...my father's side were the hug and maybe a kiss on the cheek or head as a child...as you got older, you got hugged. Much better. I, too, worry about the health factor...I do not know where that persons lips have been and do not want to share it with them!

  Smoldering...[quote]It wasn't until I was 13 that I realized I had never kissed my mother. She wasn't affectionate.[/b]

  I feel so bad for you..my mother was/is a big kisser...When she sees me (two to three times a year) she is big on grabbing and kissing you all over your face...she has done this as long as I can remember...as I noted, I am taller and can wiggle away now.

  My husband's mother was very "affection deprived." She never kissed her children and I really noticed it when I got involved with my husband...he took a while to warm up to cuddling and kissing...now of course he loves it. But he still only hugs his mother...she was Catholic and raised in a Catholic boarding school..the nuns were not very affectionate.

  I just had to ask...it seems to be a thing in my mother's side of the family.