I grew up in my aunt and uncle’s home with their birth children. My cousins received more affection than my sister and I did. I’m very affectionate with my own children, even my teen boys and my stepson hug me but I am awkward with other people. For example, I don’t hug in church unless someone shows the intention to hug me first.
I’ve never understood playing the charade of showing ‘affection’ where it doesn’t exist. A handshake, fine. But hugging and kissing those that I don’t even like, let alone love? Nuh-uh. As I child I was often ordered to show affection and that only increased my antipathy, and I see no reason to ‘overcome’ that.
Hugging and handshaking are cultural signals of affection, among other things. Their use varies from one culture to the next. More to the point, I think Cynthia and Barney share a degree of cynicism.
alviebird over 10 years ago
That’s how my family was. But now some of the people in my life do not understand the lack of overt display, and think I’m cold and don’t care.
QuietStorm27 over 10 years ago
I grew up in my aunt and uncle’s home with their birth children. My cousins received more affection than my sister and I did. I’m very affectionate with my own children, even my teen boys and my stepson hug me but I am awkward with other people. For example, I don’t hug in church unless someone shows the intention to hug me first.
The Rolling Cat over 10 years ago
I’ve never understood playing the charade of showing ‘affection’ where it doesn’t exist. A handshake, fine. But hugging and kissing those that I don’t even like, let alone love? Nuh-uh. As I child I was often ordered to show affection and that only increased my antipathy, and I see no reason to ‘overcome’ that.
wordsmeet about 3 years ago
Hugging and handshaking are cultural signals of affection, among other things. Their use varies from one culture to the next. More to the point, I think Cynthia and Barney share a degree of cynicism.