Important to remember
I would like to very strongly suggest that this applies to kids too. Manners are one thing, but you have to show children that their boundaries are important and respected. Their natural boundaries, not the ones you create for them.
My oldest god daughter is not a huggy child. She’s affectionate in many other ways. She cuddles when you read to her, she likes to sit right beside you as often as possible, and she loves a piggy back ride when she asks, but she doesn’t like hugs. I feel that, as a fellow non-hugger. But there was this period of time where her mom was telling her to hug me goodbye every time I left. It would start an argument where she didn’t want to give a hug. I’d say ‘no no she doesn’t want a hug’, give her a high five, and leave. But it was causing tension with my friend because it was the only time in the kid’s life where I had gone 'against’ a parent request. I finally just called her out on it. I support her every parenting decision because she’s an amazing mom and also it’s not my kid. But, as I explained to her, I will not force her child to be uncomfortable setting boundaries, as I was made to feel. I won’t.
