I've said before that my nine year old son won't let me hug him anymore at school. I was hugging him this morning at home, thinking he really needs affection since he's older and doesn't often sit on my lap anymore. I was really getting into it, holding him tightly and cuddling, trying to make up for it. I was thinking we're at home, which would obviously make it acceptable. I was thinking my poor, affection-starved boy must be thrilled that his mom is giving him some love.
However, as always I turned out to be completely clueless. Why is it we know everything until we become parents ourselves? He endured a few minutes of my enthusiastic hug, and then he stepped away from me so we no longer had body contact, thumped me briskly a few times on my back, and muttered, 'Man hug' before walking away.
I was speechless. A 'man hug'? Really? How is that even in your vocabulary? But mostly I was thinking, 'You do not 'man hug' your mother'!
There's got to be a way around this. I will figure it out. I'll get back to you when I do. (Don't hold your breath.)
