Let Kids Love Freely (Don’t Make It Weird)

I’ve received countless open-mouthed kisses from my babies.

Slobbery, giggly, snotty, love-drunk kisses—

offered with absolute delight and unfiltered joy.

And you know what? I’ve received every single one with gratitude.

Because I refuse to let the scowls or sideways glances from others

convince me that something so innocent, so pure, is “inappropriate.”

Yes—boundaries and consent matter deeply in our family.

We talk about body autonomy, about checking in, about respecting when someone says no.

But you know what else matters?

Innocence. Play. Affection. Silly, soul-filling connection.

Somewhere along the way, our culture started labeling certain forms of affection as “gross” or “weird” or “too much.”

Especially when it comes to parent-child love.

But that’s their discomfort. Not mine.

And it’s certainly not my children’s.

Children are still learning how to be human.

How to show love. How to ask for closeness.

How to express overwhelming affection in their growing, curious bodies.

Touch and physical affection are core human needs.

When we swat away those kisses, shrink from their cuddles, or shame them for how they love us—we’re teaching them that closeness is uncomfortable, that they are too much, and that love needs to be filtered.

What happens when kids grow up under-touched and over-shamed?

They become adults who flinch from intimacy.

Who struggle to ask for what they need.

Who confuse performance with connection.

Who crave closeness but feel unworthy of it.

So in our family?

We say yes to bear hugs and couch snuggles.

Yes to butterfly kisses and wet smooches.

Yes to love that’s wild and weird and fully expressed.

We teach consent alongside connection.

We model boundaries with love, not fear.

We let affection be something beautiful—not burdened by shame or sexualized by societal discomfort.

So if any of my children run up to me ready to show their love with messy or abnormal affection,

you can safely bet I will match that energy.

Because in this world?

We need more tenderness.

More giggles.

More safe, embodied love.

Don’t make it weird.

Make it heartfelt.

Make it safe.

Make it normal.

Make it healing.