Are you a hugger?

[Tigger&Belle]

I am indeed a HUGGER, and proud of it. I think I can tell when somebody isn't, or isn't in the mood for hug. With the exception of DW, I will not hug them if they are giving off a "Don't Invade MY Spce" vibe. And I have been know to massage shoulders or backs, of friends who are agreeable. One of my co-workers says her morning doesn't start going well until she has had her hug from me. I don't know where I picked up hugging from, my parents aren't huggers (Gram wasthough). Caropooh's mom is a hugger. We are lucky in that there are a god number of huggers at our church. Both DD's are huggers too.

T&B, I hope this doesn't bother you, but I am fairly sure WHEN we (Caropooh, the DD's & I) meet you,you will be hugged by all. Notice I said when, not if. to all.

Did I read shoulder massage?

Caropooh, I remember when my kids were really young (babies) and I was being touched all the time I would get so touched out that it was all I could do not to bristle when anyone else would touch me. I'm a very touchy-feely person, but I was pushed to my limit in those days. Normally, though, I'm the type that comes into the room and has to touch my kids--a touch on the head, a tickle, pat on the back, etc. But I'm also the one who touches everything when I'm clothes shopping, too. Yep, very touchy-feely.

After luv started this thread I've been watching my kids more. I didn't realize what a hugger my 16yo son was. My 13yo not at all and my 6yo is more of a tackler. I think my college DD is somewhat, but more like me--a little more reserved. My 16yo, though, is the big one. He's the one that's likely to walk in the room and hug me. Or, he could totally ignore me--he's a teenager. In 3 weeks we'll have 18-20 people in this house, and I'll have lots of hugging reports (some like it, some aren't into it).

 

[lucas]

I am NOT a hugger, and feel rather uncomfortable around huggers. I need my personal space!

 

[Melissa M]

I love giving and receiving hugs, but I don't go around giving unsolicited ones.

 

[U2_rocks!]

I'm somewhere in between. Sometimes a hug feels right, sometimes it doesn't. I'm not one to spontaneously hug someone, but if they hug me I'm OK with that.

I love to touch my kids - ruffle their hair, give them a quick squeeze etc. My dad is a hugger, and it feels natural to hug him, but my mom isn't as spontaneously affectionate, so we don't hug as much.

When a friend is sad I never know whether to hug them or not - it feels awkward.

When I meet strangers that I feel I already have some connection with (like when I have met certain people from internet boards, or friends of friends, or family members I've never met before etc.), I am happy to hug them, but I won't be the one to instigate the hug unless I get a vibe from them that that's what they'd like to do. I am really into reading other people's moods so that I don't offend!