A mom recently shared on social media why she doesn’t allow her daughter’s grandparents to kiss or hug her.
Every parent has their own unique approach to raising their children. Some may adopt a firm yet fair style, while others focus on being a close friend to their child.
However, one thing all parents can agree on is the importance of looking out for their kids and teaching them valuable life lessons.
Brittany Baxter, an Australian mom, is teaching her daughter about consent from an early age. In a viral TikTok video, Brittany explained that all adults, even her daughter’s grandparents, must ask for permission before giving her a hug or a kiss.
In the comments, Brittany is receiving praise for teaching this valuable lesson.
One fellow parent shared, “This is so important! My husband and I are teaching consent too. Recently, we started asking for hugs and kisses instead of saying, ‘Give me a hug.’”
Another commenter wrote, “Working on this with my two-year-old as well. We’ve had to limit his interactions with my mother because she doesn’t respect this boundary. I feel no guilt.”
However, others feel that Baxter’s approach might be taking things a bit too far.
One viewer commented, “How not to parent.”
Another added, “My grandparents hugged and kissed me whenever they wanted, and I have no problem telling someone to go away if I’m uncomfortable. This just feels odd to me.”
In the video, Baxter started by saying (as reported by the Mirror), “Can we please start normalizing the fact that kids do not have to kiss in front of adults?”
She continued, “My daughter’s almost two years old, and I’ve been teaching her about consent practically since the day she was born.”
She went on to say, “I find it really f***ing unhelpful when the adults in her life are like, ‘What?! We have to ask for a kiss and a hug?’ even though I’ve explained why multiple times.”
The mom also explained that her daughter doesn’t “exist to make anyone feel more comfortable,” adding, “It is not her fault, and it’s not my fault, that the older generation hasn’t taken the time throughout their entire lives to learn how to regulate their emotions so consent doesn’t continue to be overlooked.”
She emphasized, “No one’s feelings are ever going to be more important than my daughter’s right to her own body, and I’m sure as s*** not going to allow her to grow up in an environment where, one, she doesn’t know how to say no.
“Two, she doesn’t know what it looks like for her not to be respected.”
She concluded her post by stressing that “grandparents [need to] do better.”
In a follow-up video, Baxter explained how she handles anyone who oversteps the boundaries she has set for her child. She said she tells people they’re “practicing family consent” and would appreciate it if they did the same.
