My son is 11, year 7. He is massively loving- full of hugs, loads of "I love you"s and still very into kissing. He is lovely and I know I am very lucky that he still thinks I am too!
However, he is increasingly sexually aware and I am beginning to feel a little bit uncomfortable with his (sometimes slightly discomfiting) physical contact.
Tonight we were watching a TV programme together on the sofa and he kept trying to kind of drape himself over me. This was actually more annoying than worrying, as he was a bit belligerent with it and kept blocking my view! But he would have laid pretty much on top of me if I'd let him.
At bed time, I went to give him a kiss, on the mouth as normal, and received a lips open mouthful of slobber. When I recoiled and told him off, he got really upset, kept apologising and said he was yawning. I obviously said he should have turned away until he'd finished, to which he said he didn't want me to feel rejected!
I am 99% sure it WAS a mistake, but it has made me feel really uncomfortable.
He is really sensitive, pretty immature and, like I said, very loving (not just to me!)
What do I do? Stop all physical contact? If so, how do I do that without it feeling like a massive rejection? Particularly as I will carry on hugging and kissing his younger sister.
Or put it down as an error and carry on as before? I am well aware that the time I have left with him as an innocent buddy is running out and that one day I will miss his hugs and kisses. I also really don't want to force my adult understandings of physical affection on to him before it is anything even vaguely sexual for him.
What would you do?