To push back on my brother’s message apologising for my niece being rude

[AutumnLeavesandKnittedJumpers]

It was my niece’s third birthday party today. Loads of kids at their house, family members and loads of cake and sweets. By the end of the party you could tell my niece was just done in, happy but exhausted. As we said bye they asked her to give me a hug and kiss and say thank you for the presents I gave her. She says thank you for the gifts but won’t give me a hug or a kiss. I say it’s fine (and it genuinely was), but her parents got really angry at her and said she was being rude.

I am really concerned about this. I don’t want her to think that she has to give other people things like hugs and kisses or she’s “rude”. I’m fine with her not doing that, she’s usually really cuddly and was obviously just overstimulated. AIBU to push back? I don’t have children so I don’t know if I am.

If your brother can't control a 3 yr old, God help him when she's 23

rubbish. Plenty of wonderful young men and women were absolute threenagers.

Your examples have absolutely nothing to do with bodily autonomy.

No one should ever feel they have to give physical appreciation for a gift.

pots a slippery slope.