Hi all
To give you a bit of background: I have been with my DP for just over a year, I have met the family members that I will refer to here only once before this occasion.
I was invited to the birthday celebration of one of my DP's relatives over the weekend, it was a lovely occasion, DP's family are lovely, welcoming, friendly people.
As I was about to leave the party, two members of DP's family went in for hugs, which I reciprocated. The next person stood closest to me as I was leaving was the Sister of one of the family members that had hugged me, so I opened my arms to hug her. My gesture was met with a look of suprise/horror, the ensuing hug was one of utter awkwardness as this person stood ramrod straight and I kind of put my arms around her upper arms and patted her :-/ Majorly awkward.
My question is: Where do the Mumsnetters stand on the trend in recent years for hugging everyone?
Firstly, I know Covid is still a thing and we probably shouldn't be hugging people so freely, but putting that aside, I'm interested to know what the accepted social etiquette is and where you all stand with it?
I personally do not feel comfortable hugging as freely as I have been doing in recent years, and after thinking about it over the weekend I've realised that I only do it because it's what a lot of people seem to expect these days.
I'm a child of the 70's and was not brought up in a huggy/kissy society. Even my own parents were not given to frequent displays of affection towards myself, my Brother and my Sister. My Dad would kiss us on the cheek on Christmas Day if we were lucky!
I've noticed in recent years that even in work people are given to hugging each other, don't get me wrong, I'll give someone a hug if they're upset over something but I just don't see the need for these pda's all the time.
I felt really daft after my failed hug attempt at the weekend, but I completely understand the reason for the rebuff. It's got me to thinking that I'm not going to offer hugs as a general rule in future, I'll hug my own family, Mum, Sister, Sons etc, but aside from that I think I'm about to become a hug free zone.
What do you all think?