When I was a kid, my mom always be holding my hands, especially like when we cross the streets. And I remember at the time, I kinda half disliked it, because I always felt like my movements were being too restrictive, like… I feel like I was too close and I wanted to like move around, look at surroundings, trees, squirrels, etc… She was always afraid I’d get lost, or like… god forbid… get hit by a car.
She also tried to hold my older brother’s hand with her other hand, but he of couse was older and felt embarassed by it so he refused.
I sometimes just run off and go ahead of her because I was bored and felt like she walked too slow, and like I wanted to peek inside a store from the glass window, for example, then we get to a crossing, and she grabs my hand again. Now thinking back, that was actually so wholesome. Like it kinda feels safe and secure being held on to closely.
The memories I remembered of this was around when I was 8-12. Any older than that and I think I just got tired of it and embarassed and I refused lol.
My dad never tried to hold my hands… I guess fathers are just different lol.
Did your parents do that? Did you like it?
One of the abiding childhood memories of hugging my mother is that it felt like hugging a tree. She obviously didn’t like it but wouldn’t reject the hug and it never prevented me from doing it but it struck me as odd, even as a ten year old. My dad would hug us normally and hold hands. Later on I realised that we’re probably all autistic and have sensory issues. These days I love hugs with my daughter and she always seeks my hand to hold.