While this phrase is likely filled with love and a completely normal desire to foster closeness and connection with a child, it can also unintentionally take away a child's right to autonomy and pressure them to abandon and second-guess their body boundaries. This can send confusing messages about consent.
Make sure not to push further or use guilt with a comment like, 'Please, just one? I'm your grandma/grandpa!' A helpful thing to do instead is keep the mood light and say something like, 'OK! I love you so much and can't wait to hear all about what you've been up to.'
Kids often feel like they don't have a lot of self-determination, so it can be a powerful message to send that important grown-ups in their life will respect their body boundaries no matter what. This approach also reinforces the idea that physical affection is a personal choice, promoting a healthy understanding of boundaries and consent in other areas of their life.
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