Article originally published July 15, 2016 on Her View From Home
There’s a new form of mom-shaming taking place, and it’s taking our social media outlets by storm.
Victoria Beckham was just criticized for posting a photo on Instagram in which she’s wishing her daughter a happy birthday. The picture depicts Beckham and her 5-year-old daughter sharing a quick peck on the lips.
Social media was quick to pounce on this one. The criticisms range from calling Beckham a lesbian, to engaging in “inappropriate” behavior with her daughter.
Were you aware that kissing on the lips should be strictly forbidden for members of your family except for your spouse? According to social etiquette experts, it is.
When I first became aware of the situation with Beckham, I had to roll my eyes. As I see the debate continue, it just makes me plain mad.
Do we have so much hate going on right now in our world that we’ve forgotten what something good looks like? We have to shut down a moment of love between a mother and daughter? We have to take something pure and turn it into something dirty?
It seems we can’t do anything right anymore. We can’t say, post, or share something without receiving negative backlash. Even something as innocent as a mother kissing her child.
I refuse to let the Internet tell me who I can and cannot kiss.
Like Beckham, I have a child who is about to turn five. Next to my husband, he is the love of my life.
Do I kiss him on the lips?
Does my husband kiss him on the lips?
Am I going to stop kissing him because it makes social media uncomfortable?
I don’t think I even need to answer that question.
I kiss my son on the lips because he is my gift from God. He is an innocent, beautiful, smart, funny little boy, who continues to amaze me every single day. The love I have for him trumps everything.
Kissing him is nothing to be embarrassed about. There is going to come a day, when he is older, that kisses in general will be fewer and farther between. For now, he is my baby. When he comes to me for a hug or kiss, I will not deny him those actions.
In my house, we teach that love is important. Affection is welcomed, and I refuse to let anyone shame us for loving our son.
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