When it comes to hugging and kissing, it's a little different between the two kids especially when dropping them off at school. Maybe due to age, or maybe due to gender, or maybe due to upbringing during the first few years.
Victoria
She'd happily walk off to school, pulling her bag behind her like a determined air stewardess boarding an aircraft, with only a quick good bye. On better days, I'd hear her good bye loud and clear, and on good days, I manage to squeeze her for a one sided hug, and on great days, she'd wrap one arm around me in response.
This could be when I drop her off at her tuition house, or leaving her after lunch at her school canteen, or at home. Once when 5yo brother insist on hugging and kissing her IN her school canteen, IN FRONT of her friends and other kids, she was sooooo hesitant. They were almost playing cat and mouse until William got his way. He's one persistent little fler when it comes to displaying his affections even in public.
One day last week, I dropped Vic and her friend off in front of her school gate. After taking out their bags, I closed my car boot and within that 5 seconds, I look for Vic to hug her good bye. All I saw was my baby's back some 10 metres away and out of earshot. Just like that - no one sided hug, no one arm hug, not even a good bye. Feeling rather sad, I shared with William in the car and reminded him that he mustn't forget to hug me even when he's older.
Back home that night, I told Vic and this cheeky girl made up by hugging me tight whilst still in her PE clothes - still sweaty and sticky. Oh well. This still acceptable kua.
William
Now this boy is a direct opposite. In fact, if he doesn't get to hug or kiss me goodbye, he'd be the one feeling uneasy and incomplete. Now that's true because a few times when Daddy walks him into class, he'd wait for me to come in for the ritual goodbye.
He doesn't mind or notice that his friends laugh or tease him. The girls would giggle and the boys would go, "Yeee-eerr, he's kissing his mummy." At first I was upset at their reaction, like they never kiss their parents is it?! But that thought quickly dissolve and I like to tease this particular classmate of his back, "Why? You wanna kiss me also is it?" Hahaha, only to see the boy's innocent pearly white smile!
William would pull my face and hold my neck close to plant kisses and hugs before letting me go. The same when I drop him off at his Chinese Enrichment Centre. In the beginning, his chinese teachers would wait closeby and look uncomfortably at us, now they sensibly stand a little further without feeling uneasy. Do I feel shy? Heck, yea!! But I am one proud and lucky parent in this aspect, and I'd want my boy and girl to hug and kiss me good bye whenever possible. Hubby doesn't get the same full privileges from William though.
