Showing affection to your children in public?

Question

Why does everyone think it is perverted for a father to show his affection towards his daughter or children in public? Like if you saw a father kiss his daughter in public or like give her a friendly little pat on the rear (in a loving way, don't get all anti spanking on me, I dont spank anyways) everyone thinks your some pervert. And what about like having your daughter sit on your lap, in public or in the home, everyones like after age 8 thats just wrong, says who? My daughter is 12 and still sits on my lap while we watch tv.

So what are your opinions on this? If you see a father being affectionate with his children do you get all judgemental? When do you think a father should stop being so affectionate (in the ways I stated above) with his daughters ?

Mothers can be affectionate with their kids all they want and no one even cares.

Answer 1

I think it's wonderful at any age.  When I see a dad being affectionate with his kids, it makes me feel good.  My kids are 8 and are all over me and my husband.  They will get affection, public and private, from us whenever they seek it.  It is healthy and normal.

Answer 2

I would NEVER say its perverted.

Today in America everyone is afraid of pedophiles. A fair fear for any parent, but this has clearly turned to hysteria.

All I can tell you is not to take it to heart. After all, the only other thing you can do is not be affectionate with your daughter. And, you know what, that would probably do her harm.

If only more people were affectionate with their children through their young teens we may have less problems in our society.

Answer 3

I think it's wonderful when a dad shows affection to his kids. My daughter will be 14 next week and she'll lay her head on her dad's lap to watch T.V. They hold hands, hug, or give each other a smooch on the cheek in public and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It's important that kids receive love from both their mom and their dad! Love is not perverted. The ones that think so are the one's with the problem!

Answer 4

I think a father should be affectionate with his children throughout their whole entire life.

I think it is AWESOME that your daughter sits on your lap still.

People who have a problem with it are the perverts, not you.

Your daughter is going to grow up and when she chooses her partner she is going to choose someone who is loving, caring, and affectionate just like her father. Girls who are ignored by their fathers usually end up with low self-esteem and pick out partners who treat them with disrespect.  I know this from experience. My father was abusive and I ended up with abusive men(until I met my current husband)

My husband and 2 year old daughter are super close.  She is always sitting on his lap, and I can see her still doing it 10 years from now.

Keep being the good father that you are, and don't worry about all the "haters" out there.

Answer 5

Aside from the pat on the rear bit (which *no one* is allowed to do) I still do all of those things with both of my parents and I'm seventeen.

I think it's ridiculous for a person to assume that the father must be a pervert. Most fathers would never think of their daughters in that way, no matter how old they get. The few who do have issues that have nothing to do with parenthood and everything to do with themselves.

I will still walk arm in arm with my dad out in public, or give him a hug or kiss him on the cheek because I love him, and I like to show it. I don't sit on his lap often, simply because at 5'8" it's a little uncomfortable, but I do occasionally while we're camping and we're by the fire. If we're sitting on the couch I'll lean against him.

I do all of these things with my mom as well. There's nothing wrong with it, and anyone who states otherwise is being silly.

Answer 6

I believe it's your kids and if affection is what you want to give them then who should have the right to take this away from you ..as parents! it's the ones that you see screaming abuse and spanking their kids real hard that people should see the problem with and not the other way about. Sometimes I wonder what this world is coming to! .. I 100% agree with you

Answer 7

I wouldn't say you're perverted but I must say that around the age of 12 your daughter is going to start exploring her own sexuality.  It's time that you set up boundaries.  Touching her bottom, sitting on your lap these things should be seen as inappropriate when she reaches a certain age.  Hugs and pecky kisses are totally fine.  It's a matter of helping your daughter establish a healthy sexual identity.

Answer 8

It's not bad at all! I have cousins who are adults and still sit on their father's lap. I never had that close of a bond with my dad and I really wish I did.