'My 14-Year-Old Son Likes To Hold My Hand Sometimes. Is It Weird?'
A mum has asked the online parenting community if it’s “weird” her 14-year-old still wants to hold her hand – and the responses are bringing out all the feels.
The parent took to Reddit to share that sometimes, while they’re out in public, her teen son will take her hand and stroll next to her. “I’m not uncomfortable, he’s clearly not uncomfortable, so I’ve never questioned it,” she said.
But a passing comment from her other half made her reconsider. “My husband just mentioned that it might be kind of weird and look creepy to others,” said Reddit user jazzyjustagirlx.
“My son is at least a whole head taller than me and apparently it looks like I’m a creeper. Then he also said that I should look up how it might affect our son’s mental/emotional growth?”
The parent said she doesn’t want to “discourage anything” and loves being able to hold her son’s hand.
“What mother wouldn’t appreciate it? And not [in] a creepy way. But in a ‘my teen boy still loves me and clearly isn’t embarrassed by me’ way,” she added.
The admission was shared to r/Parenting and the overwhelming consensus was that it’s not weird to hold hands with your child – no matter how old they are.
“I was 30 when I last held my father’s hand,” said one commenter, who added the heartbreaking reason they don’t anymore “is because he died”.
“It sounds wonderful,” added another. “I’m happy for you that your teen is still showing you affection. That’s a wonderful thing.”
Others suggested there will come a time when her son might not want to hold her hand, so she should enjoy it while she still can.
The parent of an 18-month-old said she hopes her son still wants to hold her hand when he’s 14 and added: “Your husband needs a reality check: let children be children as long as they can. Let boys be soft and emotional and affectionate.”
Another suggested it’s unusual for her husband to even bring it up: “It’s super strange of your husband, or anyone else, to sexualise holding hands with your teenager,” they said. “I think it is sweet and as long as you both like doing it, there is no harm in it.”
Parents of teens also responded to say they still hold their kids’ hands.
“My 15yo son still holds my hand or dances with me when we’re walking. It’s only weird if somebody makes it weird,” said user demonita.
Another parent said: “My 14 year old son does the same thing, there is nothing wrong with this. I hope he keeps doing it for the rest of his life because as his mother, it makes me feel really awesome when he comes up to me when I get out of a long ass day at work and he and grabs my hand and pulls me into a ‘Welcome home Mom!’ bear hug.”
Enjoy the hand-holding while it lasts!