Come give me a hug

 "Come give me a hug, don’t be rude.”

“i haven’t seen you in awhile, can i have a kiss?”

don’t guilt my child into giving you affection.

if they don’t want to hug you,
they don’t have to.

if they don’t want to kiss you,
they don’t have to.

they don’t owe you anything
just because you’re older,
just because you’re family,
just because you showed up.

love isn’t something you demand
it’s something you build.

and i’m not raising a child
who feels like they have to ignore their own comfort
to keep someone else happy.

if they say no,
that’s the answer.

and i’ll stand behind it
every single time.