Virtual Hugs (by Elizabeth)
My son hates being touched. Kisses are the worst. Something about the light touch of lips and the possibility of moisture from saliva on his cheek is more than he can handle. I believe the only time I have given Alexander a good, sloppy, mother-to-son kiss was when he went under anesthesia just before adenoid surgery.
And hugs are marginally tolerated. If I've used “smelly creams,” then a hug is out of the question. The definition of a “smelly cream” is any lotion, moisturizer, or lip gloss with even the slightest hint of fragrance. And I swear he can smell it through walls and up two flights of stairs!
Knowing that a tiny touch or whiff of perfrume can send my sensory sensitive child over the edge forced me to find alternatives to hugs and kisses. In our household, we now practice “virtual hugs” and “air kisses” which can be sent across the room, down the hall, or over the phone. Not as satisfying to me of course, but these practical attempts at affection are reasonable substitutes. They are all I am likely to experience at this time in my son's life, and occasionally I catch my son smiling when I yell “virtual hugs” at the end of a long day.
