Do You and Your SO Show Affection Towards Each Other in Front of Others?

Updated on September 18, 2012
D.P. asks from Sacramento, CA
21 answers

My husband and I frequently share a kiss, squeeze, ect in front of out kids, ALOT and quite frequently in front of others when we are out in public (kiss, holding hands, arm around my shoulder, just little things and NOT all the time). I notice alot of couples that show no affection towards each other in public. Sometimes I wonder if they show it to each other in privacy. I LOVE LOVE when my husband kisses me or hugs me in front of our children. I think it is very important for them to see and feel the love between their parents,. So do you and your show the affection in front of others?

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So What Happened?

Love most of these answers, yeah I get the slap on the ass every now and then too! Dont get me wrong we arent all over each other like we need a room or anything like that, lol, but we shwo affection and have some fun too!

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D.T.

answers from Muncie on

Oh yes, the affection is there..unless he's sick..which he has been, I've been getting cheek kisses the past week. *pout* He's finally was feeling good enough tonight that I got a good and proper kiss before he headed out to his "guy's night".

I like light affection in "public", a hug and quick kiss, hand holding, that sort. I can't stand couples who are full on "making out" in public. I'm happy they are so much into one another, but it's a bit much. A little modesty and moderation, please.

3 moms found this helpful
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C.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Yes, I think it's important to show affection. It's normal. Like you said, not "needing a room" affection but normal little kisses, hand holding etc. Keep it fun!

1 mom found this helpful

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E.D.

answers from Seattle on

We smooch in front of the kids, yes. Being the incredibly mature individuals that we are, we play like a couple of idiotic puppies more often than we share a romantic public display of affection.

To each their own :-)

5 moms found this helpful

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

Yes and no.
He puts his arm around me in church, at concerts, holds my hand on the beach, walking around shopping sometimes, driving in the car.
We give each other pecks sometimes in public.

But anything more than that, for us, is just more than we are comfortable with in public. No show here, folks. That is intimate. That is private.

So, yes, we do show affection in front of others, but no, we don't look like we need to get a room.

2 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Yup, usually just a kiss, holding hands, hugs. Just whatever we feel like within reason. :)

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M.P.

answers from San Francisco on

I agree with you, I think it's important for our children to see us show affection for each other. We hold hands in public but not much else. We kiss and say I love you in front of the kids. Today though we both played hooky, took the kids to school, took a drive, and just dinked around town. It was so fun and we were a little more generous with the PDA's than usual. I highly recommend it :)

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H.G.

answers from New York on

Good question. Hubby of 20 years and I hold hands in public and there might be a kiss on the cheek if we are leaving each others' company, however, he's not one for public displays of affection beyond that. Never thought about it before so it must not bother me. He's very affectionate at home but nothing over the top in front of our daughter. Hugs, kisses, a squeeze from behind while I'm cooking or something like that. Everything else is saved for behind closed doors.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.R.

answers from Sacramento on

It's interesting to see the subtle ways some couples show their affection in public. It doesn't always have to involve a kiss or a hug. Over the years, the ways of showing affection, both in public and in private, has evolved to a more subtle kind of thing. Sometimes it's just in a word that is used. Perhaps a certain look. Holding hands is more common with us now than hugging or kissing. Heck! I remember when he would sit down, no matter where we were and I would sit on his lap! As I look back on those days I tend to think that was overdoing it just a bit in public! But, we can't judge how affectionate any couple is just by what we see in their public behavior. Each couple has their own set of actions that show affection, and what we do ourselves might not be what is meaningful to another couple.

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M.R.

answers from Detroit on

We do at home all the time. Sometimes out in public its hard not to touch other and we do.
Not really into holding anyones hand unless Im trying to keep them from getting hit by a car. ;) Also gets on my nerves when couples walk around with their arms around each other. Umm, dorks, how do you walk like that? I like my personal space when Im trying to move I guess.
So yeah, we like to fondle each other as much as possible, but usually we like to keep it under wraps because we dont enjoy creeping people out. :)

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A.C.

answers from Savannah on

My cousin and her husband look like new acquaintances in public, but are all lovey dovey and hugging each other, etc all over the place at home....so nah, you can't really tell by looking at how people behave in public. A lot of that has to do with how they were raised, past experiences, body issues, whatever it is on their mind. The more I age, the more I learn that we just can't accurately judge as well as we would like to think we can.

As for us: we're pretty affectionate, no matter where we are. To what degree depends on what we're doing, where, and why. At my son's Kung Fu class, I've noticed he won't do anything more than a squeeze on my shoulder or hand, and sitting close. I almost got my feelings hurt the first time, because that's quite standoffish for us, but he felt "funny" with PDA when we were in a room full of kids (ages 5-13). We kiss, hug, dance, tickle, play fight, all kinds of stuff in front of our children at home. Sometimes they just smile and watch, sometimes they say "ewwww" and tease us, sometimes they jump in and join (especially the tickle, wrestling, or dancing). Jeremy might make a comment about one of my doo wop songs being sugary sweet with a hint of cheese, and he gets promptly dropped for one of the kids. Out and about, we hold hands, put our arms around each other, kiss on the cheek, or peck kisses, lay our heads on each others' shoulders, etc....no making out in public, but definitely affectionate.

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C.V.

answers from Los Angeles on

I've thought the same as you about others lol, yes we do to a certain extent.

1 mom found this helpful

S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

We do in the home in front of the kids, but not so much out in public.

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L.F.

answers from San Francisco on

Sometimes in public. But my hubby is more affectionate at home when we are in private. Our kids see us kiss or hold hands or hug and say I love you. But they don't see the other stuff :) I really really wish that he would show more affection though. Any suggestions???

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

I still have to remind my husband we have kids in the house with the type of 'hugs' he likes to give me. Our sons are 11 & 14!!!!

We hold hands all of the time. Pecks on the cheeks or lips are frequent in and out of the house. The I love you's are abundant. We also always show affection in front of the kids after a major argument that got a little heated.

It is so important to us that they see how a couple treats each other in all aspects of the relationship. Hopefully the modeling will help them in their relationships.

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S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

well, not groping or deep tongue kissing. but we hold hands, kiss or touch each other lightly, and are not concerned about letting it be clear how much we enjoy being with each other.
khairete
S.

1 mom found this helpful

F.H.

answers from Phoenix on

Yes, of course we do. We don't make out in front of the kids either...they are tweens and we already get a bunch of "eewwwww" with just a peck on the cheek. lol

When we are in public, my hubs always holds my hand, kisses me when we part, puts his arm around me, etc.

I always tend to notice other couples when we are out. Yesterday we were at Olive Garden and there was the cutest older couple (probably in their 60's) that came in, he was gently guiding her to her seat with his hand on her lower back, helping her get settled in, spoke sweetly to her and you could just SEE the love they had for each other. They were smiling and laughing, so cute. Then another couple came in shortly after...sat right next to us and I swear, they were our age (40's) and did not say ONE word to each other! He was on his phone the entire time and she just sat there quietly eating. So sad!

I even secretly grope my husband when no one is looking, he thinks its hysterical and loves it. lol Keeps things interesting to say the least! =)

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K.W.

answers from Sacramento on

I feel the same way about affection in front of my own kids. My husband and I are affectionate in public, not too much, but I always get comments from my friends that we are always "all over each other" when we have done nothing more than sit next to each other, hold hands, or kiss in front of them.
Sometimes I feel that they just don't get that from their husbands but they want to and thats why they comment.

A.G.

answers from Dallas on

Yes, we are a lot like you, and also like you, I think it's very important for children to see what healthy love and affection looks like between parents. We've been happily married for 18 years, and our kids don't even think it's gross when we kiss. I guess they're used to it. :)

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R.P.

answers from Sacramento on

Always be affectionate and do not let anyone or anything ever stand in your way of that. It is healthy and I think it is good for your children to see that their parents love each other and are not afraid to let the world know!

My parents were always that way in front of us kids and I think it helps to mold what kind of person you are as far as being a kind and loving person! My husband and I are affectionate/loving when and where we please too :)))))

Good job you two!!!

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C.R.

answers from Kansas City on

Only in my dreams do I get the affection that I need from my husband. My friends have asked on many occasions why he even got married. Sad!!!

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L.B.

answers from Cleveland on

I am glad to hear you guys show affection in public, it's nice to see.
I wish my husband was like that, but nope, I am not that lucky. At home, not a problem. He just is reserved in public. I envy you.

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