I have not noticed any comments from the public for my hugging attacks on my daughter. But, reflecting on my Dad's parenting style, I can see why some people just don't get it. I have no complaints about how I was raised and I know my father loves me unconditionally. But I can tell how alien it feels for him to hug and hold his new granddaughter. It's a shame it has to be so awkward for him, but he seems to be enjoying his efforts at trying something new. I also think my father enjoys seeing me hold, hug and kiss my daughter, while recognizing that he was expected to handle fathering differently. It may take more exposure to the modern day dad, but I imagine most grandfathers out there will welcome the changing times, whether they admit it or not. And there will surely be some very happy babies out there.

As a father of 3 daughters, I feel strongly that embracing my children is part of a healthy relationship. The father/daughter relationship is incredibly important as it sets the stage for your daughter's future relationships with men. Withholding affection from your daughter might lead her to feel that she is not worthy of a man's attention. Girls learn a lot from watching the relationships that fathers have with women and model that behavior. I want my daughters to grow up feeling secure about themselves and to be able to express their feelings towards others. Bottomline, my relationship with my daughters is more important to me than my desire to please know-it-alls in the community. So far, we have raised an independent and self-confident teenager, a tender hearted pre-teen, and a free-spirited 6 year old. Hugs haven't spoiled them - hugs have given them the freedom to be themselves.

Joe,
I can't say I have experienced anything like this and can't comprehend why anyone would fault someone for displaying affection for their children. If anything, they don't realize what an impulse hugs and kisses are, sometimes you can't help but plant one on their cheek or pick them up and give them a hug. I think it's great that you how them how much you love them and enjoy your kids so much. I'd be curious to know what sorts of things have been said to you in public about this.

Clearly you could be some kind of freak and this really is a problem. But you know what....I see my dad three times a year. The smallest bit of affection from him shocks the heck out of me. Always being unsure where I stood with my own father had an effect on me that was not a positive one. I do not blame him for the consequence of what happened when I chose to react to all of this in a negative way, but it's not the happiest part of my life and I am envious of my friends who have a father who is in their life and who makes their love for them clear as day.

You are a wonderful father.

As a woman that was never hugged by her father, I envy your daughters. A father that loves and cares for his children should be able to display this love just as a mother does. I believe that if my relationship with my father were parallel to your relationship with your daughters, I may not have had as many relationship issues that I have had in my life. Please continue to show your children love and help to shape them into beautiful, secure women.

I just want to say Thank You for hugging your daughters. I hope you continue to ignore those opinionated people who find this display of affection as something bad. It's really not. This is coming from someone who has been constantly neglected by her father and this negative interaction has had a profound impact on my life as an adult. Too many children grow up having 'weekend' fathers... or no fathers at all. When I see someone that is that loving to their children, I think of them as a blessing in this world. Keep it up. And hug them extra for all the rest of the girls who didn't get those hugs!

A nurse one day pulled my mother in-law aside and cautioned her to do something about my holding and hugging my then newborn daughter, saying, "It doesn't make sense for a man to hold a child that much."

That's just crazy. Newborns especially receive physical and mental health benefits from physical contact.

I often wished I had a dad who loved me unconditionally. That never happened and won't now since he passed 10 years ago. Ignore those people and continue to let your children know you love them and are there for them. Marianne

I think its unreal in todays society that someone would say something as stupid as that. This nurse was probably abused as a child or did not receive the affection from her parents so she thinks that is normal and anything else is too excessive. You show your children love and affection and they will show that back ten fold in their attitude torwards other people. I still kiss and hug my son and my daughter at home or in public. I feel anything else is abnormal.

I recently read an article on a parenting blog in which people thought it was disgusting to see parents gush over their children in public. They felt like it was showing off. And I honestly think some people do believe that thing about showing love and spoiling your kids.

Personally, I think it's lovely to see a parent hugging and kissing their kids in public. That's also a beautiful picture! Gorgeous kids!

Joe,

I think you may be seeing a cultural prejudice which has been muted in the last 20 years, but is still persistent among people with strong ideas about gender roles. My wife came from a large and traditional family where hugs and "I Love Yous" were few if not absent altogether. In my family my mother was very physical both in love and discipline, and my father more disconnected. I may have been a "Mama's Boy" according to some standards, but I only saw myself as someone who had an intense love and respect for her. You aren't doing your kids any harm by hugging them. If you want to hug them...hug them, don't worry about what anyone thinks.

I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT YOU HUG YOUR GIRLS. I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS WHO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR FATHER, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE DIVORCED. AND HE HUGS THE GIRLS WHEN HE SEES THEM, AND I DON'T OBJECT AT ALL. I WISH I HAD MY DAD TO DO THAT. HE'S DECEASED NOW. TURN A DEAF EAR TO ALL THOSE HATING, THEY DON'T KNOW LOVE. YOU'RE A WONDERFUL DAD, ALWAYS STAY A PART OF THEIR LIVES.

Keep on hugging your kids Joe! It's a great thing. I have 3 boys and I show them affection with hugs, words, etc. all the time. I think they'll be better men because of it. I think what you're doing will help your daughters tremendously...most young ladies these days don't fall in love...they fall in "attention" because all men have to do is show them enough attention (that they never properly got..hugs, etc.) that they misconstrue as love and it leads to a ton of issues. Your daughters will never experience that. Happy Father's Day man!

Maybe if more fathers and mothers hug their kids these days the world wouldn't be as bad as it has turned out. Parents these days don't think twice about yelling at their kids in public. They need to hug them instead. If you can't Love your child then don't have them. I have 2 daughters and especially when they were younger their daddy would hug and kiss them in public. Now that they are older teenagers my daughters think it is so bad when we try to hug them. But we do it as much as possible. We need to start a "Hug a child day". Keep the HUGS coming.

Love 'em up I say!! A daughter who experiences the demonstrative affection of her father becomes a stronger woman. Hug your sons too! We're all better off know how to show our heart-felt affection for all of our kids. The world is a little bit better when we hug our kids. JFS

I do commend Mr. Burris and thank him for being a real man and showing his family how much he loves and care for his family the way in which a parent (man) should. I do believe that the people that may have issue with his affectionate caring and showing are the ones that don't know how are have never been shown real love from a parent.

Thanks for the words that encourage fathers showing affection to their children. I am currently under attack for showing affection to my 16 year old daughter. A man should always be sure to critically evaluate his own behavior just to make sure that he is not off base. However, I am sitcking by my daughter and refusing to modify my behavior for those who think that they have the only correct opinion and the right to force their hang ups on me.

1 question is it ok 4 a father to pat his son or daughter on the behind kiss them on the neck or touching them every 5 minutes or cause the child to become seductive toward the parent there is balance w/affection as the kids get older the affection need 2 mature 2 me that is not affection its an imbalance or an attraction or incest covered up under the word affection y would a 38 yr old dad constantly have his hands on his 15 yr old daughter butt if a boy feel her on the butt he'll get mad but he's teaching her a boy cant feel my butt but my dad im sorry that is not affection my dad didnt hug me however i know i shouldnt feel my kids on their butt

My husband and I have two boys, my husband and I are very affectionate people. My mother complains that my husband kisses and hugs my sons too much and thinks he is making them weak. She thinks that because they are boys they can't be kissed or hugged a lot during the day. I don't believe this. To this day we continue to hug and kiss our children, we love them a lot. What does everybody think?