Ask Amy: Mom’s financial infusion harms her
I may consider you a good friend, but I don't want to hug you at every (or any) meetup.
I especially don't want to hug during a pandemic!
It seems this happens so fast, it's hard to stop the unwanted physical contact.
Any ideas short of sending out an email to known huggers that I really don't like this physical contact?
Shouldn't people consider that others may not welcome physical contact, especially these days?
– Hands Off
Dear Hands Off: The pandemic did relieve people of the social pressure to hug and be hugged. Now that our world seems to be opening again, many people are racing headlong into close physical contact.
If you don’t want to be hugged, you may have to be very assertive about it. And you’ll need to train the huggers in your circle.
Use body language (putting both hands out) and say, “Sorry – I’ve stopped hugging. I hope a fist-bump will do…?”
Dear Amy: “A Concerned Mother” was appalled by the disgusting conditions in her son’s dorm room.
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