I need to know if I’ve been embarrassing myself totally for years and years and years.
I’m a bit of a kisser. I like to do the hello-kissy-kiss-kiss thing when it’s someone I know reasonably well. It’s nice. See, that’s me in the picture above saying ‘oh, hello, nice to make your acquaintance.’ Ha! Not really, we’re talking a little peck at most. Occasionally it’s a double-job as I’m influenced by the Italians, but generally it’s a fleeting peck.
But when I do the kiss, I do make actual lip to cheek contact.
Someone has mentioned that this is majorly embarrassing and you’re supposed to kiss the air next to the cheek, not the cheek itself.
Who knew?
Anyway, I tried out the air-kiss and I felt like a total air-head kissing into space like that with the little ‘mwah’ sound. Man, what an idiot. So I went back to making actual cheek contact.
Does anyone else out there make contact?
[Image found here]
picklebug says
My nan’s husband Bruce tries to kiss me on the lips, now that’s awkward!
I follow the lead of the other person, usually an air kiss but really depends on the person. Like if it was you, I’d kiss your cheek too cos you’d be right there in my face! But others hover back a bit. I wasn’t brought up by kissy parents, very loving but not kissy, so was a bit wierd for me when I got older. But it’s cool now. You’re alright, keep doing what you like, it’s a sign of affection so it shouldn’t matter! Just don’t go for the lips!
Sorry for the novel!
Rach x
Karen Wilson says
I think I make a sort of side-on contact, since my face is at a right angle to their cheek, but I usually only do any sort of kiss with people I’m pretty close to. If someone I’m not that close to (or don’t like that much) tries to go for the kiss I do the ‘air’ thing.
Then I have a few friends who kiss on the lips too…. but most of them are people I’ve pashed before anyway (girls and boys) so there isn’t much awkwardness.
MultipleMum says
I prefer to kiss with skin contact (not air). I only kiss those who that is cool with. I am finding a resurgence in use of hand shaking in my circles. x
trudi@maudeandme says
Haven’t really given this much thought before, but now that you have bought it up- if I have to it would be air!
lou says
I kinda do a bit of both. Cheek to cheek contact lips off face with a tiny mwar, more like a hmmm. Oh now that sounds creepy. I cant do that air kiss thing… seems unnatural. x
Diminishing Lucy says
I am a real kisser. Every time. Air kiss shmare kiss. Give me a real life cheek every time. Xx
ally says
If its not skin contact its more like spitting at them – – ewwwww!!!
therhythmmethod says
No wonder you’ve hooked up with the Italians.
I think skin contact is lovely when its genuine. If people are freaked out about it, it’s not your problem, it’s theirs.
Peggy says
I haven’t even really thought about this until now. I definitely touch my cheek on the other person’s cheek but my lips don’t actually touch their skin. I think I kind of kiss outwards with my lips so still make the kiss gesture. Of course I smother close friends and family with wet sloppy kisses.
MummyK says
It took me a while to figure this out too. I think I kinda do air kiss and real kiss combo, not sure how exactly.
jody says
i love the kiss, cheek or air. I just hate the awkward pause when you don’t know whether to kiss or not..
Shelley @ My Shoebox Life says
I do the cheek kiss. If they don’t turn their head enough and it’s the air, so be it. But my pet hate is a relative who kisses every female on the lips. I can’t stand it. No matter how much you turn your head, he puckers those lips and goes for the mouth every time. Gag.
Naturally Carol says
Hi Maxabella..if I kiss cheeks then the kiss lands on the cheek. It depends on what is appropriate, how I’m feeling,how the other person is welcoming me and responding to me..so greeting can be anywhere from a casual hi or wave to a handshake, a side hug, a touch on the arm, or graduating to a hug, or a hug with a kiss on the cheek! That’s quite a range isn’t it?
Farmers Wifey says
I’m a touchy feely person and I kiss my friends when I say hello..on the cheeks of course.
I think its wonderful to show affection to those who are special to you…
I seem to remember you kissed my cheek when we met, and I kissed you too, I thought you were amazing and I still do x
Sarah Mac says
Kisses, hugs, the whole caboodle, I love it! But only with those I feel comfortable with.
No objections to the social kiss. It’s the accidental headbutting when they go for the unexpected 2nd or sometimes 3rd one that can be a tad embarrassing!
BabyMac says
Contact ESSENTIAL. What’s the point otherwise? We can be committing social suicide together…
DangGina says
I figure if you’re going in for the European double cheek kiss, you might as well make contact! 🙂
Rhonda says
I’m not a toucher, I don’t kiss anyone or even hug. I don’t know if you’re supposed to kiss the air or make contact, because I just avoid the whole thing altogether.
Niki Hudson says
I stick to hugs (I think Americans in general are less physically affectionate). Even my own family only does the “cheek press” (not really a kiss, not really a hug) with each other. Kisses are reserved for significant others and, sometimes, small children (if related or of a close friend).
I think your warm greeting is a wonderful practice. Don’t give it up or stop being YOU! 🙂
The Beetle Shack says
Smooch on, I say!
Leisa says
I think I make contact – I’ve never thought about it before! My mother in law and my sister in law go for the lips every time. I’m really uncomfortable with that so have become adept at avoiding lip to lip contact. Gee I don’t even kiss my own family like that!
Jodi @ The Scribble Den says
I’m a fan of the air kiss with a big ***Mwah*** So tacky I know!
Quill and Ink Handmade says
I do hate air kissing. I mean, what’s the point?
I’m a big kisser, hugger, hand-holder, cuddle-snuggler, neck-nuzzler, and arm-linker (when walking or standing around chatting).
Obviously, most of these do not apply to strangers (I’m laughing at the idea of me nuzzling into the neck of some random on the street – ha!). But I do kiss strangers on the cheek if I’m meeting them for the first time, and I always hug and (cheek) kiss older people on a first meeting.
Lucky for me, my friends and family are very affectionate too. It seriously takes more than 30 minutes to leave a family gathering, with all that kissing and hugging going on…
Great post, as always x
Laura says
Gosh, another faux pas to look out for. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my “friendlier” friends it’s if you wanna hug and kiss do it as your will. I don’t see why anyone would be upset by a little bit of love. (Then again, I would refrain from plunging the tongue or humping legs. 😉 But cheeks, they were made to be kissed!
Kellie says
Oh, what a great topic. The Bloke in The Shed’s family are big kissers, where it’s just not the done thing on my side of the family. I love the whole kissy thing, but tend to just touch cheeks and kiss into the air. Though a couple of his rellies do the peck on the cheek. When it happens, it certainly doesn’t embarrass me. However, if I do it, I feel slightly weird! Not helping, am I? 😉
Sannah says
I never know what to do and am always worried I am going to screw up! I generally do something in between, and more of a cheek side thing, rather than a full blow lips on cheek, unless I know them really well. But I am not a fan of kissing air either, And I never know how long you need to know someone before you should greet them with a kiss, rather than just saying hello! I think I overthink things, I like your attitude of just diving in because that feels right to you. Sometimes I wish our society had more definte rules about these things, so that I just knew what was right.
Vanessa says
Now you’ve got me all embarrassed. Never even considered an air kiss. I go for the cheek and often. I have on friend who is Scottish and she me that ‘wee Scots’ don’t kiss. So I consciously don’t peck her. I have a Dutch friend who kisses three times.
I loved the awards ceremonies each night on th Tour de France and watching the hesitation… one kiss, two kisses…
babygalah says
I once worked in a restaurant where everyone air kissed everyone repeatedly….and it drove em insane ! Never met a more awkward, back stabbing false bunch of people…..SO I am all for the contact kiss with sincerity.
Kiss away I say…..
Ms Styling You says
Making contact is a tradition in our extended family (on my late mum’s side). There’s actually a full pucker up before going in and we call it the Steinbeck kiss.
Rhianna says
I reckon that if you are going to kiss then there needs to be contact other wise what is the point? I think the air kiss is reserved for those who you don’t know well (or possibly don’t even like that much but feel obliged to include when there is a large group) Personally I am not really a kisser either way as that whole getting close to people is a bit tricky at times 🙂
Tas says
Cheeks all the way for me.
You have just reminded me that my father in law does the lip thing. It isn’t creepy in any way- he is a nice guy- but it just never seems right. I’d prefer cheek…or even air.
Miss Pink says
I see no problem with it!
Rachel {Little Bits of Lovely} says
Cheeks are the way for me too; although until this post I didn’t think too much about it! xx
Miss Mandy says
I say, “whack it on the cheek big time”
If you’re going to do it might as well go the whole hog.
Nurture the Little People says
I ALWAYS make contact, after all, is that what connecting is about?
No need to be embarrassed sweets, your doing a beautiful thing with the lip on cheek action!
Nicola
Sandrine says
In France people kiss everybody (kind of almost) 🙂 No such thing of a big hug 🙂 So after a while you may be glad for air kissing :)xx
Stasha says
My family is Mediteranian and not to make contact when kissing is considered cold and rude. My problem is how many times. We go right, left, right cheek. And most of the time when I kiss more then once I bang my head with the surprised greeter…
tim coulson says
i kinda make contact. i think i made contact when i first met you. i see nothing wrong with it. i do get weirded out when people kiss you on the lips when meeting. is that just me?
Naomi says
I do both. My FIL is Swiss, so for him the double air kiss is the norm, as it is with his family and friends. For some people I do the skin to lips kiss.
With some friends, we do the lips to lips thing. We have been friends a long, long time. 🙂
Kymmie says
I put my lipstick all over them. And I’m not even apologetic! Love it 😉 xx
Abbie says
What happened with plain affection being wrong?!? A kiss a hug that is pefectly acceptable. If that is who you are, go for it. People will know that and it eill be okay. Now if they shrink away that is their problem and you may have to approach them differently afterwards. But I think everyone needs affection. Maybe that would stop people from being such a@#es or bit$%#.