Image via Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Olivia Hartley recently took to Instagram to share a touching moment with her three-year-old son, Leo, where she gives him a kiss. Unfortunately, the sweet gesture was met with criticism from some online trolls who felt compelled to express their disapproval of her showing affection to her child in such a manner.
Let’s be clear: there’s nothing strange about a mother kissing her toddler on the lips. However, some commenters decided to make it their business to criticize, suggesting that Olivia’s kiss resembled the affection she shows her husband.
It’s disheartening to see people likening a simple, loving interaction between a mother and her child to something inappropriate. The child is still very much her little one, and there’s nothing wrong with a mother showcasing her love in this way.
My own upbringing lacked warmth and affection, so I would cherish having a moment like that captured on camera. Why do we have to vilify every loving moment we see?
If you’re one of those who feels the need to troll celebrity accounts with your unsolicited opinions, here’s a taste of what Olivia faced:
- “Kissing your kid like your husband? Not healthy for him.”
- “Ehhhhh gonna give the kid lip aids.”
- “That’s how I got lip herpes as a kid. Lip kissers.”
- “Adorable. But would it be appropriate if the genders were switched?”
- “Yeah, but it’s gross. That’s how kids get lip herpes.”
There’s a lot to unpack in these comments. First off, let’s agree that insinuating these moments are sexual is completely misguided. And it seems many of the negative remarks come from individuals whose childhoods were marred by cold sores. For anyone dealing with cold sores, please refrain from kissing anyone on the lips—that’s just plain irresponsible.
On the other hand, a loving mother sharing a moment of joy during a tough week with the caption “Finding hope in this” is the kind of positivity we truly need more of.
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In summary, Olivia Hartley’s affectionate post was unfairly scrutinized by online critics who fail to recognize the innocence of a loving mother-son moment.