Thursday, April 8, 2010

Love Scenes

DH and I noticed a funny thing when we were watching the first episode of "Mad Men" Season 3, with DS (29 mos) sitting next to us on the couch (as usual, refusing to go to bed). Suddenly, a love scene came on, and DS averted his eyes with a sly smile, and made an "ugghh" sound as if it grossed him out! Which DH said was the exact reaction he used to have as a child, whenever sensual images appeared on TV.

As far as I know, we haven't done anything to reinforce any sort of 'yuck factor' about these kinds of images. I wonder if this is some sort of innate human reaction he had, or if perhaps we are somehow reinforcing it subconsciously?

Any experiences with this? How do you handle it?

5 comments:

nej said...

Huh. We have never watched adult tv with E, who is 32 months. I wonder if he'd react the same way or if he'd just start a whole long conversation about how he was kissing her and she was kissing him and some people like to be kissed but some people just like hugs and if you don't like hugs then you can just shake hands or high five or maybe you can just smile or maybe you can...

Jac said...

I haven't watched any adult TV with DS (31 mos) yet so I don't know. I do recall having the exact same reaction when I was little despite the fact that my parents were very matter-of-fact about it.

I think it's funny if DH and I are getting snuggly, DS always tries to get in the middle of us. And he once yelled at DH "don't kiss my mummy!". Which, of course, made us both laugh. Not sure what kind of Oedipal complex that is going to give him.

paola said...

New Years Eve, Noah (5) had had too many carbs before bed and woke with a tummyache while we were watching repeats of Sex and the City on the tely. He came down with us and snuggled for a while. It was the fianl episode of the last season. All relatively innocuous, except for the last 2 minutes when Samantha gets her mojo back and there is a scene of her humping her bloke. We were not expecting the scene. We hurried to switch channels, but Noah did however get an eye full! He turned shyly away and started to nervously laugh. I can't even remember what we told him, but he wasn't interested in it anyway. I was also surprised by his reaction. As you said, he seemed to inately know there was something sensual ( well sexual in this case) and found it embarassing. I wonder if it is a protection mecchanism small human beings have.

caramama said...

I have no clue how to handle it. None. I tend toward the matter-of-fact side of things. Also, I actually think it's important for my kids to see my husband and me hugging and kissing (nothing more, and not like making-out kissing) so they know it is normal to feel and show affection.

Last weekend, I was with my 3 yo, her friend (also 3) and the other mom, and while we were waiting for the metro, there was a young couple (early 20s) hugging and kissing right next to us. My daughter totally points at them and announced to me (and the rest of the passengers), "Mommy, they are hugging!" I just said, "Yes. They are hugging." And then turned her attention elsewhere. I have a feeling she would have kept narrating like nej's kid if I didn't distract her.

That's all I've got.

blue said...

Well, my son is still too little to talk, let alone watch TV, and we haven't really ever let our daughter, who is almost six, watch adult TV. We're not TV watcher here (but not in a snobby "you're an ass if you do" kind of way), but we do let DD watch movies on the weekends. One of her favorites is The Sound of Music. We were watching it together recently (for the 50th time). During the scene when Maria and Captain VonTrapp kiss for the first time, she turned to me and said, "Let's kiss like they do". We gave each other a peck on the lips and I was struck by how wonderfully innocent my child is.

She has also said that a couple is "married now" when characters kiss in kids' movies. Thank God it's not that easy!

I wonder if your son is noticing that the images are very human and normal, since he sees you and your husband being loving toward one another, but he's a little embarrassed to see other people doing this. Also, I do remember feeling like I innately understood sensuality at a young age, but was super embarrassed to recognize it in front of my parents. Of course, I was older than your DS is, but still...