New Delhi, Nov. 1 -- a parent supported a 16-year-old's refusal to embrace a family friend, while the girl's grandmother regarded the refusal as rude.

children should not be forced or made to feel guilty about giving hugs and kisses, including to relatives.

R. Eric Thomas, the columnist behind Asking Eric, supported the teenager's boundary. His advice placed responsibility for managing the next visit on the adults, rather than requiring the girl to accept unwanted contact to keep everyone else comfortable.

In the Washington Post column, the parent describes visiting the grandmother when her friend approached the daughter for a hug. The girl offered her hand, then stepped back and explained that she did not like hugging. The parent redi...