When it was time for us to go on to my parents' the kids were about bolting down the hallway, and I did something I've done in the past as their mom, to say hey, don't we have hugs for grandma? I mean, at 13 and 15 if they can escape a hug they will, but their grandma's not going to be around forever and deserves a proper goodbye. S13 had hugged her on the way in and said "only one hug per grandma per day." So he refused. S15 gave her a nice hug goodbye. I gave her a hug goodbye. You could probably argue that I shouldn't force the kids to show affection for their relatives, and I could see validity in that, but teens are squirrely and reticent, and a little push might be welcome encouragement. At their age I was really weird about hugs and longed for it to be normal and natural, and I loved it when people were just free and easy with their emotions toward me even though I had a hard time coming forward with my own. I know my kids are not a repeat of me, but based on my history, I think nudging in that area doesn't hurt. I think it bugs MIL that they don't think of it and do it themselves. Oh well, whatever. I do the best I can. I don't recall H saying bye to any of us. H's brother came after we had eaten, so we visited with him a little too. It was all fine. Oh also H asked S15 to drive him over to Starbucks, which was nice, although Starbucks ended up being closed, S15 got some attention from MIL and his uncle for being so grownup to be driving.
H offered to pick up coffee for people so I asked for my usual tall soy misto, extra hot. H said "They hate it when you ask for extra hot. That's annoying." I didn't answer that, it was fine, whatever. I just really don't think the Starbucks people hate that, and when I'm paying for my expensive coffee there they usually seem fine with making it how I want it.
I think that you were well within parental rights to make Ss hug MIL. That's what parents do, lol, you have my vote!
And sorry, S17 works at Starbucks and ya, they hate it...lmao!!! Not hate, but you get an eye roll and an internal sigh
