Why do they do that? Where and when did this start?
I realize I’m generalizing here, but as in most cases, I don’t care.
-Dave Barry
Rosy checks are considered “cute”. Pinching is cheaper and easier than makeup.
I think llardball meant, “why do aunts pinch the cheeks of young nieces’ and nephews’?”
Boring answer: It’s a subconcious way of checking the health of the children, making sure they’re eating enough and all that.
slightly less boring answer: Because they’re just so CUTE!
Baby fat is one of those affection releasers, like oversized eyes and foreshortened limbs. I mean, young’ns dimensions aren’t just smaller, they are also different in relation to one another. So mammalian brains pick up those dimensional clues at a very basic level. Cuteness is not superficial - mammals of most species get the urge to cuddle the young of most mammals; this is why dogs are (hopefully) gentle with babies, and people get all gooey about puppies.
ITA with Boris. It’s a mammal thing. It goes along with the turned up (or proportionally smaller) nose and small chin necessary for mammals to nurse. The chunkier the cheeks, the larger the desire to give them a little squeeze. It also makes the child look like they’re smiling bigger.
On a side note: when your own toddler starts walking and develops those chunky toddler thighs and calves it makes you want to squeeze those. This is beneficial to the child because those newly used muscles need lots of massaging.
Definately a “mammal thing” When a Fire Ant pinches you it is not cause it thinks you’re cute.And it really hurts too , that Aunt Ethyl tweak doesn’t even compare.
“Pardon me while I have a strange interlude.”-Marx
I am an aunt and I have never done that to my two nieces or nephew…course I am a young and hip aunt, all of 31 < grin >
One thing I really hated was the aunt or the grandma playing with my hair in my teens. This is something I will never do to my nieces.
Sheesh, never touch a teenage girls hair!