virtuallyemily

I believe that all people should have their bodily autonomy respected, especially children. While your sister is obviously not doing this out of malice if your children do not want to be hugged and kissed they should not be forced to because this can both a)send the wrong message about respecting boundaries and b)build resentment toward their aunt.

I would suggest making a rule that one must either get verbal permission before hugging or kissing or maybe just that they must respect it when someone verbally tells them no. Then talk to your sister and explain that your kids love her but that it's not OK to hug them without warning and so often and that if they don't want to it's not because they don't care about her but it's because they just don't want to at that time. Also talk to your sons about what they want and maybe try to explain to then that their aunt loves them and this is one way for her to express it so maybe they could consider allowing one hello and goodbye hug and maybe cheek kiss most of the time.