Do you hold hands?

[sharon]

My wife and I were on a date the other night, walking through Highland holding hands, and it occurred to me to wonder - do you hold hands in public? Do you generally feel safe enough to do so? Have you ever been somewhere where you felt it would be unsafe to hold hands with your spouse/partner?

[dara1012]

Interesting that you posted this question because I was at the MOA yesterday with one of my clients and I was pushing her in a wheelchair and having a difficult time navigating the crowds as unfortunately many people are not very aware of wheelchairs and so it is a lot of weaving. I was looking for a path to safely guide the wheelchair and was annoyed at this couple holding hands because it meant that I had to make a sharp turn around them (not easy with this wheelchair). I am sure I had an annoyed look on my face as I looked up from their hands and realized it was two women. I felt badly that my look of annoyance could have been interpreted as negative towards their sexual orientation, but it certainly wasn't. I was merely annoyed that they didn't drop hands to help someone navigate a crowd in a wheelchair.

My husband and I rarely hold hands in public and I cannot think of a time recently when we have done so in a mall. I most often hold hands when we are walking to and from a restaurant on a "date" but rarely on a regular running errands type outing.

Once when I was visiting a good female friend in Chicago we were walking down the street together holding hands and genuinely enjoying each others company and we found ourselves being made fun of and feeling unsafe by two men across the street who were yelling homophobic statements. The woman I was with was not "out" at the time (though she is now), but had recently shaved her head. It was an eye opening experience for me as to how unsafe it could feel to simply holds hands with someone you care for.

[irish]

We sometimes "hold fingers", I'll hook my fore finger with his pinky, but not too often. Like Dara mentioned, we do it if we're on a date or sometimes just strolling around. But no, not when we're out and about running errands. I've never felt unsafe holding hands, but I remember when we first started dating we would hold hands all the time and man the looks we got at some places!! (he's very dark skinned, and I'm very pale lol). We haven't been stared at in a long time...but I could just be oblivious and not even paying attention!

[laurac]

Yep, we do. After 23.5 years of marriage we still want to.

[megs25]

DH likes to more than I do. He's much taller than I am so I find it sort of awkward if we're trying to walk at a decent pace or look at things. DS is in his stroller most often, so it's a non-issue for the most part.

[nevaehsmom327]

I love to hold hands in public dh and i are not afraid to show a little pda hehe

[lilmermaid]

If we are out on a date without the kiddos, yes!

[laurac]

Lil, you and Mr Lil make such a cute couple!

[lilmermaid]

Awwww Thanks LC! We make good looking kiddos too!

We sometimes hold hands in the car when we are driving some where too!

[cakemakermom]

I was going to reply earlier, but then read where this post is.
So on a different note, I hold hands with my mother in public sometimes, especially when it's busy. I wonder if people realize that we're related or jump to the conclusion that we're lovers? We've held hands in the MOA and at zoos, crafting fairs and anywhere it's busy enough to lose her. I like to assume that people understand that she's my mother, or simply don't care that I'm holding hands with anyone.

[angel22]

I'm a hand holder. I hold hands with DH (when he lets me,) with my grandma, my mom, my kids and sometimes even my sister. When I was in school I held hands with my friends all of the time. I have no problem with anyone holding hands in public. =)

[jrose]

We hold hands when we don't have the kids with us otherwise we are holding hands with the kids.

[love]

Awwww Thanks LC! We make good looking kiddos too!

I can attest to that!!! I saw them yesterday!

[lilmermaid]

THX Love! It was good to run into you yesterday! T looked awesome in his costume too! DH thought it was so cool!!!!

[gwensmama9206]

Yep! Either we're holding hands or DH will have his hands around my waist We're all about PDA