What is the best way to answer when my partner shows me a photo of him as a kid and asks "Was I cute as a kid?"
Hey, I have a moral question.
If my boyfriend (25yo) shows me a photo of him as a kid, and asks me "Was I cute?" What is the appropriate response?
Of course my boyfriend is so cute, but saying that him as a kid was cute is inappropriate? Just because he was like 12yo in that picture?
Where is the line here? I usually refuse to have opinions on kids appearances because usually I have none, and I don't know if saying that a kid looks "cute" is creepy.
Cuteness has nothing to do with sexual attraction. Loads of things are cute. Kittens, puppies, red pandas, baby ducks are some examples of cute things. Basically anything that makes you go "aww" is cute.
If he was asking if you thought he was hot as a kid, that would be weird and you would be right to feel like that is inappropriate.
To OP, most kids look like some version of Elmer Fudd. My husband was a fat little shit as a baby/young child (he's tall and skinny now). I poke fun at him for it, a lot. Just like he pokes fun at me for looking exactly like Monchichi as a young kid.
To me, the issue isn't that you confirming he was cute is inappropriate. As others have stated, kittens are cute, babies are cute, etc, etc. What I find weird is why is he even asking? Why does he care about whether or not you think he was cute at that age? I've shown pics of myself to partners plenty of times and never have I asked them "Was I cute?" Why does he need this type of approval from you on a topic that's irrelevant (he is no longer a child)?
I always remind him that he is cute, it was some playful question, he has a little bit of a goofy personality that I like a lot. He also does many random things. This was some random question, but I didn't really know how to respond.
I don't think it's any different from saying that your newborn is cute or someone's toddler is a cute kid. It has nothing to do with sexual attraction to the child. Now, I don't know if your BF is looking for sexual attraction to his younger self. I'd suggest asking probing questions as to the answer he's looking for. Communication is key to any and all relationships
OK, serious response then - you seem to be confusing sexual attraction with the adorability of children.
As long as your reply isn't "well I'd smash that!" then you should be fine. Acceptable answers include: "who knew that kid would grow up to be such a spicy meatball as your good self" and "you look adorable" and "I'm glad you outgrew those ears/teeth" (delete where applicable).
Context matters if we're talking about the nuances of the english language.
Cute: Appealing in a pretty or endearing way.
Cute: Sexually attractive.
In the right context it's a none issue to call a child cute in an endearing way. This is very common.
If you say it meaning the second definition, you should be locked up in jail.
Obviously in this scenario its fine, because you where asked incontext of an endearing manner (I hope), so the repsonse would also be in an endearing manner (i hope).
I don't think so, I don't talk to children in general. Every interaction with children always feels like walking on eggshells so I just say Hi, and stick to common courtesy. I just don't know how to talk to them.
You seem to be familiar with only one narrow meaning of that word, while the word means different things and later the meaning that implies sexual attractiveness was added recently and many dictionaries don't even have that definition.
Hmm, seems like you have 2 main points in your post (1 OP is overly worried, 2 sexual abuse is the real concern), so keeping both but with a more neutral tone:
You should not be worried about saying that a kid looks cute. The real concern that you're hinting at with behavior toward children is anything that connotes sexual abuse, and the comment "that is a cute kid" is very different from that.
Or you could go for a positive tone:
You have nothing to worry about! Saying a kid looks cute is very different from sexualizing them.