How do you become more physically affectionate with your parents as an adult?

Assalamu alaikum,

I’m a 22M from a South Asian/Brown household, and growing up we were never really physically affectionate. With my dad it was usually just an occasional hug on Eid, and with my mom maybe a side hug here and there — nothing beyond that was normal for us.

Over the past few years since moving to the US for undergrad, my relationship with my parents has genuinely transformed. Alhamdulillah, we’ve become really close — I’d honestly describe it as best friends at this point. We talk about life, love, marriage, and everything in between very openly, and I feel a deep emotional connection with them.

The thing is, I’m naturally a physically affectionate person (I like hugs, handshakes, etc.), but I’ve always felt a bit “stuck” when it comes to expressing that with my parents because of how we grew up.

But this year, when I visited them after 4 years, I did manage to hug my dad a few times and give my mom some kisses on the head, which felt really nice. But I still feel like I’m holding back, and it doesn’t feel like “enough” for how much love I actually have for them.

They’re coming to visit me next week, and from now I really want to change this and be more openly affectionate with them in a natural way for the rest of my life!

For those of you who are close with your parents and express affection physically, how did you start? Any advice on how to make it feel more normal and less awkward?