Holding hands: is the front hand leading? protecting?

I've often noticed that I hold my kids' hands with my hand at the front and theirs at the back, like I'm leading them around; but I hold my husband's hand the other way around - like he's leading me. What's that about? I hardly think he's the boss - we never negotiated that! The particularly curious thing is that, when I brought it up we tried holding hands the other way around it just felt wrong.

We never had to work out the hand-holding rule at the beginning of our relationship. And, I've checked out lots of other hand-holding dynamics and it's pretty much always guy in front and parent in front. So it must be a guy-girl thing? A protection thing? Maybe it's one of the last remaining acts of chivalry.

Anyway, that's all from me. Just noticed it, thought it was worth, you know, saying. Check out any celeb mags, people in the street and you'll probably notice it too - maybe you already have.