Affection

For the last two weeks our home has been filled with a few extra loved ones.  My BFF, Krysta came for a little visit.  We even got to share a little time with her husband.  Then just a few days later my baby sister, Lindsay and her baby London came for a visit.  Just a few days later my mother and other sister joined us.

Can you say?  Girls Weekend!!! (Tess did not want to be left out of all the girly fun.)

We had such a wonderful visit.  While they were here, I learned a wonderful lesson.

I watched as my children ran up to each family member and gave them a big hug.  I watched as they laid there head on them, or wrapped their arms around them.  I smiled when they climbed up on their lap and settled in.

It was then that I realized how giving of affection children are.

Each day I relish the moments that my kids greet Jonathan at the door with big hugs and kisses.

  

The words, “I love you mom” are music to my ears.

After the realization of this, I paid a little more attention.

I was amazed at how many times a day my kids showed some sort of affection to me, without my initiating it.

  

Even little Tess will crawl up on my lap, or walk over and plant a slobbery kiss on my face.

 

I even recognized how Jonathan and I use affection to help them feel better when they are upset, or to reinforce a particular rule.   We also use it when giving praise.

  

It taught me two important lessons:

1.  It is important to give affection to our kids.  They thrive on it, and it helps them feel secure.  It also teaches them to show affection.

2.  After watching how my kids can so easily show affection to other people outside our immediate family.  Most importantly how they give it so freely.  It reminded me of how I should be doing that in my own life.  Kids don’t think before they hug someone.  I, on the other hand question myself.  Should I hug my dear friend, should I not.  Is it okay to pat them on the back for a job well done?

 

After taking cues from my kids, I realized how important it is to show more affection.  Not only to my immediate family, but to other loved ones as well. 

It was so much fun to look back through my pictures and remember how affection has been a big part of raising our children.

Even when Jonathan and I hear the sound, “ooo” because we are kissing in front of the children.

…and now a few weeks later then promised, my scrapbook pages and love notes to my children in honor of February.

My challenge to you: write a love note to someone and show more affection then you normally do.