Snuggle

Snuggle your kids. Pull them up on your lap. Rock them. Hug them. Kiss them. Massage their feet. Rub their backs. Tickle their necks. Play with their hair. Rub lotion into their legs, arms, and feet after a bath. Wrap them warm in blankets with socks on and snuggle on the couch. Pull out the sleeper sofa or blow up the air mattress and have cuddle time with popcorn and a movie in the living room. Let them climb into your bed in the morning. Climb into their bed in the morning and cuddle. Always hug hello and always hug goodbye. Shaking hands is for strangers. Kiss goodnight. Have them hug each other goodnight and goodbye.

Develop an affectionate family that has a bond strong enough to give comfort through a knowing hug. You won't regret raising an affectionate child. The human touch is a powerful communicator. When the teen years become trying, when they leave home and face their own adult life challenges, coming back "home" into a parent's embrace can give the assurance that words sometimes can't convey. It's the knowing squeeze of a hand, the crying on a shoulder, the embrace of strong loving arms that say "I'll hold you up when you can't stand up." Cultivate an affection that begins with rocking a newborn, snuggling a toddler, cuddles in bed with a child, a reassuring hug with your teen, foot massages with a young adult child.

Be an affectionate mother. Meet your child's emotional needs and fill their "affection bank" every day with the deposits of compassion. Be a compassionate mother when your toddler tumbles, when your newborn cries for comfort in a cradle, when your little one needs some rocking before bed, or your older child needs some hugs or sofa time.

I'm not talking about rocking your child to sleep every night because you've spoiled them and they can't go to sleep any other way. I'm not talking about creating a sleep environment that makes your infant or child completely dependent on you for sleep. There is a difference. We always worked hard to develop good sleep routines and habits for our children but a healthy bedtime routine (wind down) included lots of snuggle and affection. As a mother I did infant massage on my babies and have kept it up all their lives. They love back rubs and they know how to give a good one back. We have some of the best heart to heart talks when we are snuggling, massaging each others feet, talking in bed on an early morning, or cuddling on the sofa. I will always cherish rocking them every evening before bed....priceless.

Give your children the security of affection.