Don't assume !! Do you tell your kids you love them, often? Do you show them?

My father never told me until I was 20 that he loved me, however I always knew!!! My mother told me and showed me. I tell my son I love him everyday and try to show him. My husband does the same. It was so important to me for my dad to say it and he finally did after he lost his father. I think he realized that you never know how long you will be on earth so you better tell everyone how you feel. I think he regrets never telling his father how much he loved him, although I know that he knew!!

I tell my son I love him all the time, especially when we are ready to go to sleep, we say our prayers together and then I tell him how much I love him, give him a huge hug and kiss (both of us do! and thats every night!) Growing up i never heard my parents telling me how much they loved me, i assumed they just did. Only lately now that we have all grown up, and i live so far away from them, everytime they call and before they end their call, they say that they love me... so does my aunties and sister and brothers!

I love you was not something I heard as a child either. My mom is a big believer in actions speak louder than words, which I agree with but it's always nice to hear the words too. I tell my children at least five or six times a day that I love them and I show them as well. They are the most important things in my life and there's no way I ever want them to wonder whether or not they are important.

Wow, isn't it amazing how three little words can change the way you view yourself and others? I am a social worker, working with abused, abandoned and neglected children. I see the pain and anger in these children, along with the loneliness and self-blaming that goes along with abusive/neglectful parents. I will never forget the day that my 16-year-old daughter accused me of caring for "those kids" more than I cared about her. I sat her down and told her that I loved her, I would always love her, and that she was my world. Then I took her to work with me to a few of the foster homes and group homes to let her see how these children were doing with their lives compared to her. She became instant friends with a few of "my kids" and told me a few weeks later that those kids needed me and that she was secure in the knowledge of my love for her. "Mom," she said, "I feel so sorry for those kids because they don't have a mom like you." It was the best feeling in the world. WebMann, I'm very sorry you didn't have your parents or someone else to show you the love and affection you needed as a child. But as you said, you found other people to show you that you are worth something, and you know what, you are worth something. And I don't even know you. But I believe that each of us is worthy of good things in our lives. Hang in there!

I too was emotionally neglected to if that is what it is called I had only had a mom and a lot of abusive aunts and cousins and all i heard growing up was bad deaming abusive thigs i cant recall my mom or family ever saying or talking about love they dispalyed a lot of hate toward each other and i grew up a bitter person i have anger issues that take control of my everyday life, yes it is very inportant to tell your loved ones you do love them regularly and show them with hugs and kisses and facial expressions, i never learned how to love and wish i did.. sorry it happened to you too

I'm glad that you now know your true worth. I was fortunate that I grew up in a home where I was told "I love you" everyday. I also tell my two children and hubby that I love them often. Not only do I tell them, I try to show them in a hundred of different ways. I think showing is more important than telling it.

I have to agree with you about how important it is to tell your kids you love them and showing them you do. I have to give my mom & dad a hand at making sure all us 5 kids growing up felt loved, cared for, and taken care of. I remember at times us kids were having bad times getting a long and my mom would make family time where we would all write down 3 things we didn't like about each other & 3 things we liked about each other. Boy was it hard thinking of the good things, but we couldn't leave the group time until we all came up with unique good things for each other. Have to give her a big pat on the back for that one...it helped a lot to create peace among us siblings. Another funny thing is my mom always made awesome dinners and it was exactly what I had been really hungry for. As an adult I asked her, how did you know what meals to prepare because it seemed like you always had the meal I was really hungry for and it tasted awesome. She said she would ask "ME" what sounded good for dinner at the beginning of the week and we'd talk about all kinds of stuff and that's where she got the ideas. She was "Good", so subtle that I didn't even realize that she loved me so much she valued my meal choices. I tell my boys often how much I love them and appreciate them, especially when the do something on their own to improve things at home. I try to have them tell me about their day when they get home from school and my older son still comes and sits on the end of my bed at night telling me about his latest concerns of the day. I hope that communication remains open for our whole lifetime.

I tell my kids I love them all the time. I also freely give kisses and snuggles whenever I can and they need them. I make sure to ask my older children how their school day was. I try very hard to make sure that my children know I'm always there for them if they need comfort or just to talk. I'm sorry that your parents didn't/couldn't do the same for you. I'm thinking that this made you the strong person you are today. Thank you for reminding us that it's important to let our children know that we love them-everyday!

My mom has always said the three words, my father hasn´t. He grew up just like u, never hearing them and was taught that he doesn´t have to say it, just show it. I have never doubted that my father loves me coz he does show me every day - but like u say - the words also can mean a great deal!

Even my childhood was not very exciting, you might be wondering, "what the hell is this 20 year old kid saying", but till last 4 years, the world around me entirely hateful. But now I have relocated where I am really feeling a lot better and I earned my first friend in my life. That changed my life a lot.

I tell my kids I love them every minute of every day. From the time they wake up to every time I come across them in the house. I show them and let them feel that I love them by giving them MOST of my time, always being there for them when they need me, when they have "bu-bu's", when they're sad and happy. I try to spend as much time with them as possible, not only when we have family activities but anytime that they need me to be with them, sometimes just laying on the bed together, hugging each other, kissing them all the time, etc. I gave up my job to be able to spend time with them and be there for them 24/7. Hard as it may seem, being a stay-at-home mom is the best and most fun job I've ever had in my entire life and I wouldn't trade anything for it. They're the greatest gifts I have and I will show them how much I love them no matter what. :)

same thing with me, i never heard those words from my parents. But when i have my own family i do say it to my kids and then i am letting them feel... you are right action can do better... but its also nice to hear it. so i do both. Feelings should be expressed and kids should get it from us parents.

You must have been a great person. A kid who usually runs away from home picks up all the bad habits immediately, but you have shown great self control and you would have made your parents proud only if they had been good to you during your childhood days. What you say is absolutely true, we should keep telling the kids that you love them and also prove it to them by small acts of love. May be i am not mature enough to answer this because i dont have any kids of my own.

Me and my husband tell our 4 years old daughter that we love her. Every single day and every chance we have and hugs as many and often as we can. I regret every single day for didn't have the chance to say that to my mom. She is in heaven among angels and stars. Fortunately, I still have the chance to say that to all the people that I love and care before it's too late.

I totally agree with all that you have expressed, but would not just stick to my kids in expressing to them, that I love them. For everyone in this world who is dearer to us needs affirmation and reaffirmation of our concern & love to them

I always tell my children only the parents are loving them more than anyone. I show them with my actions also. The children should understand my home is the best place where I can get love, care, understanding everything.

Thanks for this reminder. I grew up in a family where love is constantly shown to every member of the family. We don't get shy saying I love you to each other and it's like a natural thing for us. Now, I have a one year old daugther and I like her to have the same experience that I have with my family. Everyday, I never forget to say I love you to her & evento my husband. Before going to sleep, I always end our day by kissing my daugther and my husband and saying I love you to each one of them.

You are true to that. And as a mother of 3 kids i know that children needs attention. They want they are parents priority. I grew up in a good family but i never heard the word "I LOVE YOU" to m parents. Though i know that the truly love me coz of the affection that they are showing. But still i want to hear those three little words. Thats why i promise to myself that i will be very vocal regarding my feelings with my 3 beautiful kids. Before bedtime i see to it that we kiss goodnight to each other and we said " i love you, love u, love u, love u!" and it really feels good too to hear from m kids. And aside from that it is one of the good foundation...When i spank my 2 boys, i always tell them that i do that because i want them to be a better person because i love them. The reality is most of the time we assume that they know that we love them, coz we show them how much we love them, but we need to remember that they are only little kids that they want to hear those words and its so easy. We can easil tell to our friends how important they are to us, how we love our friends, how much more with our own kids.

I have three kids, two girls and one boy. The eldest being 9 years old and the youngest at 2 1/2 yaers old. Not a day has passed that we have not exchanged "i love yous" with each other. My husband and i have been married for 10 years, and just like that we have not had a day where he has not said i love you to me and vice verssa. My heart soars eveytime my kids just run up to me when i am doing my work in the computer to give me a kiss and say i love you in a small voice. Makes my being a mama everything in the world.

yes , i dont tell that i am affection on you . the best way is to express your love on them . expressing love to them in good way , not to crame them for the wrong ways