Do we REALLY show our children we love them?

[1stWDWtrip]

Kids ALWAYS know how we feel by our faces, even at very young ages!! My kids are now 7 and 10, so I may not always "put on my happy face" for them as much now. I do, however, let them know that I am not mad/upset with them, so they do understand. I almost always remember to appologize to them also when I blow up at them when it is not them that I am bothered by. We have nice little talks about these things, and they understand how things are. I feel this has also helped them to better express themselves when they are angry too.

 

[catbertdave99]

Thanks for this thread -- this is so great!

I'm a single dad, mom left 4 years ago, and I'm raising my DS15 and DS12 alone. I cherished them anyway, now even more. DS15 has had a lot of problems with his mom, DS12 has had an easier time, and thankfully both are doing ok now, although DS15 doesn't spend much time with her.

I'm a pretty upbeat, positive person, good sense of humor, sometimes a clown, but my kids will sometimes get on my case that I need to lighten up, not always be so serious, and not just work work work at home. That gets my attention, because I don't think of myself as serious -- but I think just the volume of work a single parent has to do can take control of how we spend our time at home, the effort and stress in working full-time and raising teenagers can affect our sernious-ness -- and their comments to me are always a good wake-up call.

I really try hard to focus on them when I'm home -- I know I don't get it all right all the time, but I'm trying -- but I love them a ton, try to tell them with my facial expressions and actions, and make sure I tell them in words so much it makes them sick!

Thanks for a great thread -- lots of great insights and advice!

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

It was on the Oprah show. It was a show that was about how she's changed lives (really promoting her DVDs; it showed old guests and old shows).

It was a dad who was caught watching an Oprah show by his wife and he was watching the show where they discuss this subject. Then they discuss it again when the dad explained how that show changed his outlook.

It was a great segment. Oprah was takling with Maya Angelou (amazing woman!) and the quote from Maya was something along the lines of, Do your eyes light up when you look at your children? Great, great segment.