Do Your Kids Know You Love Them?

photo credit: LaBellaVidaHello everyone! I have been thinking about what I want to write about for a few days now. Watching my own family, my children, and grandkids, who have all been at my house for some time now, I have seen how they all are starving for attention. Even when you pay as much attention as you possibly can to your children, and grandchildren, they still seem to want, and need more of your attention and love. I know you probably really enjoy giving them that attention too, just as I do!

I was wondering , how do our families, our children,and our grandkids really know we love them? How do we know we are showing them enough attention? Or maybe not enough attention? Do you ever think about these kind of things?

I know that I tell my children that I love them all the time. I really mean it when I tell them I love them too. But I am wondering do they really know it? I believe that it’s not enough to just say those words “I love you”. We can say them all we want too. But without actions behind them, they really don’t mean much.

I am one of those children who did , and still do, really enjoy hearing my Mom say I love you. I longed for her to say those words to me. And it would really hurt me when she didn’t. Coming from a family that wasn’t shown too much healthy love growing up, I took every word to heart that my mom said, since she really didn’t show me she loved me. She would tell me from time to time, and that meant everything to me.

I am the blacksheep of my disfunctional family, if you will. And one of the things I wanted most, was for my Mom just to Love me. Just for her to be my Mom, like Moms were supposed to be, like Moms are supposed to Love their daughters, their children. So when she said I love you, to me, my heart melted, and I took every word in and held in it my heart. I thought that was all it was. I didn’t realize there was so much more too it, until many years later. And that love wasn’t just about saying the words. Even though I had my children already, and some of my grandkids, it really didn’t start sinking in about how important it is to show your children you love them. I mean really show them.

I know God has really opened my eyes to this too. I love my Lord Jesus and I rely on him and trust in Him for everything. He has shown me so much over the years, and like I said, opened my eyes to a lot of things too. I believe it is very important that we as adults show our children we love them by not only raising them in a good home, full of God, and healthy ways, but by showing them.

Yes, giving our children affection is one way of showing them you love them too. And I myself just love those hugs and kisses I get everyday from my own kids!! Wouldn’t trade them for the world!! But what about other ways, like when we come in from a long day at work, do you say Hello to your kids, and acknowledge them? Or what about when they get home from school do talk to them and ask how their day was? Do you include them in family conversations, and family time? I am sure most of us do.

But you know it’s the little things that really do count when it comes to showing our children we love them. They see the small things. They will remember for the rest of their lives, the little things, how you should them you love them. They need to know they are important to you, and that they matter to you. Even when you are in a bad mood, or mad at them. They still need to be shown your love, especially then.

Spend time with your children. Even when they tell you they hate you! Because they really don’t, you know that. I know it hurts when your children to say that to you, and they shouldn’t say that. But we parents always have to be the bigger person. We have to see through the hurt. We have to show our children we love them, no matter how difficult it may be. Or how difficult they are. Because if we don’t it will really harm them for life. It scars you forever. It leaves you with an empty hole if you will, and as you grow up, you spend the rest of your life trying to fill that hole.

And sometimes with things that aren’t too good. I know now that I filled my empty hole with my Jesus. But until I knew the Lord, I was trying to fill it with things that were not so good. So I am telling you first hand just how important it is to Show your children you Love them. Get down on their level, look them in the eyes, and listen to them. Really hear them! It may surprise you just how well you get to know your child. And what they are all about.They are awesome little people!! Hug them and kiss them every chance you get. Spend time with them now, because soon they will be gone and you wont be able to make it up. When they’re misbehaving or being difficult it’s usually just because they want your attention, and your love. Stop and hear them. Take that extra moment to pay attention to them. Look past the behavior, past the hurt, and see your child, and their heart. Sometimes it will make all the difference in the world if you just show your child you love them.

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About the author  Christie Garcia is Mom to 7 children, ages 8 to 31. She also has 4 granddaughters, ages 1 to 7. Christie lives with several diseases, still in the process of being fully diagnosed. It is Christie's desire to interact with other mom's who are going through stuff too, to encourage, strengthen and build each other up. Read more from this author

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