All three of my boys are very different in the way they show their love, as most people are. The middle one is crazy-affectionate and likes to draw pictures of our family with everyone hugging and hearts and so forth. My friend noted that he clearly was a "love pig." He is the kind of kid that easily tells people he loves them, means it, and then will volunteer to say the prayer for the dinner, which he also means. He likes kisses and big family activities and thinks that saying goodnight like the Waltons is hilarious and confusing.
My oldest one shows all the obvious affections that seventh-grade boys do, which is none. Or at least he likes to act like it. This means he won't go in for the hug first or offer up a cheek for a kiss when a forehead is closer, but he will linger two seconds longer by the front door if I haven't yet distributed the hugs and kisses before the schoolbus arrives. He very casually will offer up a seat next to him on the couch when he is in the mood for an evening cuddle and sharing of popcorn. Most of his time he spends curled up with the dogs and he expresses his love with friendly shoves, tricks and wrestling moves.
But ah, the baby. And by baby I mean the six-year-old that is doing simple math and can work all the electronics in the house. He is big into the hugging and kissing and wants to be physically attached to me as much as possible. I continue to be surprised every morning when he is able to separate from me and go to Kindergarten all day. He does have an independent spirit, though, and I am sure that I will long for the days that he wanted to be attached.
The best thing that "the baby" does now, though, is say, unprompted, "I love you, too." He doesn't say it in response if you tell him you love him. He just says it whenever he wants to, in the middle of reading or watching television or making dinner. It is quite disarming and such a lovely sentiment. He is not waiting on an answer, or saying "I love you" first to make sure that I love him back. He already knows it, is sure of it, and wants to just let me know that he loves me, too. It is so different from the usual, "I love you" that is either a perfunctory get-off-the-phone thing or see-you-at-the-end-of-the-day thing or a go-to-bed-thing or you-know-I-love-you-but-here-it-is-again thing.
The way he says it makes me think that what he was really thinking was not "I love you" but, "I know you love me, so I am answering you."
How nice it is to hear from someone that you love, but you just didn't mention it, that they love you, too.
Comments