I actually say "I Love You" to my daughter pretty much on an hourly basis.  The greatest thing now is when she will come to me and say things like "I Love You more than my toys Mommy".  I feel like she is catching on at an early age to what love is and what it should feel like.  I just watch and listen to her thinking/hoping/praying that she will not grow up to be like the teen that was mentioned in this article.

When Malachi first told me he loved me, it was when we were watching a cartoon together, and he just looked at me and smiled and said, 'Mummy, I love you!'

When Hadassah first said it she whispered it in my ear and gave me a tiny butterfly kiss!

My heart is a puddle of goo on the floor!!!!

That is so sad your a right you can not tell them enough especially when they are teenagers I still go up to my boys who think they are all tough and say now come here and give mummy hugs usually have to chase them with smirks on their faces but i give it to them in the end and my daughter is a hug person several times a day infact she is 16 and never gets embarrased in front of freinds.

that was really touching

great article, i feel for that little boy you talked about, id hazard a guess and say theres at least 2 of them in every classroom, its just so sad! they are usually the ones who are forever getting in trouble too, the poor little things have no safe or soft place, perhaps we all should remember this next time our kids are having a party or sleepover etc, one night in a loving place where they feel inluded would be a stand out memory in these childrens lives

I ahve the same problem.  I remember the first time E said "I love you" and it made me glow.  But she does use cuddles and kisses and nice words to try get her way.  It amuses me because she is obvious about it, and while I manage to be straight faced for the important moments I do have to smile afterwards, occasionally we share a giggle. 

Sometimes she rushes up to me while she is playing at the park with her friends and I get a squeezy hug and a shouted "I love you" before she rushes off again.  It is precious.  She is vivacious and confident and I am so blessed to have such a loving and caring daughter.

Peace
EF.x

Those 3 words can NEVER be used too much! ;-) I tell my babies that I love them countless times throughout the day. Now my little girl (almost 4) tells me all the time too. I love it! I will be in the kitchen and I will hear Lilly from her bedroom yell, "Hey Mom!" I yell back , "What?" Then she says, "I love you."

 This is  an excellent article....Those  3 Little words mean so much, I believe to every human being.....I know I love hearing them. 

Cheers Janice  

i tell my daughter every day that i love her more than anything else in the world. the last thing i say to her before school is i love u baby have a great day ill be here when u finish school. and before i put her to bed of a night i say good night my little angel b mummy loves u ill see u in the morning! my partner thinks im crazy but i know its a mum thing!

the love from your child is the most precious thing in the world and we should all treaure that

What a lovely piece.  I tell my boy I love him a ridiculous amount of times each day too.

Cheers

Great! Loved it! and about the last part (wake up your child just to say I LOVE U) - well... I do that... not really wake him up but before i go to bed I always kiss and say those words, although he's asleep...

Fantastic Article. I thnk i tell my son about 100 times a day that i love him. He finally came back and said it back in the most cutest voice that only a 2 yo can use. It is 3 words that can never be overused and all kids should know the 3 words. Once again great article

I'm sure that I've uttered those words to both my little girls at least a dozen times in the last half hour.  I will never forget the day that my eldest said those words to me and I'm sure that it will be the same when my little baby finally says the words I am longing to hear from her (even now).

I really feel for the children who don't hear those words from their parents because all children deserve to hear them.

Those 3 little words are always so special to hear from your kids. Great article

Lovely! Those 3 little words say and mean more than any others...! xxx

Crystal, I still remember when you first posted this advice, and I couldn't wait for that first impromptu 'I love you Mumma.'  Having had quite a few since then, I can whole heartedly agree with your advice. 

Feeling loved, and knowing that you are cared for makes it easier to tackle this thing called life, and get the most out of it.  We need to keep saying it and we need to keep hearing it... I think it builds an invisible barrier to guard against life's less kind moments. xox

thats so true.. you can never say 'i love you' enough :)

thank you for sharing !
xox

well said ,  i think  you can't say it often enough to kids your adults , its just three words that  mades feel so want and love .i say i love  you  to my boys as they head off to school  in the morning each day  and  others times as well .

 great actical to read

Well said. There can never be to much, I love you. Children so need it to thrive.

Luv.Winnie.xx

so true great article

cheers for sharing

emz

so true great article

cheers for sharing

emz

so true great article

cheers for sharing

emz

Love this one, Merle.  You just can't tell kids (or adults for that matter!) that you love them too much. I think one of the most special things about you is that its not just lip service.  You genuinely love your kids no matter how you're related to them.

That bit about your step-sons friend nearly had me in tears.

U are so right and the feeling is so pure. I love the way u explained what is the most important treasure of a parent's life, our children. When i was pregnat of my first, i told myself that everyday i would tell my child l loved her and my promise is so natural. I tell my two daughters, now 12 and 14, i love u everyday 10 times a day and will do until the day i die. When we are in public they are not shy do tell me i love u mom and say it loud. It is so natural for us now and they will do the same with their kids. What a nice example to give them for them to do the same with their own. We did not have that when we were kids because parents then had to be more reserved and religion did not allow it. Thank god that our generation changed that part and we are more free of expressing our feelings towards our kids. Take care and u are a wonderful mom.