“Are you kissing again?” C whines from the table as M grabs me around the waist and hugs me tight, planting a tender kiss on my lips. I peer around his head at her and wink.
“Yup, we’re kissing again. And we’re going to do it again and again!” I tease. C pretends to gag and Little L echoes while M and I kiss again.
This is a common occurrence in our kitchen. In fact it happens daily. The kissing and hugging at least, not always the gagging. That just depends on the mood of the peanut gallery.
I’m a strong believer in kissing, hugging, holding hands in front of my children. Nothing lewd or inappropriate. Just tenderness and love really. There’s no doubt in my mind that it’s up to us to model what a loving functional relationship should look like.
I would love for them to head into life knowing that when people love each other they don’t just treat each other with respect, listening when the other talks, speaking nicely to each other, and doing kind things for each other, but that they also take time to really show each other that affection through kisses, hugs, and tender gestures of love. Every day. Not just for special occasions.
So M and I don’t hide behind closed doors to hug and kiss. We hold hands in public and in the car. And we actually talk in front of our children. It might not seem like much, but it’s not something I saw often growing up. Not in my home or my friend’s homes. And really, I wish I had. Maybe I would have more easily recognized how emotionally abusive my first boyfriend turned out to be.
Come Valentine’s Day I can guarantee that there won’t be cards, chocolates, flowers, or even a fancy dinner in a swanky restaurant. There will just be more love, more kisses, more hugs, and more every day tenderness, for me, for M, and for both girls. When you get love every day you don’t need a special holiday to celebrate it.
awwww 🙂
we don’t celebrate valentines day either. It’s better that way I think!
I love, love, love this post! Not sappy at all. I remember growing up seeing my parents hug and kiss all the time. Their marriage wasn’t perfect but there was lots of love and my sisters and I all knew it.
I’m with you too on the lack of V-day celebration. The hubby and I try to celebrate our love for each other daily in some simple and thoughtful way.
Keep on keepin’ on with the “lovin’ in the kitchen and everywhere…”
That’s lovely, hugging and kissing is underated x
We should all do this more often – great example for your kids – and for everyone else!
I think it is great to show love in front of your children. Kaitlynn loves to see us kiss, but then wants to get in the middle of it. She also loves to hug and kiss us.
Last night I kissed my husband in the grocery store. There was no one around and too bad if some camera some where was picking it up. We shop separately, splitting up the list, and when we’d pass in an aisle, I’d smile and kiss him.
But I also bought Valentines–not his yet–because with all this gray and white around us, some RED is warming.
Totally sappy…but that’s not necessarily a bad thing 🙂
What a beautiful, positive relationship example you are setting for your children. Love should be expressed with little daily gestures rather than a box of chocolates!
We get this too at the Devers house. Ah man – they are kissing again, look away! Look away! And we agree – nothing wrong with showing our kids a good example of love!
What a great post. Such a great example to give the girls. Keep it flowing baby!