We are a pretty touchy feely family— lot’s of hugs, hand holding and bedtime back rubs. We have little things we do to lay claim to one another by reinforcing how well we know one another. It is something that I cherish and can draw a straight line to from a conversation Sean and I once had in the kitchen.
I was heavily pregnant with Briar and I was passionately talking about all the things I wanted for our family, “I want our children to see us love. I want to hold hands and kiss. I want to be a family that welcomes love and lives it every day.” He nodded, smiled and tenderly kissed me over my belly.
The other morning I was sitting on the couch with Briar and Avery on either side of me. Briar had her feet pressed against my side and Ave was tracing circles on my back. “Thanks, honey.” She whispered a ‘you’re welcome’ and began rubbing wider and faster. As my shirt rode up I could feel her smiling and then, seconds before she said it, I knew what was coming, I said, “That feels nice on my back.”
She responded, “Yeah, and it’s cool how it makes it move all around.”
Motherhood, equal parts lifting you up and putting you in your place 😉
Just the other day Lukas said “Mommy you are too big to fit in the mirror.” He was talking about a hand held mirror but I winced none-the-less.
This is such a lovely anecdote, so beautifully told. I have a baby and a toddler, both of whom are pretty wriggly little guys. There’s nothing I like better, though, than when I can catch them a little sleepy and steal all the snuggles I want.
Hilarious. I can’t wait for mine to tell me that I shouldn’t wear skinny jeans anymore.
You gotta give it to them, these kids. They get you in their clutches and then, BAM, “Why is your tummy like that, Mommy?” “Your butt is mushy, Mama.” “Your hair is messy, Mommy. You should put piggy tails in. With ribbons.” Right. Ribbons. That would definitely make it all better.
That is so sweet. My oldest son used to always rub and jiggle my grandma’s arms when he was 4 or so and would sit in her lap. He did it without even noticing, but she got a kick out of it.
I love it when my girls go, “Look what we did to your tummy!” And I always tell them, always, how proud I am that it’s stretched out and squishy, because that’s where they grew!