TELL OUR CHILDREN THAT WE LOVE THEM

A study of high schoolers shows how important it is to tell our children we love them daily. After the counsellors had worked long enough to establish a good relationship with ten students who were facing problems in their lives, the students were asked how long it had been since their parents told them they loved them. Not a single one could remember having heard such a comment, if ever, or for a long, long time.

By contrast, ten of the best-adjusted teens interviewed answered the question quickly: "This morning", or "Last night", assured of their parents' love enveloping them.

In the busy-ness of our hectic life-pace, coping with job, family, church, recreation, educating the kids, striving for academic and sports excellence, running from enhancement class to class, pushing the kids to make every minute count.... we are often very stingy with or have no time to tell our children we love them, accompanied with a big hug and a rub on fat tummies, smell their heads, or tickle their fat cheeks, which are ever ready to give us big big grins, and laugh along with them.

We have no time to listen to the concerns, joys and hurts of young hearts because we are running on a daily agenda which must be completed. "Keep quiet, too noisy., don't talk too much. I'm very tired" stifle the effervescence and exuberance of happy hearts, bursting to share their thoughts and moments with us. Let them express themselves, otherwise they will grow up to be reserved, unable to share, churning thoughts round and round in their own minds, and not able to relate with others comfortably, in a world of their own and scheming in their own minds. Scary will be the ways when they express themselves.

Yes, we must certainly not neglect to discipline and talk sense firmly and clearly to teach our children. But in-between all the scolding, nudging, and use of harsh words on them, there must be soft, tender moments, bursts of laughter, which will warm the hearts of and bond parents and children in a loving, caring and communicative "open door" relationship for life.

"I love you"... 3 simple words from the heart, timely expressed, keeps everyone going....
Parents to Children,

and behold, Children to Parents, and not forgetting, Husband to Wife; and Wife To Husbandl!