Ever heard about that study they did long ago of the babies that were left in a crib without being held and they lost their will to want to survive and didn’t grow at the same rate of the average baby? Pretty darn sad.
Everyone should be hugged everyday regardless of how big or small they are. Hugging is such an important part of the growing process of life. Something so simple could be such a great mood booster & stress reliever.
Yesterday I went to visit my cousin in the hospital who just had a brand new baby girl and as I sat there holding this brand stanking new little baby in my arms, I couldn’t help but feel at peace because of how peaceful she looked. The second I set her down, she squirmed around and wanted some arms around her again. I held her again, and she snuggled right back in my arms and was fast asleep. She needed to he held and have arms around her to feel some sense of comfort. Such a brand new little human in the world, and already realizing how awesome hugging is.
Holding this little newborn, I of course remembered those times I held my own little newborns in my arms. So tiny that they fit in the creases of my arms, and then over time they grew and it went from holding them in the little creases of my arms to hugging them over my hip in one arm to barely being able to carry them and kneeling down at their level to hug them. They grow so darn quickly! But, they grew because of the feeling of love and need and through hundreds of hugs.
One day, my kids are going to be leaning down to me just to hug me! They grow so quickly, and I want to cherish every hug, every moment with them. I want to hug them every time I see them and all the moments in between. I want to savor the moments, smell their hair, hug them tight, tell them I love them, kiss their cheeks.
Sometimes I’m so worn out at the end of the day that I just send my kids off to bed on their own and then a few minutes later I hear little steps coming to my room and little voices saying, “Mommy aren’t you going to tuck us in?” As tempting at times as it is to want to say, “No, just go to bed.” I can’t ever bring myself to it. I force myself out of bed, tuck them in, hug them, kiss them, tell them I love them and wish them a good night. They ASK for this EVERY NIGHT, and for as long as they are still sleeping in the bedroom next to me at home, I will suck it up and do it, regardless of how exhausted/tired/worn out I am.
One day they wont be in that room next to me…and that totally makes me want to break out in sobs just thinking it but I must face the reality that those tiny moments WILL be gone one day. So, I will hug my kids everyday. I will tuck them in bed every night. I will say I love you as many possible times I can in one day.
And, in return I get my own feeling of being loved when my kids hug me tightly in return and respond with an, “I love you too.”
Hugging is always a win-win. I’m not just saying only hug your children…but hug your friends, your siblings, your neighbor, a stranger! You never know who’s gonna need it and who’s day it’s going to make! I know it makes my day to be hugged tightly…and I know my kids absolutely love being hugged (being they request it everyday) and when I hug my husband he responds at times, “I needed that.” Something so simple could make such a huge difference.
So go out there and HUG!
Great post. Makes me miss my Granddaughters 1800 miles away. Thanks for that. I will call and skype hug them.
Such a great story, hugs are very important to living.