Did you grow up in an affectionate home where you said "I love you" often?

[6demandingchildren]

This came up on my Facebook.
For me my dad has never said it to me but his partner has, my mum says it not she is older but never when I was growing up.
My husband parents didn't like children and still don't.
Me and DH always tell our children and grandchildren we love them and let them know how proud they make us.
Was it the norm for 70's children?

My parents said it plenty in the 80s (and presumably in the 70s too or would have been a bit harsh on my older siblings!) but I have lots of friends the same age who never really heard it.

No, I’ve never heard those words from either of my parents.

No, I barely heard those words. My mum also showed me no physical affection past the age of 11.

Not the same in my house now.

70s child. I can count on one hand how many times my Dad said he loved me but I couldn't begin to count how many times he ruffled my hair when he walked past me, read to me on a night-time helped me with homework, or made me a sandwich to make sure I ate something before I went out or recorded things on the telly I might like or tell me about something he heard on the radio I might be interested in.

I mean, people put a lot of stock in words but they roll off the tongue with no effort. I was never in doubt that he loved me and was proud of me.

I don't think my parents actually said I love you, but there were endless hugs, kisses and endearments. In fact my sister and I are convinced my dad can't remember which way round we are so he calls us both darling to be safe :)

No

Can't remember the last time mum hugged me. Assume she did when I was tiny but can't imagine it.

My dad used to make us chips in the chip pan, with an 'initial chip' for each of us. Sheer devotion! Not to mention waking up each halloween to a personal carved turnip.

Still loves me to bits, he gets tears in his eyes whenever I visit.

Not just nothing physical or verbal but no feeling of being cared about either.

Well my dad is a bit. I think he's s bit fond of me maybe but nothing from mum.

No, my parents didn't. It hasn't affected me telling my DCs I love them.
My DF is no longer with us, but he made it clear in other ways that he loved me (particularly towards the end of his life ), and my DM does too.
I think it's a bit of a generational thing, and also a product of the way you yourself were brought up.

Nope I didn't grow up in an affectionate home. Parents always hated any form of physical affection and it was always resisted and I was told to get off them.

No never. We just weren't that sort of family. Actions speak louder than words imo. Dhs family say it at the end of every sentence. I try not to be a judgey pants but it sounds quite weird to me.

My parents always have, both when we were kids and as adults (born in the 80s). As such I say it a lot to husband and kids and we all say it to each other. Husbands family never say it though and husband maintains he’s never had it said to him by a relation. Interestingly my father never had it said to him and my mother only ever by her father. I feel really sad for my parents and husband that they grew up without many “I love you”s. I’m glad that they get to hear it often now.

I heard the words 'I love you' once,

from the kitchen, and I then saw my Mother talking to a Viennetta...

Ironically my parents told me they loved me all the time but could be heavy handed and I had quite a dysfunctional childhood compared to dh who is very close to his parents, clearly means the world to them but never says I love you to them and they never say it back
I think it's easily said but needs to be shown

Grew up in a very affectionate and loving home but the actual phrase 'I love you' was pretty rare.

My parents never told us they loved us nor did much in the way of open affection but, nevertheless, it was a warm, safe, loving family. Ours was a working class family growing up in the 60s & 70s and this was normal in our community.

Nah.

No, my parents say "lots of love" instead when they sign off phone calls etc. It's quite distancing, and they can be a bit self absorbed anyway. Also not much physical affection. I'm the opposite, naturally really tactile, and make a point of saying "I love you" to them, which my mum particularly finds uncomfortable - no idea why as I know she loves me (in her own way), I think she just feels massively insecure / vulnerable to say and hear the actual words! Don't think she heard or felt it much when she was growing up

No. Not very affectionate to be honest.

I'm a '70's child. I don't remember my parents (or other family) saying 'I love you'. But I was never in any doubt I was very much loved, by my parents, grandparents, Aunts, Uncles etc

I'd rather that than the way it's 'habit' for some people and thus pretty meaningless. 💁🏻‍♀️

My parents didn't, they do now I feel it's too late. I tell my DC all the time and my DH they all say it back. It's a lovely thing.

Plenty of affection, never the words "I love you". It seems weird to me to say "I love you to close family, almost like, sort of, protesting too much IYSWIM? As though it should be obvious from the close relationship, goes without saying, why would you have to say it… I understand that other families are different, but would like people from families where "I love you" is practically a vocal habit to recognise that the love can be expressed just as clearly without words.

Missing a quotation mark there, hope it still makes sense.

No. Mine never say it, but they show they care in lots of other ways. Husbands family never say it either, though they aren't particularly close.

Our kids are young but we tell them we love them at least once a day!

My mother was very affectionate but my dad didn't know how to bed. He only told me he loved me when I became an adult. It was really emotional. He was a 60s child