When do you love your children most?

[Mo2]

OK - soppy thread alert.....

Just finished putting DS1 (5.5) to bed about half an hour ago and came downstairs realising that I felt 'full of love' for him... Why?

Because we were reading together and he was asking such serious and intelligent questions about things, and was snuggled up next to me on his bed. Just made me feel 'this is what being a parent is all about really'

Sometimes amongst all the noise/ fighting/ mess and stress it's easy to lose sight of these sort of moments, so I found myself thinking 'when else do I feel like this?'

Other moments are:

• when they're ill or hurt and just crumple in your arms needing comfort
• when they are trying something new/ different/ scarey and look across at you for encouragement
• when they say really grown up sensible things back at you ("don't cry Mummy - it will all seem much better in the morning!")

What are yours?

[I DID warn you it would be soppy.......]

My dd4 held my face in her hands tonight and said ' I lub u mummy'. Moments like that make t all worth-while.

When she does something funny and puts her hands over her mouth to laugh.
When she hugs me and gently taps me on the back, like I do to her.
When she laughs at the tinniest of things.
When she gives me a kiss and I didnt even have to ask.

Message withdrawn

that they're grown up and gone

when I was crying with stomach ache this afternoon, and he came and patted my back and shoved his face right into mine.

When she strokes my face and tells me she loves me in her sweet little voice

When she smiles / giggles / laughs

When she gets tired and sucks her thumb and gets all cuddly

When she stands up for herself against a devil child bully at toddler group

When she calls a fart a "love puff"

Oh, when they're asleep. No contest. I don't mean that in a nasty way (well, not entirey!) but when they're asleep I sometimes just want to climb in next to them and snuggle up.

Colditz - Is everything ok?

I love DD when I'm crying too - she goes to DH and says "mummy fwy", then strokes me.