what happens when the cuddles end?

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So, DS is 21mo and this is the first time I genuinely want to freeze time and keep him this way forever. It's a combination of his little boy face emerging, the starting to talk and the little arms around my neck, face right up to my face "hello mummy" moments :))

I feel sooooo loved and he looks at me like I'm the only thing he needs.

But I guess it won't always be like this :(

How do you cope with them growing older and moving on???

I know I have years left, and am pg with DC2 so will get to have it again a second time, but sometimes I can't bear the fact that he won't be a little baby forever!!

You just get to love the current stage, whether that's dependent and cuddly or making their own steps out into a wider world. They grow up and expand their horizons, but home is still the centre of their world for a long time yet. Don't worry, he'll always be your little boy!

I get cuddles from my 6 year old boy you've got ages left !!

I'm struggling to accept this as well. My wonderful DS is now 7 and I know the cuddles will come to an end, sooner than I'd like. Just treasure every time you have a cuddle with him, and never say 'no' to a cuddle or you'll never forget it when he's grown out of them. Even if I'm really cross with DS for doing or saying something, or I'm tired or extremely busy, I will always take a few seconds (or longer if he'll let me) to have a cuddle if he asks. It's worth every second

I get masses of cuddles from my 18 yr old, 16 yr old, 15 yr old & 9 yr old.

I still get lots of spontaneous hugs from my three DSs who are 20, 19 & 16. They love their old mum

My 13 year old loves a cuddle (as long as we're not in public )

I still get lots of cuddles from dd2 who is 20. I love her cuddles.

As far as coping with them moving on, both mine are at uni now so life is very different. I would say though that your boy is still a baby. He's got a long way to go before he flies the nest, so yes he will change, things will be different but don't waste time dreading him growing up- enjoy him today.

Ds2 (16) still cuddles me - sometimes even spontaneously.

Ds1 (17) stopped cuddling so long ago I can't even remember when it was

Ds3 (11) will cuddle me back if I cuddle him but I suspect he is going ds1's way.

How do you cope? You sometimes feel sad about it, you certainly watch old videos with misty eyes and get lost in boxes of old photos, but most of the time, you just enjoy the young man you have raised. My cuddly ds2 is still a massive source of entertainment to me, it just becomes a more grown up relationship.

Don't count on cuddles from dc2! They don't all throw their arms round your neck in the adorable way you describe. Ds does, and it's been a revelation because his older sister is spiky and independent, and always has been. Most attempts to cuddle her are tolerated for a few seconds only before she wriggles away. It's not that she doesn't love us; she just expresses it in different ways.