Following on from the dp/dh thread, how often do you tell your children you love them?

[Miaou]

... Because I think I virtually never say it

I show them a lot - we are very tactile, do lots of kisses and hugs and cuddles. But I never say "I love you" to them (and neither does dh, incidentally). I am confident that they are secure in our love for them, but ... does that make me unusual? I have to say the thought of saying "I love you" to them leaves me a little uncomfortable, don't know why.

My tiniest (age 4) asked what the biggest number was. I said there isn't one, counting just goes on for ever. So now, when I tell her I love her, she replies "and I love you to the end of the world and the end of counting."

All the time. Probably 50 or more times a day. Ds1 is a romantic little sweetie (he's 5.8), and so is dd. Can't help it, I do just love them.

I often say to ds1 - 'Can I tell you something?' 'What?' 'I love you - have I ever told you that?' 'No!' 'Have I never told you that?' 'No, never Mum' (followed by BIG hug!!!).

I tell them when they wake up & when they go to bed & numerous times in between

my DS(5) tells me he loves me to the end of the universe & back

do you think its our parents generation? Dont remember my parents telling me they loved me but I know they did/do.
Tortoise - how awful being told too old at 8 to kiss goodnight - I still kiss my parents goodnight if I stay & Im 36 - still kiss them goodbye too (only live in same town)

HOWEVER Im the instigator - I remember telling my mum when I was about 13 that I was sad that she pulled away when I tried to hug her - she was shocked and from then on was very tactile

Like others, perhaps 4 or 5 times a day.

I usually say in the morning, before preschool, after preschool, before and after a nap, bedtime... and whenever he's really cute!

I tell dd lots too.. she can't say it back though lol

I say it at least once every day. Each night ends on, 'night night god bless see you in the morning, love you'. When I go out or leave him I'll say 'Love youuuuuu!!' When we're sat cuddling I'll say I love you sweetheart but it's not something I say in every conversation. I'm more comfortable saying it than dp as it is something that was said to me a lot when I was little and still is between me and my mum/little brother so its natural for me but dp's mum never really said it a lot or had that relationship so he's a bit stiff with it - but getting better!!! I kiss ds lots and we have huge amounts of cuddles - I think showing affection is as if not more important than saying it.

DD says it many times a day at purely random times and I do likewise to both of them. DS occassionally replies "I uv u too" (he is 2)

All the time ...

I have a friend who says that her mother never ever told her she loved her. She was a nice mum, kind and tactile, with lots of cuddles but she was always sad her mum never said it.

I come from a very verbal "I love you" family. I never say goodbye on the phone to my siblings or parents without saying "I love you" ... it is important to me - and to them

Ummm, well I say it when I kiss them goodbye for the day, and every night when I tuck them in, so twice a day at least, more at weekends as I'm with them more.

Message withdrawn

I'm always telling my kids aged 8, 6 and 3 how much i love them.

We have loads of cuddles every day and they come and cuddle me and tell me they love me.

ALWAYS at bed time tell them i love them.

My partner very rarely tells them though.

Every day, several times a day. I don't remember my parents saying it to me as a child though - I think they felt uncomfortable saying it or something.

So conversely, I want my DS to know without a doubt that he is loved, and I don't let a day go by without telling him.

Loads. They are pretty bored of it now

Dh's parents have never said it to him and he found it really tough to say I love you to me (we were engaged before he said it!!). So he's trying really hard to say it to ds so that he won't have same hang ups. I say it a zillion times a day - always tell my mum and sister I love them most days too.

millions time a day and it make me glow

All the time everyday, when they go to school when they get home and when hey go to bed and a million times in between.

all the time but I too never experienced my parents saying it to me even though I knew I was loved. Is it a generational thing? I can't imagine my mother and I telling each other we love each other even though I know we both do. I wouldn't touch her either although I'm very tactile with my kids. odd.