8 Expressions of Love for Your Kids

We love our kids more than life itself, and we would do anything for them.
I hope you find some practical expressions of love for your kids in this page.

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.
It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

WOW! What an incredible formula for loving others and our children. That passage is from First Corinthians 13 in the Bible.

Love is patient, kind, not self-seeking or easily angered -- Yikes, I fall short!
Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres!
Love never fails.

Your children want a safe place to grow and be nurtured. The home provides the perfect setting to encourage and love, so kids can develop and mature under the guidance of parents who truly love them. To share everyday life with parents and siblings who know their imperfections and love them anyway is a powerful place to grow.

Unfortunately, our families can tend to get what's left of us -- or the worst of us, because we become so comfortable with one another. Our expressions of love take a hiatus and we can take advantage of the fact they will be there tomorrow and we can "make it right" another day. Yet, our tomorrows are uncertain.
So, make each day count and show expressions of love for your kids everyday.

Practical expressions of love for your kids:

1. Establish a special time with each child and with all your children together-- maybe it's a Saturday breakfast, Friday night movie, a run to Dairy Queen on a summer night, playing catch or a table game, even watching a movie at home.

You get the idea: It can be anything, as long as you are together.

Take this time to talk with your child(ren) about what's happening in their life, school, friendships, etc. Ask engaging questions. With five kids, I often had to find the time without going out -- maybe we sat longer at the kitchen table after dinner, or I found them in their room and we talked for a while. Do what works for you and within your budget. We also created time with all the kids to just relax together -- watch a movie or favorite show, go to Dairy Queen together, play catch or basketball in the driveway with the whole family, or go bowling.

Our Friday night routine for years was to get Papa Murphy's pizza and rent a movie for the family. It was great and we all looked forward to it.

The point is to establish having fun together and carrying on casual conversation, which will lead to more serious conversations. With us, it was always family first; then friends. We didn't have to shove this down our kids' throat; we just practiced it all the time and they didn't know anything different. Our expression of love was to create value within our family, so they wanted to be together. Being with family will always be good for your kids.

2. Say good-night to your children.
No matter how busy you are, try to de-brief a little before bedtime with your kids, and send them off to bed with a sincere good-night and "I love you." If they are young, snuggle together and read to them. I found my kids liked to re-hash the day right before bed. They reflected and asked questions. I loved that because it helped me see what "stuck" in the day, and what caused them to reflect and think. They would often bring up concerns they seemed to want to have peace about before sleeping.

Saying "good-night" is a comforting practice even when they are older and a deep expression of love for your kids. My college-aged kids still do this with each other daily -- they check in with each other when they are home for the night.

3. Pray with your kids about their concerns.
Don't stop reading if we don't agree on this point -- prayer can make a difference in the lives of your kids; possibly your greatest expression of love.
When your child comes to you with a problem or you have observed something; bring it to the Lord. After you've had a chance to hear your child's concerns; pray with them right then and there. This teaches them to turn to God themselves, it models your trust in God and shows your care for them -- it shows your genuine interest in their concerns.

4. Make a day off of school special.
If it's a national holiday, or a snow day; do something which makes the day special.
Snuggle up and watch great movies all day together.
Go out for breakfast.
Get a manicure and a pedicure.
See a movie.
Have a picnic.
Start or continue working on a community project or project at the house.
Look at old pictures.
Play cards or games.
Read aloud.
Anything your family and kids enjoy doing.
I promise you will truly love this expression of love. The point is to make an effort to be together, and not scatter the family in multiple directions.

5. Eat meals together and pay attention.
Try to place importance on at least one meal a day together; engage in conversation. Try to block out all else, but listening and connecting with your beloved family. That means TV is off; I-pods off; and any other electronic devices that can be a distraction.

If this is not a part of your family right now, it's never too late to make the right decision. Get started eating one meal together, or as many as can gather together at the same time.

6. Make their birthday special; whether that's a party with friends, or simply a special dinner and family time. If you have a party, create one based on what your child likes to do and within your budget: Paintball, princess theme, inflatable jump house, bowling, jewelry making, pirate theme with a treasure hunt. It all sounds fun to me!

7. Keep your promises.
As best you can, be sure your children know they can trust your word. If something has to change, which can be inevitable at times, explain the change to them and help them understand.

8. Be involved with their school activities.
Go to their games, conferences, and concerts, whatever it is; support your children in their activities. All valuable expressions of love.

If your kids have started to close off -- reach out and get them back! Draw them back to the family right away. Use your observation skills and what you know about your child to detect any unusual behavior; deal with it right away. Sometimes our kids are just quiet; respect their need for quiet, but observe and see if it becomes a trend. Try to draw them out by asking engaging questions.

To your expressions of love for your kids.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Julie DeHart is the mother of 5 and author of www.keep-your-home-cooking.com/ Visit her site for more parenting tips, home & kitchen organization helps, cooking techniques and delicious, easy recipes.

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