Show them the meaning of LOVE….

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STORIES (3)

LOVE that four letter word that is often used around our children and yet how often do we teach them other ways to express it?  With Valentine’s Day just a few days away I’m sure that we write, text, facebook and tweet these words a few time this week. We most likely use it often around our kiddos and significant other. We might have even called a friend or a parent to say, “I Love you!”

Love is a powerful word, a noun that could imply so many things and yet it might be one of those words that people freely say. If we looked deep into the meaning of the word are we really ready to own what we are really saying to the people we say it to???

 

Here’s how the great Miriam Webster defined the word LOVE:

Full Definition of love

  1. 1a (1)  :  strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties <maternal love for a child>  (2)  :  attraction based on sexual desire :  affection and tenderness felt by lovers(3)  :  affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests <love for his old schoolmates>b  :  an assurance of affection <give her my love>

  2. 2:  warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion <love of the sea>

  3. 3a  :  the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration <baseball was his first love>b (1)  :  a beloved person :darling —often used as a term of endearment  (2)British —used as an informal term of address

  4. 4a  :  unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as  (1)  :  the fatherly concern of God for humankind  (2)  :  brotherly concern for others b  :  a person’s adoration of God

  5. 5:  a god or personification of love

All those definition and yet my favorite one is #4. When I tell someone “I love you!”, you better believe that I mean it. That it means that I hold you in my heart and thoughts even when we are not constantly together or might even be miles or oceans apart. It means I am here for you but LOVING you doesn’t mean I have to agree with what you do or say ALL the time. LOVE isn’t perfect it just means being able to accept the flaws that comes with it and with that here are some ways I teach my kids how to show LOVE!

#1. Being kind…Kindness shows someone the meaning of love more than words can say. Being kind to others means you love them enough to treat them kindly.

#2. Help the other person. Sometimes a person might just find love through your help. Help by listening to someone gripe. Help with walking their dog, picking up that newspaper on the driveway or even just opening a door for them. Maybe helping someone with a move or helping them plan a meal, whatever it is helping someone doesn’t have to cost you anything but your time.

#3. Share…Share your stuff or your time or both. Sharing a toy/book with a friend or a swing at the park teaches my kids that loving someone means that you are willing to share with them. Show them the meaning of love by sharing with them yourself. Share an ice-cream (cause we love ice-cream around here) or share a story. Just share will yea!

#4. Write and send. I love writing and sending letters, cards or postcards to our love ones near and far. Nothing makes my kiddos happier than receiving a card or letter from others. So go ahead take a minute to send those you LOVE a quick hello the old fashion way….Through the mail, pick up a just because card or postcard from that rack and handwrite a quick note, stamp it and mail it. Show them the meaning of love through your handwritten note.

#5. Cooking, in fact is my favorite way to show people I love them. I just LOVE making yummy treats and meals for those I LOVE! the smiles on their faces after a meal warms my heart much more than a hot chocolate topped with marshmallows on a cold winter day. I love you to me means…Come over and share a meal with me. So I show my kids that you can show through cooking as well.

#6. Spend time with them.  My husband and I love showing our kids the meaning of love by spending time with them. We love going on hikes, camping, or day trips to explore a new place. Not all adventures are grand sometimes it’s just playing a board game with them or reading a book together, but time is time and time spent with those you love is even better.

LOVE isn’t just a word that is exchanged or said between parents and kids, lovers or partners. It goes further than that, it extends to our family, friends, our neighbors and even our acquintances. It is a word than can close gaps between distances separating us. LOVE is all encompassing and saying it and showing it can work miracles.

I would love for you to share how you teach and show your kiddos love. Comment below. I hope you have a great week and i hope you make today a great day!

XoXo,

Roe

gigglesnlaundry.com

1 COMMENT

  1. Rowelyn, you did a beautiful job with this post. I agree with you, love is not just a word we exchange. It’s so much deeper and meaningful than that. I would love to share your post with my readers, it’s such a fresh take on what love truly is, and they may find it helpful while browsing love essays on my site. Here’s a link if you’d like to see it: Love Essay

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