The other night Clint was helping Tal brush his teeth. You know, that supervised cleaning you do every week or so, just to make sure there's nothing living or crawling around in there. Clint was being patient, but thorough. Tal got mad. He YELLED at Clint, "You're mean, Dad! And you know what? You ARE going to snuggle with me now. Yep, you're DEFINITELY going to snuggle with me." We stifled the laughter, but Tal got his snuggle. And in a surprise development, Cole hollered down from the top bunk, "Hey! How come Tal always gets snuggle with you and I never do?" So he got a snuggle too. You have to understand when Cole was 2 he announced that he hated kisses and hugs. He still got his bed time hugs and kisses but only with extreme resistance. So we're glad he's coming over to the light side.
Snuggles are the main carrot on the stick for Tal. This school year Clint has taken over providing executive function for Talmage to get ready for school in the morning. This used to be extremely painful. "Tal take off your P.J's. Ok, Tal lift up your PJ shirt, take one arm out, now the other...Tal get off the floor, stand up..." Some mornings when Mom was less patient things could get loud and unpleasant. So I was grateful when Clint took over the routine. He's figured out that if he he lies on Talmage's bed, that keeps him from going back to sleep, and if Tal is quick about getting ready then he gets some snuggle time with Dad in his bed before they make it. And now, Cole gets to snuggle with Dad first, while Tal gets ready, then Tal gets his snuggle while Cole gets ready.
My newest philosophy is that boys are so physical (e.g. wrestling and hitting every minute of the day) because they have a higher need for physical touch. I'm trying to remember to give out more snuggles and tickles every day and hopefully we'll all have fewer bruises.
7 comments:
i think you're right. i will try to remember that when/if we have boys.
Snuggling is great for everyone! Unless you are at work and you've been told not to. Then they make you go to sensitivity training... again.
OK, that is just plain funny, Tyler...thanks for that intense laughter first thing in the morning!
Tyler, you kill me!
Aww. I love snuggling!
You've hit it on the head Sarap. They really do need to be hugged, tugged, and wrestled.
And if they try not to kiss and hug you at school, it sometimes works to either burst out crying and yell, "enter son's name here...won't hug his MOTHER!" or sing him a love song at the top of your lungs until he hugs you, "You Light Up My Life" works. As you stated Sarah, HE needs it!!!
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