Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: busy

Family Skills: Love as a Verb

Love is the glue that holds a family together.  Our words and actions express our love for other family members.  Love is not just something you feel, but something you do.  Different people and families may prefer to express and receive love in different ways.  Frequent expressions of love help strengthen family bonds.  Here are some good ways to express your love:

* Say "I love you."  Most people enjoy hearing this.

* List some things that you love about someone: "I love your sense of humor.  I love that you encourage me."

* Write notes and tuck them where they will be found later in the day, such as a lunch box, school bag, or briefcase.

* Talk with each other.  Ask what someone did today or what their plans are.  Discuss current events.

* Show your affection physically.  Hug, kiss, hold hands, or cuddle. Give someone a massage.  Consenting adults add lovemaking to this set.

* Pay attention to the people you love, so that you learn things about them.  It is good to know their birthdays, clothing sizes, favorite color, favorite foods, what they collect, etc.  This makes it easier to talk about them and to buy or recommend gifts.

* Make a point of doing things that someone else will enjoy, such as going into stores or attending events that they like.

* When someone you love is having a bad day, do something to pick up the slack or to cheer them up.  Play their favorite song, cook comfort foods, or do one of their chores yourself.

* Give someone a little gift for no reason.  It can be something you make, or you might notice something in a store and buy it.  Flowers and chocolates are traditional, but you can be creative too -- use your knowledge of each person's interests.  This is not just for boyfriends to do for their girlfriends!  It works in most relationships, in any direction.  I once saw a commercial in which a woman said, "I thought these were <i>so cute,</i> I just had to get them for you!" -- and held up a pair of power tools.  Her husband's buddy turned to him and said, "Does she have a sister?"   

* Set aside time to spend together.  You might go for a walk, watch a movie, or play a game.

* Celebrate the milestones of life.  Go out for dinner on birthdays or anniversaries.  Do something fun to mark a graduation or other accomplishment.  Sympathize with setbacks.


What are your favorite ways of showing love?

Some additional resources:
"How to Show Your Parents You Love Them"
"101 ways to show your children you love them"
"101 ways to show you love somebody (without having sex)"
"Romance 101: How to Show Her that You Love Her"
"How to Show Your Man That You Love Him"
Tags: family skills
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  • Physics Staircase

    I am familiar with many of those upper steps! :D There is no end to knowledge and discovery. It has mountains upon mountains.

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  • 19 comments
...go 2 levels up... Expand
kestrels_nest

Re: Thoughts

kestrels_nest

March 11 2010, 13:26:15 UTC 11 years ago

It is - it was adorable. But it's also an example of the sort of communication that has made our love for our son clear to him. I wasn't consciously thinking about it; I was just chattering to a barely-verbal toddler.
ysabetwordsmith

Re: Thoughts

ysabetwordsmith

March 11 2010, 19:00:41 UTC 11 years ago

That's a good point too, talking to children. My parents did that with me, and it's part of how I got a huge vocabulary very early. You know how babies go through a phase when they throw everything that comes to hand? Our family's theory is that they're not just practicing finger release, they're testing gravity. So we say, "It was 32 feet per second per second this time, and it will be 32 feet per second per second next time too." That usually gets squeals of laughter.
cissa

Re: Thoughts

cissa

March 12 2010, 20:16:20 UTC 11 years ago

What a great story! :D

We always used "big words" with K too, when she was little- just like we do with the cats. So when she was 3 and on a vacation with her grandparents, there was a thunderstorm and she was distressed. J's mom asked her whether it was the thunder or the lightning that bothered her and she said, "Thunder, *sigh* Thunder is my nemesis."
ysabetwordsmith

Re: Thoughts

ysabetwordsmith

March 12 2010, 21:24:53 UTC 11 years ago

*laugh* That is so cute!

  • Physics Staircase

    I am familiar with many of those upper steps! :D There is no end to knowledge and discovery. It has mountains upon mountains.

  • Bowling Ball and Feathers

    ... in case you want to see an ancient science experiment done now that we have the proper equipment.

  • Notes for "An Elusive, Tantalizing Partner"

    These are the notes for " An Elusive, Tantalizing Partner." "Science is like a love affair with nature; an elusive, tantalizing…