Isabelle has always had a sweet habit of letting me know when she needs affection. She tells me in a squeaky little voice, "I need my love pot filled, can we snuggle?" Having her love pot filled equates to sitting down, holding her belly button to belly button ("so the love can flow through just like it did when I was in your tummy"), and rocking, snuggling, scratching her back, smoothing her hair, and just generally getting that wonderful feeling of being a mommy giving love in a way she can receive it.
I'm not sure where she came up with the words "love pot", but they have stuck and are used on a frequent basis. Having grown up in a home where physical affection was not a strength, I am now understanding better through my own journey of motherhood, just how valuable taking this time is. Our children need our tender touch as well as the one that guides and disciplines. They need our tender words in addition to those which are sometimes stern or principled. They need looks of admiration and praise in addition to that curving of the eyebrow denoting an unhappy Mommy.
When I am taking the time (sometimes several times a day) to fill Isabelle's "love pot", I wonder how much (or little) I have done this with my sons who perhaps weren't so verbal about their needs for affection. Even as our children grow, they need physical touch that tells them: "I love you. I am here for you. I think you're wonderful. Everything is going to turn out fine." How easy it is to do everything BUT that! Our daily tasks can overshadow such simple and precious needs. Learn from my little girl as I am doing. Don't neglect the love pots of your children this day.
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