Are You a Hugger?

[LysesKids]

Depends on the day.
I'm almost afraid to kneel down cause I become a human jungle gym.
This afternoon I had 3 kids sitting on my lap as I was reading stories and the precocious 2 1/2 yo grabs my toes right where she knows it drives me crazy. I was trapped.
But yeh, between hugs, patting their shoulders or arms to get a message through, patting their backs, chasing them around the house on my hands and knees(which is getting dang hard)to catch them and hear them giggle, there's lots of physical contact, not only hugs.

I am always a human jungle gym because all mine are little (all under 24 months)... once they learn to crawl they are all over me once I hit the floor . I love their cuddles, but the fact they hug each other, that's just so cool to see when that happens. Lately due to parent illness & moms trying not to infect babies, I'm the official hugger/super cuddler this week. I had one mom tell me "little man" has started being a super snuggler & could I step in so she didn't give him her illness. She felt so bad her 9 month old wasn't getting mom attention

[Controlled Chaos]

I make an extra effort to give them hugs, and pats on the backs. I am pretty stressed and quick to be grumpy lately (lots of life stuff going on) so I try to give lots of positive attention and comfort when I think of it. I also have one I don't like right now, so I am trying to give him extra hugs - hoping to trick myself ::

[NillaWafers]

I'm definitely not a hugger. I will cuddle my own kids but I feel awkward with others. If a kid hurts themselves or needs comfort I manage, haha - but otherwise, no.

[midaycare]

I'm a hugget, but not all my dck's are. I'm respectful of that. I give kisses on tops of heads, too. I also hug dcf's. Sometimes strangers. Always friends.

[BabyMonkeys]

same here.

I am NOT a touchy-feely person by nature and have to make a conscious effort to hug sometimes.

If my DCK's want one, I have zero issues providing one but its not something I just naturally do.

If someone makes a movement towards me when greeting me (to hug me, touch my shoulder etc), my natural instinct is to back away.

This is me exactly!

[Josiegirl]

I also have one I don't like right now, so I am trying to give him extra hugs - hoping to trick myself ::

That's a hard one. When I'm extremely upset by something one of them has done and and all I want to do is distance myself from that child temporarily but I know a hug is what they need the most at that moment, it's take an act of God to move me.

[midaycare]

I make an extra effort to give them hugs, and pats on the backs. I am pretty stressed and quick to be grumpy lately (lots of life stuff going on) so I try to give lots of positive attention and comfort when I think of it. I also have one I don't like right now, so I am trying to give him extra hugs - hoping to trick myself ::

The extra hug thing has worked for me

[mamamanda]

I make an extra effort to give them hugs, and pats on the backs. I am pretty stressed and quick to be grumpy lately (lots of life stuff going on) so I try to give lots of positive attention and comfort when I think of it. I also have one I don't like right now, so I am trying to give him extra hugs - hoping to trick myself ::

This made me laugh so hard...trying to trick yourself. :: I can totally relate which is why its so funny. I'm not overly comfortable with physical contact so it really depends on who it is for me. I do hug/cuddle with my kids and nieces and nephews a lot. I'm ok with hugging my dcks if they need/want it, but I probably don't initiate it often. Just not my natural thing.
Right now I have one that likes to be held and hugged a lot. I struggle b/c she picks on my ds frequently and like today she pushed him, I corrected her, and 2 minutes later she was trying to hug me. Sorry, really not in the mood to hug you right after you hurt my kid.

[Febby]

Hugs? All day everyday.

I also have several who really like to run their fingers through my hair when I'm sitting down. As long as no one touches my face, we're good.

[Leigh]

Hugs are great for kids. They raise oxytocin levels, and the effects last nearly 2 hours. They can help with behavior, and really, I think they help with self esteem. Hugs are important to little ones. Some of my kids are big huggers, some not so much. I have one kid who doesn't like me to touch him AT ALL unless he is hurt-then he's all over me wanting comfort. I have a little girl (24 months) who comes up to me and says "huuuug meee" when she is feeling lonesome. It all depends on the kid, but we tend to hug a lot around here.

[NoMoreJuice!]

This has been on my mind the last week. I have a 4 yo guy who needs 15 hugs from mom before she can leave (Dad sets a limit and only gives 2). I get annoyed with his constant neediness for hugs as I myself would rather never ever be touched. I avoid human contact like the plague. The last few months I've noticed myself asking him to stop asking for hugs, we don't have time, we have things we need to do.

Anyway, I am working really hard on building better relationships with all my kids lately, and I have been making myself stop the clock to spend a minute hugging this little guy every so often. It has actually made a world of difference this week, just taking a few minutes to squeeze, acknowledge him, then look into his sweet, trusting eyes. It is absolutely essential to me that I start taking more time for this. It makes me remember why I started this business, and it calms me during the chaos.

[Josiegirl]

This has been on my mind the last week. I have a 4 yo guy who needs 15 hugs from mom before she can leave (Dad sets a limit and only gives 2). I get annoyed with his constant neediness for hugs as I myself would rather never ever be touched. I avoid human contact like the plague. The last few months I've noticed myself asking him to stop asking for hugs, we don't have time, we have things we need to do.

Anyway, I am working really hard on building better relationships with all my kids lately, and I have been making myself stop the clock to spend a minute hugging this little guy every so often. It has actually made a world of difference this week, just taking a few minutes to squeeze, acknowledge him, then look into his sweet, trusting eyes. It is absolutely essential to me that I start taking more time for this. It makes me remember why I started this business, and it calms me during the chaos.

I completely agree that it can make a world of difference in their day which, of course, helps us immensely!!

[Josiegirl]

I have to remind myself often that these are not merely pint size people that I get to order around all day (haha) but little children who are placing their trust in me to love them and protect them. And if that's not my first priority during their day here then maybe I need to rethink my job. If I can simply calm myself down for a minute, long enough to look into their trusting eyes and feel the compassion for what they're going through without their moms/dads, having to shareshareshare with several others all day long, then I can give them what they need most; if it's a hug then that's what they'll get.
Thank you for posting this topic, it's now inspired me to stop and think more during their days rather than get this finished, do this, do that, be on schedule, etc., etc.

Ok, on a very side note, this editing within 5 minutes is annoying.

[Baby Beluga]

Thank you all so much for your input!

Naturally, I am not a touchy feeling person. I am with DH and DD and that is is. It occurred to me a couple of weeks ago that I don't really hug my daycare children. I love them dearly, but don't show that love with hugs. I give high fives, praises, pats on the back or shoulder, but not hugs. I know how I tend to "relax" after a long hug with DH or DD and wondered if the children would benefit as well...funny how looking back that thought seems like a huge "duh" moment.

I am happy to read that I am not the only one who isn't really touchy feeling. Makes me feel like less of a weirdo

[Unregistered]

I am hugger and a cuddler. If a child wants to sit on my lap, hooray. While it's not an all day thing....if they need/want a hug they get one for sure!