Childhood Do Most Parents Tell Their Kids They Love Them?

[Mammo]

I'm in my thirties now, I tell my daughter I love her regularly, and vice versa.

My parents never said those words until after I had left home, and that was only after I coaxed it out of them through humour.

Maybe it's just a "British" thing and/or a generational thing e.g. I think nowadays, people are better at being more expressive of this stuff...

What do you think?

 

[mrsps]

Nope my parents never said I love you! It is something that if my husband and I have kids we will make sure we tell them everyday

 

[Sammyiam]

I'm in my late 40's and I am a grandma and mother of two, my parents never ever told me they loved me once and my dad died back in 2000 and my Mum just died this year in April and I sat with her while she died and she didn't even say it on her death bed, just told me to go home :(
I know how you feel it feels like there is a huge hole in you that can never ever be filled up.
I'm sorry you had this to deal with

Sammy

 

[Friday]

No abuse in my family.

Common in my family to at least 5 generations.

Leaving or arriving at my great grandparents (thinking of all 4 generations of everyone getting together under one roof, when I was a child, but also common in smaller groups) everyone was greeted or faretheewell'd with hugs, kisses, handshakes, & Love you's. As well as compliments, jibes, old jokes. Sometimes randomly, more often on point. Someone would do something charming, or clever, or kind, or mischievous, or whatever which would elicit an "I love you / love that kid/ love that man/ love this woman/ etc.".

Modernly... I say it to my kid(s) when I feel it or am reminded of it. Which equals rather often.

Modernly... It's common amongst all the families I've been friends with over the years.

 

[Deleted member 29920]

My parents told me they loved me. Often. They also physically, sexually and emotionally abused me so it meant f*ck all. Anyone can say the words and not mean them. Love is shown in actions, not words.

 

[anonymous]

Love is shown in actions, not words.

This.

I don't remember my dad ever saying it. My mum made a point of saying it. They were both abusive in different ways. I didn't feel loved by either of them.

I say it to my own child but probably not very often, and not out of habit, or for the sake of it or because I should. We have a good relationship.

 

[Fadeaway]

Nope. When I would ask my grandmother if she loved me she say, "My dad never told me and never needed too, I just knew." Well I didn't know, I sure didn't feel it and I never did get my answer. Funny thing is she got so upset when she asked my grandfather the same question and he told her, "I don't know, I'll have to think about that." Can we say hypocrite?

 

[Leah Morgan]

I didn't here it a lot my kids do every night

 

[Lucycat]

My parents never said it to me.

 

[RussH]

My dad never did, and I don't remember if my mom did.

 

[The Albatross]

My mom did, but my dad didn't until we were at the airport and I was due to board to go to boot camp after enlisting in military service.

 

[ihateusernames]

I don't remember my dad ever saying it. My mom said it every night at bed time until I was about a pre-teen. Then stopped. Now my dad is dead and my mom only says it on very rare occasion like if I'm about to move far away or something. The rest of my family is a mixed bag. Grandmas, yes, grandpa, no, one uncle always does, the other siblings do not. My husband's mom is big on "I love yous" and so is my step-dad. I have a toddler. I tell him I love him many times a day and so does my husband. I intend to continue that forever, basically.