<p>I just came across "The No Hugs Rule" by Cheryl Costello Forshey. I don't have a link....just google her and the name of the poem.</p>
<p>Ok....so who didn't cry?</p>
<p>Here's the link:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.angel45-2b.com/nohugs.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.angel45-2b.com/nohugs.html</a></p>
<p>At age four, my son invoked the "no kisses" rule. Hugs were allowed for quite some years thereafter. "I love you" lasted even longer, but the day came when my "Good night, love you" was responded to with " 'night" or "yeah."</p>
<p>Hugs are still very, very rare. When we were evacuated in different directions from Katrina, I got my first "I love you" in a long time. </p>
<p>So, yes, I cried. The good part is that when we get our rare, rare hug or "love you", we know there is nothing perfunctory about it.</p>
<p>My kids know that in France, you're expected to kiss relatives twice, maybe even four times, unless you can invoke a crick in the neck. :)</p>
<p>well yes, i cried. my S is a senior and boy did she put my thoughts into words, more eloquently than i ever could have done. My S will sometimes for no reason come up and give me a hug and tell me he loves me--i really cherish those moments--they grow up so fast!!</p>
<p>My DD surprises me. She still likes to be tucked in at night. We tease her and tell her she'd better go to school somewhere close since I'll be having to come over every night to tuck her in. I'm often surprised (pleasantly) that she'll lean her head on our shoulders or put her arm through ours when we are out in public. We're very fortunate, as she doesn't really appear to be embarrassed by us.</p>
<p>Both Ss still kiss and hug--one is still quite kissy huggy--though not at the school gate, mind you.</p>
<p>Each of us has a physical contact barometer. Some of us like to sit right on top of one another. My S2 and I are like that. Once, riding in a cab with a friend in Manhattan, she suddenly started shivering and shrieking, literally begging me to move to the other side of the cab. "Would you PLEASE move over to your side of the cab?!!!#@??" </p>
<p>I wasn't even sitting THAT close--according to my barometer.</p>
<p>Ok, that's not fair to attach a link like that when I'm at work! I should have known better than to even open it--but I did, and didn't make it past the first stanza before reaching for the tissues, saying--"Nope, gotta wait til I get home!" </p>
<p>Sent my twin sons away this year and both (without any prodding from Dad!) provided birthday cards (1 left at home after a visit and one in the mail) last week that weren't the normal silly cards they ususally sent--I was in tears at 7am from the card that read something to the effect of "A mom is who you turn to first with the good news and with the bad news; a mom is who you turn to first to know you are loved" (sorry if the typing is messed up--I am working through a glaze of tears!). The second awaited me after work saying that even though he wasn't home I was still able to take care of him and all the things he needed. 'Scuse me, reaching for the tissues anyway!</p>
<p>So, I will read the "No Hugs Rule" tonight when I don't have to explain to my co-workers!</p>