A moment to treasure

Yesterday, my Grandson ( twelveteen , with an attitude at home, according to his Mum) plopped down on the sofa next to me, gave me a big hug and said " I love you Nan, you're the best". I'm still smiling !

We are not a tactile family either. I never had a kiss or a cuddle from my parents, so being tactile was totally alien to me (and still is to a certain extent). All this kissing stuff these days sort of gets on my wick to be honest. Where did that come from? Obviously it's different with children and grandchildren. My granddaughter is very tactile but that comes from my son-in-law's family who have always been kissy kissy, even to people they can't stand so it can be a bit false. I am glad my granddaughter is though, it's lovely

Well if you'd like to give them a kiss (and receive one in return), give it a go and see what happens - they might just be wanting to give their gran/nan a kiss and cuddle! If they don't, it doesn't mean they love you any less. My Nan wasn't tactile at all (I never saw her kiss or cuddle anyone) but she was still a lovely person whom I adored and would have done anything for her. But I would have loved a cuddle from her

No, I'm not very tactile I guess and neither were my parents. I had an elderly aunt who always pointed to her cheek and I would kiss her there; I used to like that. I always felt that young children should only kiss older people if they 'really' wanted to.I think it's down to an uncle of mine who used to make me kiss him and I hated it. My youngest grandson is very tactile, but only with certain people and I'm not one of them.

One of my precious memories is of going to pick my DGD no2 up from nursery. The children were playing out but she spotted me approaching and yelled at the top of her voice "That's my Granny" and ran to the fence to see me. She was 2 and a bit and had a bright pink coat on. And she still likes to cuddle up and have lots of loving snuggles. She's 12 on Sunday. In my memories treasure bank for sure

I don't think we should hope for these lovely gestures or think something is amiss when they are not forthcoming - they are just little bonuses when they do happen - a bit of icing on life's cake.

We go on holiday to France every summer for 5 or more weeks. DD & DGS usually come down to stay for a fortnight. When we go to the airport to pick them up, DGS ,runs through the baggage reclaim area, & throws himself at us , with lots of kisses & hugs. I often get an email from him saying " I love you much more than you love me " that is categorically impossible !!! He is now 8 , so I am making the most of it before he gets too grown up for all that " soppy stuff "

My oldest grandchildren are now in their early twenties DGS being six feet four and his sister about five seven so both tower over me but nothing is so good as the big hugs and kisses I get every time I see them and both say how they have missed me. DGD rang last weekend to see when we are going visiting next as when she and her brother came to France to see us I had had my bit of an episode and had been in hospital and we needed to cancel our planned visit - now rescheduled for next week.
Interestingly DS's sons (14 and 9) are not nearly so overt in their affection and I am lucky if I even get a bit of a hug! This has always been the case - completely different beings even though they witness the hug I get from their father whenever we meet. I am however allowed to pop a kiss on their heads! .

Are you a tactile family in general Tegan? Are your GCs parents tactile with them? I think that's where it tends to come from. If your GC are not too big, give them a kiss on the cheek the next time you see them and tell them how pleased you are to see them. After a few times, they'll come to accept it as normal (hopefully!).

It's enough for me that younger grandson now asks, "when am I seeing you?" during his weekly phone chats. That'll do.

Are they teenagers, Tegan?

....sorry; I hate it when people put a negative comment on a positive thread and I've gornandunitmyself ....

My grandchildren never kiss me or say anything nice about me ; think I've gone wrong somewhere along the way.

Thank you NanKate - we are lucky to have such open declaration of affection aren't we

Indeed it does Anya - it's the one thing his girlfriends have all mentioned to me over the years, how affectionate and loving he is.

He's not a bad old stick

I think that declaration from your son in front of his friends speaks volumes HollyDaze not just about how he feels about you, but also his inner strength.

How lovely Hollydaze we too as a family declare our love to each other.
- we are lucky aren't we ?

My son (now 32) has always kissed me when he goes out (or goes home now) and says 'love you mum'. One day, when he was about 17, his friends had called round for him as they were going off camping for the weekend. He came over, put his arms around me and kissed me - some of his friends snickered. He glared at them and said 'I happen to love my mum' - I thought that took some guts and has stuck in memory ever since.

I also remember one night, in Spain, my husband and I were going out for the evening and my youngest granddaughter said 'nanny, you look just like a princess' - I wanted to really laugh because I doubt that I did but to her, I must have

I had a similar moment hilda . I'd bought a new top and when DGS (just 4) arrived he looked at me and said 'Nana you look beautiful'
I was so touched and said 'thank you' added 'that's a lovely thing to say'

'I know' he replied 'I say that to Mummy too'



He should go far!

Having put on my new jeans for the first time I was sitting in my conservatory when DGD, who was two at the time, came in through the garden gate and walked towards me. She took one look at me and said "Ooh Gannie, nice touser". It is the best compliment I have ever been paid.

What fabulous stories of treasured moments with your grandchildren. I have loved reading them.

My mother told me many years ago when I was struggling as a young Mum and feeling an utter failure, that one day I would be a grandmother and it would be the most wonderful thing in the world - well she was right. Thanks Mum - still miss you after 20 years.

Little gem from DGS (about to be 3 later this week). He is an ebullient, endlessly joyful and loving little chap with the most extraordinary zest for life. Long dark hair, beautiful big brown eyes - a real charmer.

He went to the dentist yesterday and went into the room with his Mum and brother and had a great time on the "uppy-down" chair and chatting to the dentist. As they left the room, and entered a waiting room full of anxious looking people, he flung open the doors and said at the top of his voice: "That was great!!" Apparently the waiting room was in fits of laughter - I guess it brightened their day!

Every home should have one - it is not possible to be sad when he is around.

My 3year old grandaughter who lives 3hours away climed onto my knee when I was visiting recently and said' grandma I miss you all the time '. Couldn't speak for a moment or two !

Last year (I have mentioned this on here before) I was having a bad time. I didn't mention it to my DGD of course but she must have senses something was amiss (she was 13 then). I said something about me being hopeless at something or other and she said 'Nan, you are the nicest person I know'

So many. The most recent being when my little DGS, who was being a tad standoffish last week, hurtled towards me and flung his arms round my neck when a younger tot took a shine to me at his play gym. Amazing what a little can do!

When DGS demanded to have his high chair moved next to me and his great uncle before he ate his pudding.

"Great uncle" sounds like someone terribly forbidding! He is nothing like that at all!
DGS just took a shine to him when he visited.