I recently ordered the Five Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman.

I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but I read the original Love Languages book years ago. It really helped my relationships with Jim, my children, and my family.

I decided to order this book because I’ve entered the teenager phase of my life.

Scary to think, but for the next sixteen years I’ll be the mother of teenagers.

I actually don’t fear the teenage years, but I know that I’ll have different challenges parenting teens than I’ve had parenting toddlers and young children.

So I got the book.

Even though I haven’t read it, I’ve been remembering and thinking a lot about the five love languages.

I’ve decided to focus on the individual love languages with all of my children, even though they may have different love languages.

This week, I’ve been focusing on ‘physical touch’.

I’m pretty good at hugging my kids, but as I’ve been concentrating on this, I’ve noticed that there are a few of the children that receive a lot less physical touch than others.

So I’ve been trying to hug and rub each child’s back at least once each and every day.

This shouldn’t be that difficult.

But it is.

Not so much the hugging part. That I can do.

But the rubbing/scratching the back part is very difficult.

Do you know why?

Because you have to slow down long enough to do it.

That is actually very difficult for me. I’m always moving, always doing something. Even if I’m sitting down working on the computer, my fingers are occupied typing.

So to find the time to rub 8 backs (9 if you count Jim – which I do), is very difficult.

But I’m trying. And the children are certainly appreciating it. (They all love it when I rub their backs).

Jade is pretty funny, she actually prefers me to rub her tummy. LOL

Speaking of Jade – she craves physical touch. Especially from Daddy and Ginger:

But she’s easy because she doesn’t give you any choice but to cuddle and snuggle with her. It’s the older ones that I need to be more proactive with. (Which, on a side note, is the first habit of a highly effective family – which I’m currently re-reading).

Are all the important people in your lives receiving the physical touch from you that they need? I hope so – if not, Christmas is a good time to start.