Parenting is kind of like marriage.
You have to kindle the embers once in a while in order to keep the flames burning strong.
Get Touchy-Feely-Most people grossly underestimate the power of touch.
Through a simple touch, energy fields are connected and emotion is passed between individuals.
You can communicate things that you could never say out loud.
Remember when you had that horrible crush in high school? You looked for any chance to "accidentally" brush up against him in the hall.
Do the same with your child.
Look for opportunities to touch your child.
Practice touching your child more often and mentally focus on communicating love and kindness through your touch.
Let your hand gently stroke her head or arms.
Hold hands more often.
Hug them every chance you get.
Snuggle up together with a good book.
Let this action be filled with conscious thought.
Let joy and gratitude pass from you to your child.
Write Love Notes-We never outgrow love notes.
Think back again to high school.
Remember how a simple note stuck in your locker could make your heart beat out of your chest? Practice writing love notes to your child.
There is power in words and when we put those words on paper it takes on a life of its own.
If your child is in school, slip notes in their lunch or their schoolbooks.
Leave notes on their pillow at night or stick them to their mirror in their bedroom.
These notes make your child feel loved and adored; and they also let your child know that you think about them all the time.
What a great way to boost their confidence! Picture This-Most of us have plenty of pictures of our children in our homes, but they always seem to be where we most likely expect them-the foyer, living room, or den.
When you are head over heels in love, you always have a picture close by.
Collect some candid pictures of your children, the ones that really capture their personality, and put them in your more intimate home spaces.
Put some in your bedroom, your kitchen, maybe even your bathroom or the dashboard of your car.
These little reminders not only make your child feel loved, but they also serve as subconscious reminders of our own love affair with our children.
Go on Dates-A love affair needs regular attention in order to stay healthy and strong.
Dates are those times when you focus solely on one another.
Eyes connect, hearts connect, lives connect.
Dates are extremely important for your marriage and they are also vital for your relationship with your children.
You don't need to break the bank or set aside an entire day just for time together.
Just look for opportunities to spend time together, one-on-one.
Bring your child along when you need to make a run to the grocery store.
All that matters is spending time together, talking and communicating.
It doesn't matter what you do.
It matters who you're with.
Say It Out Loud-Let your voice lead the way when it comes to love affairs.
Remember how your palms would sweat in high school when your crush came over to talk with you after class? Communication is key.
Talk with your child.
Speak your love and your appreciation for him.
Let your words be sweet and empowering.
Use positive words and speak with positive images.
Put a smile on your face and talk with a gently and loving voice.
Words are powerful; but even more powerful is the emotion you put behind your words.
Before you even open your mouth, ask yourself a question: Is this building my child up or tearing my child down? Remember, you're in love-so act like it!