I work hard to balance the demands of owning and running a business, while also being the best wife and mother I can be. And some days, I feel like a powerful and efficient #momboss that has it all under control. But most days, I worry that I give my businesses more attention than my two boys. At the end of the day, I just want my kids to know that they are loved; and finding out how powerful a hug can be changed my approach to how I show my children love and affection.
One night, while scrolling through Facebook (yes, Facebook is a guilty pleasure of mine, and I’m not ashamed to admit it), I came across an article that explained the science behind a hug. According to beingtheparent.com, “research shows that hugging does not only help you bond better, but also helps boost your physical, mental and emotional health. And when we talk about hugging our kids, we are only setting a solid foundation for a happy, healthy adult.” Now, I’ve always known hugs are powerful—I mean, think about it: getting a random hug from someone can help make a bad day better! But what shocked me was this statement from Psychotherapist Virginia Satir:
“We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.”
That means that kids, since they are constantly growing, need at least 12 hugs a day! And while cuddles can count towards this goal of 12 hugs a day, I still had to seriously ask myself if I come close to giving my boys the amount of hugs (and affection) they need to thrive on a daily basis. The answer was simply no.
Reading this article was a serious game changer for me, and now, a make it a priority to personally hug or cuddle each of my children at least 12 times a day. And, according to the article, this simple action of giving a hug actually accomplishes 8 different things:
- A hug can make your child happy.
- It can make them sleep better.
- Giving and receiving a hug can reduce stress.
- It can make them feel more confident.
- Hugging actually boosts immunity.
- It elevates your mood, too.
- Hugs help express your love.
- And they help to heal.
Many of the benefits of hugging are a result of the chemical, oxytocin, that is produced when someone is happy. Essentially, hugs are so powerful because they make people happy! So, remember, there is no such thing as too many hugs.
❤ Always!