Cuddle Monkey

A hug delights, warms and charms.  That must be why God gave us arms.

For the past two days I’ve woken early and jumped in the car for a near full day at work in the Charity’s office.  It’s actually really lovely to catch up with my colleagues and have somebody next to me to bounce ideas off.  It’s also so much easier to get things decided as we’re not constantly bouncing suggestions backwards and forwards on email.  However, it also means that I’ve left the house with little man still fast asleep and I’ve had to go eight hours without seeing him. 

Truth be told a little bit of a break from Trouble Monkey is nice but when it comes to pulling up in the drive way again at the end of the day I’m honestly not sure which one of us is more excited to see the other.  I head towards the door with a stupidly large grin on my face and he is in his Poppa’s arms waiting for me, arms and legs flapping in delight.  The icing on the cake is the cuddle I’ve been given for the past two days. 

 

Moving on from me simply holding him in my arms as I cuddle him, I now get cuddled back.  And I love it.  Absolutely love it.  His chin tucks into my neck, his arms are thrown about me and squeezed and I feel all warm and glowy.

This evening has in fact seen lots of cuddles between Alby and myself (inspired in part by the significant amount of cuddling taking place amongst the Tombilboos this evening).  In addition to benefitting from cuddles myself I was totally amazed over the Easter weekend by what a Cuddle Monster he is with other children.  He must have given out at least 50 cuddles to his cousins and even hugged a little boy in the park who just happened to be standing in the same area as he was. It's as though he's as impressed with his new skill as the rest of us are.  And whilst I don't want to sound all showy, the thing which stands out the most is that he seems quite unusual in this respect - he seems totally unperturbed by the fact that he gives out plenty more hugs than other children give back.

Cuddles with grown ups are somewhat more elusive than those with other children, and cuddles with bulldogs are yet more popular than those with fellow toddlers, but I’m not competing.  I just feel honoured and, added to the list of things to share with Daddy, I can’t wait for when Mark gets to tell me all about the first time Alby cuddles him.  

Hug O' War

a poem by the late Shel Silverstein

I will not play at tug o' war

I'd rather play at hug o' war,

Where everyone hugs

Instead of tugs

Where everyone giggles

And rolls on the rug,

Where everyone kisses

And everyone grins

And everyone cuddles

And everyone wins.