Just a Little Head Butt to Say “I Love You”

Subtitle: What Personal Space?

The Littlest Apple is 100% boy.  He’s very physical, likes to crash and smash and do BOY things.  He’s got Boy Energy.  But it doesn’t stop there.

He’s also most definitely a spirited child, a kid that always makes his presence known every where he goes.  He’s got EXTRA Boy Energy: he literally cannot stand or sit still and rocks back and forth while standing or sitting. (So much rocking in fact, that we mentioned it to his doctor, concerned it might be a sign of autistic behavior.  In this case, nope, he’s just got too much energy).  At the same time, he’s also very empathetic and extremely aware of how other people around him are feeling.  Extra expressive and enthusiastic.  Very tactile.  (He’s also beyond stubborn, relies on routine to the extreme, and is a bit of a drama queen, but those are spirited-child traits we’ll discuss in another post!)

My little guy is also super affectionate.  Way more so than other kids, or so I’ve been told.  This is a boy who is CONSTANTLY giving kisses, hugs, and the most adorable of all: lots of pats on the backs.  He does this with me, The Picky Apple, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and pretty much everyone we know.  He reaches out to touch other kids and strangers whenever we’re out and about.

(Is affection a trait that you are born with or something that is learned?  I think it is a little of both.)

He has to be in physical contact with me nearly all of the time.  Endearing yes, but sometimes I do miss my personal space.  In addition to the hugs, pats, and kisses (all things I wouldn’t trade for the world), I’m also jumped on, hung from, hit, climbed on, pulled around, kicked, prodded, etc.  (And that’s when he’s happy!)  Sometimes it is just a little too much.  There is no sitting together side by side to read stories: even when he’s interested in the book, he’s jumping on me, wiggling around, poking me with his toes, trying to crawl behind my back.

My favorite of all though, is the frequent head butting.  I’m not sure exactly where he learned to do this, though I’m guessing I have my dear husband to thank.  The Littlest Apple head butts me ALL THE TIME.  (and there are usually coordinating sound-effects too!)  Usually at the most inopportune times, like when I’m eating, drinking, chopping, cooking, or writing.  When I’m putting on makeup, he’s standing right behind me head butting me (now you know why my eye liner is always crooked!), and trying to wedge himself into the space between me and the cabinets and/or between my feet.

As tempted as I am to lock myself alone in the bathroom sometimes to get a little personal space back, I know those head butts are just The Littlest Apple’s way of saying “I Love You, Mommy!”

But I still prefer the hugs and kisses.