Is Also a Thief

     Teenagers don't snuggle with their parents... they refuse to give a mom or dad a hug on their way out to school and I'm pretty sure a kiss on the cheek is out of the question.  And because teens don't show affection to their parents, I"m pretty sure pre-teens don't either (because they're trying to be cool, like teens).  Add on to that the fact that I'm a mother of two boys and we end up with this sad but likely scenario that my days of getting hugs, kisses and cuddles may very well be numbered.  I mean, we're pretty much talking about 4-6 more years of hugging, kissing and cuddling with my kids.  I'd hope for more because Josh is still so young but he starts off as less of the affectionate kind and also he'll want to emulate his older brother by ignoring his mother, I'm sure.
     It's already pretty hard to capture a real cuddle from our kids.  True, you can get a good solid hug and even a kiss just by asking... but to get a sit-still-and-cuddle-moment? Those usually have to be stolen.  For those of you who are interested in stealing as many cuddles as you can before your kids become pre-teens (or worse... teens), I've compiled a few ideas for places/ways to catch an honest-to-goodness-cuddle.
1) Movie Night- No real reason to hit the theaters; they have armrests which impede a good cuddle.  So curl up on your own couch and save some bucks.  It's not too much TV if you're right there with them!  If it makes you feel better, you can talk about the characters, plot and setting. Now, once you've got your kid in a cuddle, don't move. This might be hard but if you move, they'll get antsy and move farther away from you.  And then you're stuck watching Care Bears: The Movie and you're not even getting a cuddle out of it.
2) After a nap- We find that post-nap is a great time for a cuddle because the kids are so groggy!
3) Middle of the night- This isn't the best option if you're looking for an interactive cuddle (i.e. the kid actually enjoying the cuddling with you) but still, that peaceful sleeping face is so sweet.  Maybe if you have time you can just lie next to them for a few minutes.
4) Looking at the stars- This isn't just a bad pick-up line anymore...  (A friend of mine actually did fall for that line once)... You can use those glow-in-the-dark stars like we did in Liam's room or you could be more realistic/outdoorsy and opt for the real-deal.  Either way, make it a nightly ritual to look up at those stars before bedtime.  Just try not to fall asleep while looking.
5) In a hammock- This works great because hammocks immediately trap you and your unsuspecting cuddler.  Then there's the calming swaying back and forth, back and forth, and the cloud formations to look at too!  A great way to steal a good cuddle!
6) Christmas- You know all of that excitement relating to the holiday?  Not to mention the fact that your kids will have woken up way too early?  Well take advantage of their utter exhaustion, gratitude and euphoria and steal a cuddle at the end of the day.  Forget about the dishes- that's what December 26th is for.
7) Anytime you're trying to go somewhere or get something done- Never fails; if you need to get to the store between snack time and dinnertime, it's likely that is when you're kids would prefer to just stay home... cuddling.  If you need to do the laundry, guess who would prefer to give Mommy a hug?  Have you ever tried to cuddle while emptying the dishwasher?  It's not great but you can't be too picky.
8) Storytime- Yes!  You've got them trapped with the power of prose! Now steal those cuddles before they squirm away!  It really doesn't matter how many times you've read "But Not the Hippopotamus", just read it again and again and again!  I suggest interactive books like the lift-the-flap ones for longer sustained reading.
9) Bribery- If it's an emergency and your kids just won't cuddle without "reinforcements", try offering them candy in return for a cuddle.  Or if you don't like bribery but you aren't averse to trickery, give them a slow-to-finish candy like a lollipop and plop them down on your lap to enjoy.  Nice.  For an added bonus, give yourself a piece of that candy too.

10) Now here's the best way to steal a cuddle and it doesn't last long so you need to savor it... Cuddle with a newborn baby.  They are so unsuspecting, they actually love to cuddle.  Think of the warm embrace they've enjoyed for the past 9 months, now isn't that just what they're craving now that they're born?  Isn't that why they curl up on your shoulder with their knees bent and feet tucked under?  Isn't that why they fall asleep nestled in the nook of an arm?  Plus, they need you so really it's the least they can do to cuddle with you.  Enjoy the newborn cuddle, it's so sweet and perfect and warm.  Enjoy it so much that you can save it up, like in a piggy bank. So when you're looking at your 13 year old sitting in the passenger's seat and he refuses even to give his dear mother a kiss goodbye before school, you can just close your eyes and remember how when he was a newborn, that little guy just needed you so much that he wanted nothing more than to be close to you.  And as those days slowly approach for me, I will remember just how much I have loved every kiss, hug and cuddle... even the ones I've stolen.