"I Love You"

Owen and Kyle are 2 years + 7 months old. Since they were 8 months old they've been hearing us tell them "I love you" numerous times every single day and even in the night when we watch them sleeping. When they first started talking I taught them to respond to us saying "I love you" to them by saying back to us: "I know!" It was very, very cute. It was so darn cute! People who would hear it got such a kick out of it -- hearing a parent say "I love you" to their 20 month old and having that baby confidently respond "I know!" I taught them to say "I know!" instead of "I love you too" in response to our "I love you"'s because I conscientiously did not want them to be "trained" to say those precious-"I-love-you"- words before they were ready. I wanted them to say it on their own terms, when they understood what it meant, and when saying it to us (or whomever they'd say it to) would really mean something for them. I knew someday it would mean something for them, and I wanted for them to be able to wait until they were ready to say it, with no pressure or expectation from us. Some of the people who overheard these "I love you"--"I know!" intereactions on a daily basis were the daycare staff. At drop-off every day we give the boys lots of hugs kisses and snuggles and always-always-always say "I love you" (often multiple times) while we are saying goodbye. Many days over the past year or so Kyle and Owen have cheerily and confidently responded: "I know!" to our "I love you"'s at drop-off. And some days they just hug and kiss and giggle and coo and don't say anything at all in response. But never did they say, "I love you" back. Until today. Today at drop-off, as always, I was giving my snuggles and cuddles and saying goodbye to my sweet bambinos. I rubbed my cheek to Kyle's cheek and said, "I love you baby" and he said, "I LOVE YOU." I whispered quietly into his ear: "Thank you sweetie! Thank you for saying 'I love you'!" Then I went to find Owen to say goodbye. I rubbed my cheek to Owen's cheek and said, "I love you baby" and he said, "I LOVE YOU." I whispered quietly into his ear: "Thank you sweetie! Thank you for saying 'I love you'!"