Since Christmas, God has really opened my eyes to the very noticeable ways T and WY are different. While I've always heard no two children raised in the same house are the same, and I know that to be true, it's been awesome and humbling to see what makes each boy "tick" these days.
The Five Love Languages of Children authors, Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell, M.D., write; “For a child to feel love, we must learn to speak her unique love language. Every child has a special way of perceiving love. There are basically five ways children (indeed, all people) speak and understand emotional love. They are: physical touch, words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, and acts of service.” The better we become at identifying how children express love and need love expressed to them better equips us to be the parents God called us to be. And while we should use all five love languages with each child, generally one (or sometimes two) language(s) will "speak" the loudest.
No doubt about it, William is our quality time and physical touch child. He needs nearness and focused attention. He wants you with him. Snuggle with him. Hold his hand. Lie beside him to read books. Play with him. He needs confirmation you will "come and sit with me" when finished with a task. Simply being together without other distractions fills his love tank. He still loves being held and continues to give "big hugs", kisses and nose kisses.
Quality time and physical touch is important to Thompson, but not powerful as the love language of words of affirmation. Words of praise, love, encouragement and thanksgiving quickly fill his love tank. One perfect example was his response to the letters written to him by loved ones for his 7th birthday. I also think there are times when acts of service remind him he's loved. He'll sometimes ask for help with tasks we know he can do alone, yet taking a moment (or a few) to help, demonstrates our love for him through service.
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