The frequency didn’t matter, because love and support were always conditional. Kids will know.

My mom only started telling me she loved me when I was about 40 and only when saying goodbye on phone calls. She said my grandmother never told her she loved her, even when Grandma knew she was dying. My dad? Never.

Every day before school and before bed and then every time anyone left the house. Ironically, my mom was emotionally abusive. So, I've never felt like the words "I love you" mean much. It's how people show their love that I find important.

Anonymous wrote:My mom never said it when I was a kid. She started saying it before we got off the phone when I was an adult and after I had kids..mid 30's. My dad said it frequently throughout my life. I tell dh and my kids I love them every day. More importantly, though, I act like I love them.

+1 Father, never.

My mom never said it when I was a kid. She started saying it before we got off the phone when I was an adult and after I had kids..mid 30's. My dad said it frequently throughout my life. I tell dh and my kids I love them every day. More importantly, though, I act like I love them.

Mom, all the time. Dad, on the phone. Parents were divorced.

Only on major holidays. I grew up desparate for love and ended up seeking it in all the wrong places.

We saw it a lot. Each time someone heads to work or school, or ending a phone call. My parents said it to me regularly as a child and still do.

Interestingly, my younger child says it freely to us, grandparents, etc., but my teen hasn’t said it to anyone since toddlerhood (teen will sign cards etc “love, name.”).

Anonymous wrote:Never as a child.

I got into a bit of trouble when I was 17. My dad asked me if he could do anything to be a better father. I told him he should say I love you.

He said I love you every single solitary time he saw me from 17 to 83 when he passed away

My mother never said I love you.

Oh wow. This made me cry

Never. I come from a family of people who don’t express feelings, at least not positive ones.
I make it a point to say it to my son regularly. He is now in college and I say it at the end of every phone call.

Anonymous wrote:Never as a child.

I got into a bit of trouble when I was 17. My dad asked me if he could do anything to be a better father. I told him he should say I love you.

He said I love you every single solitary time he saw me from 17 to 83 when he passed away

My mother never said I love you.

Wow, this is so sweet!

Never - they were immigrants and apparently it wasn’t part of our culture.

Never as a child.

I got into a bit of trouble when I was 17. My dad asked me if he could do anything to be a better father. I told him he should say I love you.

He said I love you every single solitary time he saw me from 17 to 83 when he passed away

My mother never said I love you.

I have no recollection of ever hearing those words from my mother. My father never said “I love you” to me as a child, but he now says it fairly regularly when we hang up the phone.

And when?- Via phone each time, When you are away from them? How much randomly?

I say it more when I call them, when they are asleep when I check on them coming home late. I use to say it a lot when you were toddlers and in elementary school. I random disburse it now that they are older teens.

My dog, I say it all the time. My husband when he’s traveling on the phone, married 24 years.