I Need a Massage, Mommy!

on October 2, 2009 at 7:17 AM

cat getting massage

My daughter is part Irish, Swedish, German, and Cat. That's as in meow. She gets that gene from my side of the family. I love, love, love back scratches and massages of any kind. I don't care who the person is ... friend, family, man, woman, stranger, serial killer ... or on which part of my body ... back, head, toes ... I curl up into a ball and melt into pleasure at the slightest touch of nails on my skin.

So of course, the bedtime ritual at my house always is, "Mommy, can you rub me?" "Mommy, you forgot to rub me!' "Mooommmy, I'm not going to sleep unless you rub me!!!"

Usually she settles in after just a few strokes, but lately she's more demanding. She wants a longer duration and a greater intensity. I type all day and my hands hurt, so I've managed to pass this job off on my husband. He's not thrilled because now he's responsible for giving back massages to two people every night.

Lucky for him our son did not inherit any feline DNA, actually just the opposite. He inherited the classic "tough guy" gene that is designed to repel adoring touches or hugs of any kind, at the same time that it also encourages punches or rough tickles. "Daddy, let's fight!" has become a regular request lately. My 6 year old guy is actually getting a pretty decent set of biceps from all that pounding on Dad's gut.

This is absolutely fine by me for two reasons: 1) It's play fighting and all in good fun, and 2) Pretty soon my son's arms will be strong enough that I can teach him to give me back massages.

Does your toddler love to be rubbed, scratched, or massaged as much as mine does?

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About the author Cynthia Dermody

is The Stir's Managing Editor who has trophies in her home for her skills at the Irish Jig. She makes cupcakes with as many fattening ingredients as possible, doesn't comb her hair for months at a time, and was probably a faerie in a former life.

Filed Under: play, siblings, sleep

Comments (3)

yetti26

on Oct 2, 2009 at 10:47 AM

Marilyn calls it "tickle bugs" haha. The idea of bugs crawling on her creeps me out....but she loves a good back rub with my finger tips. I'm the same way -- unfortunatly, I have a husband who falls asleep when he rubs my back...and then twitches violently. RUINS the back rub. LOL

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CuriousSarahM

on Oct 2, 2009 at 1:14 PM

My 2 year old wants to have her belly rubbed at night like a puppy with a belly full of milk. It's adorable! Eventually she gets tired enough that she just wants to play with our finger nails till she falls asleep. (No clue where that quirk came from)

PinkSodaPop

on Oct 2, 2009 at 7:41 PM

Yes...and I'm like that as well!

Did you know that having your back scratched is like a natural pain reliever? It helps to release anti pain endorphins or something --- That's why it's so relaxing to be scratched and such on your back or very 'intensely' relaxing to be rubbed on your back...or have your hair on your head played with/brushed... (I Love it!)

My daughter and sons also inherited that from me... they all love their back scratches, their hair played with, and their feet rubbed!

My daughter (she's 2.5 yrs...) LOVES her feet rubbed... It's so cute to hear such a little one say... 'Wub my feet daddy... pweeease?' ... Yeah she got that from me too! (lol)