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Reporting a concern
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Report child abuse or neglect to your local council
Use these links to get in touch with your local council:
I'm Completely for hugs.
If i look back, my youngest, she was always clibming my back, getting my attention, telling me stories, and giving and accepting hugs (and accepting pocket money!!).
So hugs were just a natural 'wallpaper' in amongst the other daily essentials (food, sleep, learning).
I can remember an older friend telling me to make the most of it becaues it all changes as they get older.
There is a distinct time (around 11 yrs) when she stopped rushing in to help me shave/mimic me/play shaving-foam-chase.
She stopped hugging me "this is my dad and i'm proud of it" in front of her friends.
She still wanted hugs especially when upset, needed help with homework, and she allowed hugs when i sensed the time was right.
Boyfriends, some years of 'teen' difficulties... sobbing on my shoulder with me giving a containing hug.
Now 22 and she will kiss me on the cheek in public, and will break into tears with the release of a hug in difficult times.
I think its a journey about being brave enough to keep on inspite of getting it wrong some times - there is many a time when she pushed my hug away or said not now dad.
Now - where's my wife... I need a hug
/orange