This is an I-Heart podcast.

Guaranteed Human.

Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of IHeart Radio.

Good morning.

This is Laura.

Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.

Today's tip is to say, I love you more often. There is no point in being stingy with these words with the people you love. So, why not let them know? This episode is first airing around Valentine's Day. We buy flowers and cards

for our spouses and candy for our kids, all of which is great. It's also great to show love for people

in our lives every other time of year. There are lots of ways to show love, and all of those have their merit.

But honestly, one of the simplest ways is just to say it. I began trying to consciously say these words

more often with my kids a great many years ago, particularly when my eldest was starting school.

I realized that it was going to be quite easy to have the last words they heard from me each morning

be something like, why aren't your shoes in the mudroom? What do you mean you don't have your

homework? You can't wear shorts in January, or something like that.

So while I still say all those things, I then try to end with, love you, as in, come on, you've got to

get out the door to the bus right now. Love you. I'm not sure if they notice or care. But if any of them does have a bad day, for some

reason or another, at least their mother's parting words to them, were affectionate.

You might try saying these little words when you part from your loved ones, too. If you are not

known for being particularly showy with emotions, you might start with some more demonstrative texts.

Send these people an emoji heart.

Then you can work up to words.

Your spouse and kids might be surprised, but they will probably be happy to get an, I love you, thinking about you,

...