What a lovely piece! Thank you so much for sharing this story, HD! And thank you for your kind mention.

I never got to experience an embrace in the arms of my mother. Any hugs she gave were always stiff and awkward - and they were extremely infrequent (which was something of a relief, because the kind I really wanted were never going to be forthcoming).

But I WAS a huggy affectionate mum with my kids so I felt their beautifully loving embraces, and did my best to give them what I hadn't received.

Thank you for reminding your readers to slow down. Beautiful!