Last week on Jadon's second day of junior high (in a new district with yet another new start for him, Lord help him), I had the singular joy of reciprocated expression of love: as we parted at the gate I told him I love him, and he was willing to reply with the same, along with the ASL "I love you" handsign.
Contrast that with what happened within days with Evangelina as I brought her to school. We were walking in from the parking lot and I began to quietly sing my love for her when I was rudely interrupted. "Shhhh! Daddy, don't say it so loud!"
"I love you M--"
(In hushed tones...) "--Shhh! There are people here!"
Then, as Evangelina looks around and noticed that the people passed to a sufficient distance from us, my daughter relents with the command, "OK, now say it."