Charlotte
Charlotte is my momma’s girl. She insists on hugs first thing in the morning, at 
bedtime and periodically throughout the day. Unfortunately, I’m not always available for hugging. She crawls on my lap as I’m feeding Nicole, insists I put Nicole in the swing or just cries at my feet. Sometimes she grabs my legs as I’m walking and holding Nicole and I feel bad when I have to free my legs and step over her as she slumps to the ground and cries. Zach thinks that I reinforce her crying when I give her hugs when she cries and clings, and I agree somewhat, but how can I deny her hugs? I have tried a few times insisting that she calm down and ask nicely for a hug, but there are times when I’m taking care of the baby and I really can’t hug her even if she ask nicely so I can’t immediately reinforce the behavior I want. I try to hug her periodically when I’m not trying to calm or feed Nicole, but I feel awful when all she wants is a hug from her mother and I can’t give her one.