I never thought about it until I joined SF and read posts about showing affection or not in families. But I really don't recall my family ever saying "I love you" to any of us...it was just assumed that we all did by our actions.
However, when I married and had children that all changed for us...between me, my husband, and my children. Not a day went by that we weren't showing our love. Maybe it was our new found faith and fellowship with members, maybe it was Jennifer who was given a gift at birth of peacemaker. Maybe it was my openly loving husband with me. That was certainly an example for the children...though brief as they were 1,2,4, and 6 when he died suddenly on the tennis court.