Thanks all. I guess I feel a little better (?) after hearing that other kids do this stuff do. Actually, I feel bad for all the parents! And Dottie - i sure do hope it stops before dating time! What a thought.

We had a family playdate last Saturday. The other father is a psychiatrist, specialist in OCD. Just happened to see this program early that morning on the medication of children, for mental/emotional disorders. He said that the research is "too good" and thinks that regular child-like behaviors mimic all the psychiatric labels we put on them and you have to either let them work through it or, in the case of adolescent depression, help them cope.

So, in a gentle, joking manner, who has the OCD?

It's not me if that is what you're asking. It is a distant relative but I know he has really struggled with it during his lifetime. It is a hard condition to cope with, but there is help with medication and therapy.

Beyond not worrying, I'd suggest trying to play around with this a bit, only to keep yourself sane.

Example:
Kid: I love you.
Mom: I love you too, dear.
Kid: I love you.
Mom: I love shoes.
Kid: I love you.
Mom: I love blue. (Baboo, Elephant Poo, Whinnie the Pooh, etc.)

If you can keep your tone friendly, or humorously syrupy, you may be able to get him giggling, which sound sorely needed. Sounds like your darling has found a way to irritate you, and you may not want to let him get away with that, particularly if you can get both of you laughing instead.

This may not work, but it might. Keep asking yourself, if I wasn't worried or irritated, what would I do?

Remember that our little ones can do what every they do about 100 times more intensly than most ND kids. It's normal for them. Mine whistled nonstop for a whole year.
Smiles,
Grinity

Completely normal, just a game or ritual. I am sure he is having fun and he may do it for a looooong time I like Grinity's suggestions, at least you can have fun too

Funny, Grinity. I will try this. Because it's true, I do love shoes, and blue, and goo. Incidentally, I don't think DS4 is aware that I am irritated by this. He actually doesn't mind going to his class these days, and he will run ahead of me (still saying "i love you mommy!" with each step). He will also keep on a conversation with me in between the I love yous.

But I'll go for it and try to get him laughing. That might just work. (That reminds me of how he had a peculiarity in his speech when he was 2 - he didn't say esses in the beginning of words. Since all of us in his family understood what he meant, we would respond, repeating the words with the correct s sound in the beginning, figuring he'd catch on some day. He told a friend of ours he asked 'anta for an automatic 'anitizer 'oap dispenser for christmas. She smiled and repeated back exactly as he said it. DS laughed and from then on started saying all his esses. Humor does get to him.)

Grinity - i feel for you with the yearlong whistling! If that ever happens around here, we're in trouble - DH has sound sensitivities and can't stand whistling! Of course, that means I have to whistle sometimes...

LMom - now that i have written my last response, I think you may be right. Could be just a game for him. Could be worse things than repeated i love yous!

The more you describe it, the less it sounds like the behavior is born of anxiety. As I understand it, anxiety is the hallmark of OCD: "If I don't do this, something terrible will happen. Even if my conscious mind knows that my fear is ridiculous, I MUST repeat this action so that nothing bad will happen."

I just don't see it.