I mentioned once to a friend who doesn’t have children that my love for my girls is a passionate love. She looked at me like there was something really wrong with me. Passion? What does passion have to do with your children? But I’m willing to bet that if you are a parent, you know what I am describing. It’s that emotion that comes over you when your baby is staring into your eyes for the first time, immediately after entering the world. Or that feeling you get the first time your little one kisses you. Or the first time you hear “I love you, mommy.” It is, for me, a love that I just cannot quantify. It’s so free-form and infinite and all consuming. It is… passionate.
I picked up Pea from nursery school today. I was right on time, but all of the other seven kids in her class had already left for the day. She was in the back of the room, playing with number magnets on a magnetic board, her back to me. She was wearing her little backpack with her name stitched across it. She was in blue jeans and her hair was in a bun and she was wearing a little necklace that has a snowflake charm on it that was turned around so that the charm was facing me. And as I watched her move the little magnets around on the board, I was just seized with this love for her that was so intense I was moved to tears. I have no idea what came over me, I was trying so hard to contain it, but I could not. I just felt her entire life beating in my heart and I couldn’t control myself. I walked up behind her and put my head next to hers, and without skipping a beat, she turned and kissed me. I hadn’t said a word, but somehow, at that exact moment, we had this really strong connection and she just knew that it was her mama beside her. Honestly, having kids is the best thing I’ve ever done. I’ve been good at many things in my life, but this? Being a mother? It’s what I am the very, very best at doing…
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My 5 kids are all bigger than me now, but I remember that special young mother love like it was yesterday. Each of my kids will forever be my treasure, thank you for your beautiful expression of motherhood.
I don’t have kids…but you make me want to start..right away! Absolutly made me tear up, if I wasn’t at work, I would of been crying…great writer!
ohhh, i totally get this. I’m right with you, Mommy. Sometimes, it hurts to look at them I love them so much and cannot imagine how my life would be without them. Isn’t it amazing, that no matter how tired or awful you can feel, there is always that incredible pull towards them, doing anything and everything for them? In spirit with you from Cali.
Oh my. You absolutely brought tears to my eyes Melissa. Just pure, raw emotion all the time. Right out there for everyone to see! It’s just fantastic and fabulous.
Thanks for always sharing.
XOXOXO
Right there with you. Beautifully written, and boy could I relate!
-Jen
You always write well but this was beautiful. I can relate exactly to what you are speaking of.
amen and amen, melissa!
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
is all I can muster to say. you left me speechless and took my breath away =]
Beautifully written. Being a Mom is the toughest job most will ever have but definitely the most rewarding. It’s amazing and I think that Mom’s like all of you who post on this site are pretty amazing as well. Keep up the good work.
Great post, brought some tears to my eyes. I think all moms “get” what you are saying. When I brought P home from the hospital, I remember thinking of all the many many things I have created, she is by far the best!
I know exactly what you mean.
That was so touching. I tell my husband all the time that Bear IS my heart. I don’t know how else to describe it. You said it beautifully.
….and that is how great people are made. The love we have for our kids will surround them and sustain them. It really makes me sad to think that all children are not so passionately loved. You go Momma!
Isn’t that just true, true, true? I feel the same way about being a Mommy. Sure, sometimes it is frustrating and hard, but children are so amazing… I am not sure why anyone wouldn’t get that it’s passionate. It’s the widest, deepest, strongest feeling there is- that love for our kids!
Thanks for making me tear up!!! I love those little moments that make us appreciate our beautiful children.
And….. Thank you, Thank you for my PIF gift I love and needed some new Lip Goo!!!
I just have to say that it is really good to hear a mom acknowledge that she is good at what she does. So often we focus on our shortcomings and feel like we have to compare to others. But we are good at what we do. Probably because of all the love involved!
I’ve been reading for quite a few months now. Thanks for the well-written perspectives.
Awesome. My husband is not usually as eloquent but I remember being in the hospital packing up to bring our little one home and he looked at me and said, “I just love her. So. Much.” Those are the best moments.
What a sweet and moving post…This too brought tears to my eyes and gave me the gift of remembering special times with my little ones. Thank you~
Thank you for bringing tears to my eyes. I feel the same way about Bean. She is the reason I get up in the morning & the reason I stay up late to watch her breath. I love her so much! It took us several years to get pregnant with her & I couldn’t wait to have her. The love I thought I would feel is ten, no, a thousand times better than what I thought it would be. When she throws her arms around my neck & pats my back I could lose everything else in life & still be alright. I do believe that is passion.
A truly exquisite post. I almost cried, remembering my little ones. Thank you.