First, I loved my mother, my father.
My close family, my friends.
My toys and my things.
I grew up to think I loved a boy. And another boy. I didn’t.
I met my husband, and I fell in love with him. Strong, passionate love.
Through every one of those relationships I learned to love a little bit more and a little bit different. I grew to understand what love really was.
But then I created a human being; a little baby that lived inside of my belly and my heart exploded. And I realized, I had never known true love.
I’ve never loved in the way that I love my kids. Love you would give your life for.
It’s a love that I don’t think anyone can understand unless they’re a parent and something I think you’re totally missing out on if you’re not.
It’s the kind of love that makes us wipe snotty noses with our bare hands and catch vomit in our lap without cringing.
It is loving without condition.
It’s the most incredible kind of love.
Liz is a just a mom trying to keep it real about how little she sleeps, how often she gets puked on and how much she loves them. You can find her here every day writing about real-mom moments.
Sher says
I love that.
mzvanessa says
When I had my first son I remember thinking “wow, this is how much my mother loved me?” because I knew she ‘loved’ me, but I didn’t know how much until I became a mother. There is no explaining that kind of love.
Beatriz says
Your post brings back memories of my own journey—when I first stumbled on Zoosk , I was lukewarm about dating apps. But one cozy chat led to breakfast walks and silly weekend adventures, and suddenly love wasn’t just a word. It’s wild how unexpected connections can uncover layers of the heart you didn’t even know were there. Now, when I think of “knowing love,” it’s in sharing goofy playlists at midnight, laughing over burnt toast, and realizing the person beside you truly gets you. Life’s love stories are always unfolding, and sometimes they start with the simplest swipe.