There's No Love Like The Love Your Kids Have For You When They Are Little

Mar 12, 2019 by apost team

I'll never forget the day my oldest son came screaming into the world. He looked like a tiny version of his father, but he had my personality from the start.

As a toddler, my son was wild and free. He wanted to splash in every mud puddle and explore every corner of his ever-expanding world. He'd wriggle free of his clothes and run naked through the house. He was confident beyond his years, and he loved to babble and laugh, but he was always looking for my approval.

My son loved to help me around the house. He'd sweep the floor with his toy broom, put away his toys and help me plant flowers in the backyard. Household chores might seem like fun to a three-year-old, but I knew there was another reason he did it: He wanted to make me happy.

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I knew because of the way he'd look up at me with his bright blue eyes when I told him he'd done a great job. I'd catch him watching me from the doorway when I brushed my hair at night. He told his teacher at daycare that I was the most beautiful person in the world. He knew that I would always be there for him, and I melted every time he took my face in his tiny hands and told me he loved me to the moon and back.

Then my daughter was born. The nurses in the hospital couldn't believe how alert my newborn girl was, and she focused all of her attention on me. She was the calm to her big brother's storm, and she wanted to spend every minute of the day in my arms.

As she got older, she'd climb into bed with me and say "let's just look each other." She was learning and growing every day, and she wanted to be just like me.

If you're a parent, you know where this story is going. My sweet toddlers, who loved me more than anything, grew into sullen teenagers. Everything I said or did was wrong. I embarrassed them. I was ruining their lives, and they HATED me for it.

Being a mother is not easy. Raising children is exhausting. First, they take over your body. Then, they take over your life. Your every waking moment revolves around their happiness and well-being.

Some "experts" on parenting will tell you to enjoy every minute with your children. That's a ridiculous notion. Nobody enjoys trying to potty train a stubborn child or dealing with a temper tantrum in a crowded shopping center.

What you can do is enjoy the little moments when your kids kiss your nose and tell you they love you more than ice cream. For a few short years, you are the center of your children's universe. Take advantage of that time.

Your children will always love you, but the way they love you will change over the years. Trust me, before you know it, your son will be embarrassed to be seen with you in public, and your daughter will roll her eyes at every single thing you say. Enjoy the peaceful moments in their childhood, and don't worry, I'm told things get better after they turn 30.

Do you agree that nothing can compare to the love of your children? What advice do you have for parents who are struggling to hold it together right now? Tag your friends to invite them to the conversation!