I Know That Love

I was standing in line at the grocery store one day. I watched a mother holding her little one. I watched as she nuzzled her nose in her son’s soft, baby hair and then she just kissed, kissed, kissed that precious little head.

That baby was probably 6 or 7 months old. My youngest, at the time was pushing 18 months. I was still “techinically” able to hold and nuzzle my daughter like the mom with that baby, but at the time I was becoming very aware of the fact that my baby was no longer a “baby.”

As I watched that mom, my heart wandered back. It wandered back to some of the most precious moments in my journey as a mom (to this point, I imagine there will be many more)…smelling that sweet baby hair, nuzzling the softness, giving kiss after kiss after kiss, barely being able to stop. Oh, that overwhelming feeling of adoration and love for another person! There is nothing, absolutely nothing in life like the privilege of holding your young baby and having the freedom to take in the joys of his (or her) softness and complete dependence on Mom.

As I watched that mom slather her little one with kisses on his head and temple I remember thinking out loud, but only loud enough for me to hear, “I know that love.” That realization brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. Even as I write this, I have tears.

Today, some of the tears contain sadness. My days as being the mom of a baby are done. However, some tears are of joy. The blessing I have had to love on my babies, to smell the baby shampoo or spit-up or yogurt…to have his or her eyes look up and that little mouth bloom into a knowing smile…fulfillment. OK, sometimes it would be a chubby, sticky hand that would not-so-gently meet my cheek. Just keeping it real here, friends.

In this reflection I realize I am a deeply blessed woman. I am blessed to have had children to love like that. I am blessed to have those precious memories. I even miss those chubby, sticky hands. I am blessed to be part of a community of people who also know that love. Yes, moms, we endure a great deal at the hands (and minds!) of our children, but the fullness of life we receive in return, doesn’t even come close to matching the struggles.

At present, my youngest is nearly four, and I often still nuzzle her hair. OK, I even nuzzle the hair of my nine year-old son too, but his hair usually smells like dirt. I imagine when he’s discovered cologne I will miss that dirt smell, and the cycle continues. The things we take for granted now are the things we will grasp onto for our memories. I just think that we are so blessed to be called “Mom.” We have an extraordinary privilege to know this intense and deeply precious type of love — the love mother shares with her children.

Related posts:

1. The Truth About Love at First Sight for Your Infant
2. Take the Time to Show Love to Your Children
3. A Labor of Love
4. Moms Need to Know You Love Them Now
5. A Love Letter for Your Inner Child