How Do You Know Your Mom Loves You?

I just filled out one of those things that get passed around on FaceBook. On this one, I had to ask my daughter a variety of questions about me and then write down the answers she gave.

One of the questions Isabella had to answer was "What is something Mom always says to you?" Isabella answered, "That she loves me." Another question was, "How do you know your Mom loves you? Isabella answered, "Because she keeps telling me."

I love that she answered these questions this way and without hesitation. It is so important to me that my kids DO know I love them. And I strongly believe that a parent can never tell their child too many times that they love them. So, Isabella is right. I do tell her all the time. I always make sure it's the last thing my kids hear from me before I leave or before they go somewhere. I say it before they go to bed. I will randomly say it for no particulr reason when we're driving in the car and there's a lull in the conversation. I tell them when they've done something that makes me smile. I tell them as I kiss away their tears. "I love you" is spoken when I find myself remembering I love them, like when they sing a really sweet song or turn into complete goof-balls making me laugh. And I especially love saying "I love you" when I got one of my kids all to myself, cuddled on the couch, no reason at all, and I can just whisper it quietly in their ear like it's our little secret.

But, while I may tell my kids that I love them more than the average parent, I know that most parents tell their kids they love them, too. And I bet if we took a large group of kids and asked them how they know their mom loves them, many of them would say, "because she tells me."

When I taught third grade, I had a girl in my class who it turned out was being horrifically sexually abused by her dad. Fortunately, the dad was easily convicted and sent to jail. While the rest of us were jumping for joy, my sweet student began grieving. She would stay after school and tell me how much she missed her dad. She would tell me she loved him. And despite all the things this man did to his little girl, my student would tell me how much her dad loved her. Because, even children who are abused believe at some level that their parents love them. Unfortunately, their understanding of a parent's love for their child is twisted and distorted.

I have even worked with many families who tell their kids they love them maybe once or twice a day at the routine times. Maybe more given the circumstances. But when I ask their kids WHY do your parents love you, they get stuck, or they'll tell me because they're supposed to, or because they feed them and take care of them.

Knowing this. Seeing this. It motivates me with own my kids.

I want my kids to know that I love them not just because I'm their mom and all moms love their kids. I don't want my kids to know that I love them just because I tell them. I don't want my kids to know I love them because I take care of them and buy them things and keep them safe. All of these do show them to some degree that I love them. But I want them to know I love them because they are lovable human beings. That it is THEM as a unique person that I love. I love their blue eys and blond hair and their little belly buttons. I love Nate's soft high-pitched laugh. I could listen to it all day. I love Isabella's enthusiasm for knowledge and how excited she gets when she learns something new. I love watching them play together and being loving and caring toward each other. I love their hearts and how they want to share and care for others. I love watching Isabella swing and the look of pure happiness as she goes higher and higher. I love how Nate is so much a boy in so many ways but loves more than anyone to give hugs and kisses and to just cuddle. These are the things I also tell them all the time. The specifics. The "why" behind my love. So there's never a doubt that I love my kids, and there's never an assumption that I love them because I have to.

I love Isabella because I love ISABELLA. I love Nate because I LOVE Nate. And I want to make sure that my kids know that my love for them is more than just a mom loving her kids. And my hope is that if Isabella had to give more than just a quick answer to the question "How do you know your mom loves you?" she would be able to say so much more than "because she keeps telling me."