Unconditional Love: The Bond Between Parent and Child
The other night, I heard a comedian do a hilarious bit about the word love. She pointed out how we say we love our partners, our parents, our friends—but love for our children? That’s on another level. Would you ever sniff your partner’s butt to check if it was just a toot? Absolutely not. But for our babies? Without hesitation!
And that got me thinking… Love almost doesn’t feel like a big enough word to describe what we feel for our children. It’s not just love. It’s unconditional love. The kind of love that doesn’t waver no matter how exhausted we are, no matter how many tantrums we endure, no matter how many nights of sleep we sacrifice.
The word unconditional means no matter what. No matter how challenging the days are, no matter what they do or say—we love them. Period. This love runs so deep that it becomes a part of who we are. And what’s even more incredible? That love is mutual.
It might not always feel like it when you’re in the trenches of parenting—when your toddler is throwing spaghetti at the wall, when your teenager is rolling their eyes for the hundredth time—but a child’s love for their parent is just as unconditional. It’s in the way a baby calms when they hear your voice, the way a toddler clings to you when they’re unsure, the way a teenager still seeks you out in moments of vulnerability (even if they pretend not to need you). Their love is pure, instinctual, and just as unwavering as ours.
And here’s the thing—saying I love you is just as healing for us as it is for them. It’s a reminder of the deep connection we share, a moment of grounding in the chaos of parenting.
The days are long, but the weeks fly by. The weeks blur into years, and before you know it, your babies are grown. But no matter how much time passes, they will always be your babies. You will always love them unconditionally. And that love will always be returned—even in the smallest, most unexpected ways.
So today, take a moment to soak it all in. Whisper I love you just because. Hold them close, even if they squirm away. Because this kind of love? It’s once in a lifetime.
