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How I Learned to Say "I Love You"
By Elizabeth Palmer
Everything changed the day I became a mother. The moment my son was born, my heart opened like a window letting in the first fresh breeze of spring. At that point my inhibitions escaped. My heart became unleashed.
What I felt for that little baby was nothing I had ever experienced before. I would parallel it to how God must love his children. I loved my son unconditionally, completely and without hesitance. From that time forward, I could openly express my feelings for everyone I cared for.
Nurturing my little boy came easily and without doubt or second thought. It was as natural as breathing. Two other brothers have followed his footsteps since then. The three of them are my life. I believe they always will be.
I want the children to feel my positive energy. I use body language, as well as kind words, to let them know how special they are to me. Each day we express our affection with those who surround us. (Don't get the wrong idea we have our moments, like any other family, when we yell at each other. That's only natural.) I think it is wonderful that at their ages (7, 10 and 11), they still express their feelings openly. My 11-year-old will often put his arms around me and hug me tight. He's so tall we are almost face to face. There are no inhibitions, no hesitations and no embarrassment. We communicate very openly and it shows in everything we do.
Motherhood has allowed me to pursue a loving relationship with my parents. I'm so glad I had an opportunity to change. You see, when my third child was only 2 years old, my father passed away unexpectedly. Although deeply saddened by this event, I know he departed this world knowing how much his daughter and grandsons loved him. If it hadn't been for motherhood, I don't think I would have opened my heart to him. I go to sleep at night confident that those I love know how I feel
