A Mother's Love

I don't know how to describe what it feels like to love your child. I suppose that it's different for every mother, and perhaps for every child as well. I can speak only of my own experience loving my daughter.

I've heard it said that the intense feeling of love you feel when you look at your child is overwhelming, that you never thought you could love another person so much. That's not quite it for me. I've also heard it said that having a child is like having your heart walking around outside your body all the time. That sounds especially mawkish, but hits much closer to the mark.

When Ellie is apart from me, even for a short time, I feel slightly anxious and unsettled, like I've become separated from a detachable limb. She is part of me and she is the best part of me and yet she has the wonderful ability to surprise and impress me.

It's like nothing I've ever experienced.