Love you more than cupcakes

How much do I love you?  I love you more than cupcakes. 

How much do I love you?  Like the waves of the Ocean.  I love you to the moon and back.  Or like I used to say to my kids when they were small (still do) “I love you as much as the sky!”  There are so many ways for Mothers; parents to try to explain to our kids how much we love them.  Try as we might, though, I don’t think words can ever really, accurately describe the love a parent feels for child. It’s just too big for words.

My kids are older now, teens, Jake is going to be 19 in just two days and while I do remember how much I loved them when they were born and new, when I held their little hands as they learned how to walk, cuddled them as they fell asleep or wiped away the tears after a fall or a heartbreak, I don’t think I’ve ever loved them as much as I do at this moment.  It’s hard to believe, as a Mom, that the overwhelming love you have for your child the first time you see him or her will actually grow as your child grows.

It’s hard to fathom that this little person you brought into the world and helped grew and mold and shape into a fine human being will eventually surpass your expectations and grow into a beautiful loving and caring young adult.  It’s hard to imagine, too that you’re already overflowing heart will fill with so much more love for your child you feel like it just may burst!  But it won’t!

As he or she grows and develops and blossoms into his or her own best version, you will be so proud and so filled with awe and full of love that your heart will overflow.  And this love will grow and grow and grow!  Forever!  And the more your child grows and learns and develops, the more your love for him (or her) grows and expands and overflows. 

But your heart won’t burst, even if it feels as though it might.  And you will try to find the words or ways to show your children how much you love the person he or she is becoming.  You will find phrases, and poems, and hallmark cards that try to explain it and put into words the feeling that only a parent can know.  I love you more than cupcakes.  I remember the day you were born.  I’m so proud of the person you’ve become.  These are all important, heartfelt words for a parent, but none of them can accurately describe how we feel, how we feel, how much love we have four our children.  It’s just too big for words!

So when I say to you, my beautiful loving daughter and my strong, sweet son “ I love you as much as the sky!”   I really do mean it. The sky is huge, vast and all encompassing.  It covers and protects  us and holds all  on earth in a comforting strong embrace and that is like my love for you.  Enormous, encompassing, and complete.  

As much as the sky my loves!  I love you as much as the sky!