When we think about what it means to be a mother, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the nurturing aspect; growing, birthing, nourishing, and helping them to develop into physically and emotionally healthy people.
But there is another side of being a parent that is such a natural part of the relationship, that sometimes we take it for granted: this person – whether they are still little or are now ‘grown-ups’ – is your lifelong friend.
The bond between a mother and her child is like nothing else, and while you will both test each other’s patience – at every stage, from terrible twos to teen angst – it’s hugely comforting to know that you can always turn to one another for love and support.
Here are just some of the reasons why our children truly are our best friends.
Their love is unconditional
They always give you their honest opinion
They will always make you feel special
They do their best to help you
They will turn out to be your closest confidantes
They will go to great lengths to make you happy and proud
One hug from them can take all of your cares and worries away
From the moment your baby is placed in your arms and curls their tiny hand around your fingers, you can feel that bond set up for life. Your baby doesn’t even need to be able to say a word – their love for you speaks volumes, and that can be seen at every stage of their life: their tears when you drop them off on their first day of school, their gentle embraces when they see tears of your own, the sweet messages written in their Mother’s Day cards. This bond cannot be broken, and even when tested, it will still hold strong.
This is one thing that you can always rely on – for better or worse! There’s something hilariously endearing about your four-year-old telling you your dress is ‘yucky’, and it’s always a relief when our moody teen manages to take their earphones out long enough to tell us how flattering our new hairstyle is. We know that our children are the ones to go to if we want total and complete honesty!
Whether it’s a hug or a kiss from our littlest one, or a heartfelt ‘thank you for everything’ from our eldest; our children have an amazing ability to make us feel special – often, without even realising it. Our children really are the apple of our eye, and so all it takes is the simplest gesture or kind word, and that care is enough to leave us feeling super-special and loved.
Juggling motherhood with the rest of your life can be tricky, and this is why our children’s help is so necessary. This is true of cooperation, too. After drilling into them how important it is to drink their glass of milk, in order to grow healthy teeth and bones, there’s a feeling of pride when you see them eventually reaching for the carton of Avonmore Super Milk themselves, without being prompted!
When our children get that little bit older, and start going to school and navigating the issues that accompany that phase, you will be their first port of call when they need advice or a shoulder to cry on – whether they have fallen out with a friend, or they are having a hard time in class. In another few years, when your children become teens and adults, you will find yourself turning to them more and more in this way, too – and you’ll be incredibly proud of how insightful and helpful they can really be.
While they may throw the occasional tantrum or strop, we need to remember that our children are dealing with various emotional and physical changes and challenges at every milestone. So, while they may drive us insane sometimes, we need to have patience. Think of all the wonderful things our children do to make us happy and proud, from fridge drawings to kind and helpful gestures – there is nothing else in this world that can compare.
Back to that bond, again – there is literally no stronger power on Earth. So, when you’re having the worst day ever and it seems like nothing is going right, all it takes is one hug from your child – whether it’s your little one or your ‘grown-up’ – to make everything seem better. Sometimes, your child is the only one who can turn your mood around, and that is an incredible thing that we need to cherish.
