Learning Love

I remember so clearly the first time my now three-year-old daughter told me that she loved me. The very image of my toddler expressing her love was enough to melt the heart of even the grumpiest scrooge. You know the scene: glowing eyes, the smile that filled her face, her arms reaching to give the biggest hug her little body could possibly manage. Not that I am biased or anything, but there is not a baby mammal or a hamster in a helmet that could possibly compare to this level of cuteness.

It has always amazed me how capable young children are of freely expressing emotions that adults are so apt to keep to themselves. Even babies will offer their comfort items such as pacifiers and bottles to other children who are upset, as if to say, "I know how you feel; I've been there."

Still, even as I anxiously await my 15 month old son's first proclamation of love, I can't help but wonder: do kids really "get" love? Do they know what they are saying or are they simply mimicking behavior?

Yes, yes and...Yes!

Kids are expert cultural anthropologists; soaking in every bit of experience every minute of every day. They can sense tension and are astutely aware of happiness. I know this because both of my children are grumpy on my most stress-filled days and will laugh with me at my jokes when no one else will humor me... most of the time.

So when a caretaker affectionately whispers "I love you" and then shows it with hugs, understanding, presence, and sacrifice, it forms the child's very understanding of "love".

Go ahead; ask a child to define "love". I am willing to bet that what awaits you is a list a verbs that reflects how love has been shown to them:

"Love is hugging, love is listening, love is helping, love is friendship."

OR, in the words of a three-year-old: 

"Love is when we use our nice hands and we don't hit our little brothers. No. No."

How have you loved today?