As a mother, I had to learn to love someone I had never known before. Typically, you get to know someone before deciding if you can love them, but when you choose to be a mother, you choose to love before you know them. I think that’s why parent-child relationships are so complex. One is assumed to know everything, and the other nothing. When in reality, we were put here to learn from each other, love each other, and try to guide each other into the light.

When I first became a mom, I thought I was broken. I expected to feel a rush of love when I saw my daughter, but I felt nothing. I had a really complicated pregnancy during COVID, which in itself was an experience. I thought I was a horrible person, and postpartum depression didn’t help either.

With time, I got to know her, and she got to know me. We learned to love each other unconditionally. With the people you love, you don’t always like them all the time, but you would do anything for them. I think people sometimes twist the two. Liking is based on opinions; love simply is.