I got an email from a newly married friend. He shared news of he and his wife being pregnant. I wrote back, "Congratulations! If you think you know what true love is now, just wait till this baby comes."

Evan napping. Evan at 32 months.

I have never been in love before I met Tom. And I have often wondered back then about the power of love. I couldn't fathom a love stronger than the love of parents or family. For how many times have we've heard of stories of women running away from home to elope with a forbidden lover? That is why I often question the sincerity, maturity or intelligence of somebody proclaiming even the remotest trace of love for a person they've only met for a few days or months. Love is giving up your life and everything for that person. This was certainly how felt for my parents and family. Certainly almost impossible to top. But this was how I eventually felt for Tom. This was how I knew he was The One.

And then I wondered about loving a child. Was it really possible to love another being just as I love my husband? I know of someone who suffered a bitter divorce but told us that having his daughter was the greatest thing that has happened to his life. This despite the huge responsibility he shares in taking care, not to mention, spending for her. She's not exactly the easiest to deal with either. If not for his daughter he would have now led a carefree lifestyle of a full blown bachelor. So to say she was the greatest thing was saying a lot coming from this guy.

Then Evan came along. Truth be told I didn't get it right away. True, the initial euphoria after childbirth was there but I distinctly remember staring at my wailing baby with fatigued eyes when he was 8 weeks old and wondered if my husband and I made the right decision of having a child at all. As a couple we were already very happy. The early weeks of infancy seemed to be driving us apart as we did our shifts in keeping up with the demands if taking care of a young baby.

Now the sight of my sleeping son never fails to bring a wave of love so fierce and heart gripping it burns the back of my eyes. Every time. If there was one thing I discovered when it comes to loving your child is that it gets stronger and stronger as time passes..as he gets older. From the cute, chubby baby to a just as cute precocious hyper active toddler.

What I am wondering these days is when this all consuming love would eventually level off.  Does it plateau when they become impossible teenagers? Does it dip when they become full fledge adults who virtually ignore us parents when they become too busy with their own family to pay a visit? When they do or say truly hurtful things? That is if true love to one's child changes at all. If at all.

Currently listening to: Marley and Me audiobook
Currently reading: computer books
Currently watching: 3:10 To Yuma (Christian Bale)