When a child is born, so is a mother.
Four years ago today, I became a mother for the first time. That moment was truly the most profound of my life; a whole new part of me came into being, one that I had no prior concept of. In that moment, it was as if my heart burst, and the only world I had known exploded into color. The things I thought were important instantly faded, as my whole world and purpose suddenly materialized right in my arms, nestled close in my bosom.
The first time I laid eyes on my son. The moment my heart exploded. He was more beautiful than I could even imagine.
They say you don’t know the love of a parent until you become one. I’m afraid it’s true. You can try to conceive it, but even the deepest love I could imagine paled in comparison to the intensity of the love that consumes your heart the moment your child is born. It is powerful, unconditional, and overwhelming. And it is that love that fuels so much of what’s required to raise up those little ones. Who knew how much energy, will, and stamina it took to keep these little ones alive and to help them thrive. To guide them, teach them, nurture them, grow them. We are given a new instinct and intuition the instant we become moms, that also gives us superhuman strength for the day and all that it brings. Today is my son’s birthday. But in a way, it is also mine. It is a day that changed my entire outlook and orientation to life, and I was never again the same. Once a mom, always a mom. There isn’t a before and after; this is just who I am now, who I was always meant to be. And I love it.
Christina Peng 