I really had no idea.

You love them before they are born, and you think that’s it, that’s enough, that’s as deep as this lake gets.  But then they arrive and this whole other part of you that you didn’t even know existed gets unlocked, and you are completely blown away by your capacity to love another human.  And then, it seems impossible but each day you find that you  love them even  more than you did yesterday.

And you understand with stunning clarity that she will break your heart, a million times over, and that she will never understand this love, this depth, unless and until she has her own child.  It’s fine if you never go down this path, I almost didn’t myself, but I’m convinced that you have to be a parent to understand it.  Because words are simply insufficient to convey it.  And not only do you know this but you embrace it, full stop ahead, because she deserves no less.  This tiny, magical being you have brought forth deserves all the light and love she can get her tiny little hands on.

In fact, you are but putty in those hands and just hope it takes her through her teenage years before she figures it out.