While moms put a lot of pressure on themselves to be perfect, the truth is there's only one thing a mom really needs to nail in order to be the best: love. If you can fill your kid's life with an abundance of the stuff love is made of, you're golden. So if you identify some of the signs you'll be a loving mom now, before the little ones come along, perhaps it will provide you a scosche of reassurance that — yes, sweet Mama — you can rock this whole motherhood thing, as daunting as it may seem.
If you don't identify as a particularly maternal or outwardly affectionate person in general, don't stress. That has no bearing on whether or not you will be a loving mother. Before I had kids, I couldn't hold a baby without breaking out in a cold sweat. Part of the magic of motherhood is that it can change you in ways you never thought possible. That may be cliche, but cliches are cliches for a reason, right?
Of course, you'll find that if you are a loving person, the things that make you such will only be amplified when you have adorably little humans running around with faces so cute you can't help but cover them in kisses. It's important to note here that — spoiler alert — being loving is inherent to most mothers. It's just kind of part of the package, to adore your offspring. Mamas, you know what I'm talking about! When I talk about being a "loving" mother, then, I mean it more as a personality qualifier. As in, the type of mom who never shies away from PDMAs, or public displays of maternal affection.
In that spirit, keep on reading to find out if you've got the hallmarks of a loving mother.
You're A Hugger
You just are. Handshake, schmandshake — you're greeting everyone you know with a hug. You hug your family. You hug your friends. For goodness sake, you've been known to hug perfect strangers. Rest assured, this impulse will only increase exponentially when you have little ones. Hugs will punctuate your day like the passing hours. Bonus? You'll likely raise a brood of babies who love to hug, too.
You've Said "I Love You" In Your Lifetime... A Lot
You've never been the type of person to play your feelings close to the vest. Rather, you're unapologetic in your emotional candor. If you love someone — be it your best friend or a boyfriend — they're bound to know it. In my opinion, this is one of the most important aspects of being a mother: being able to relay to your kids on a regular basis just how much they mean to you.
You're The "Mother Hen" In Your Circle Of Friends
I've always taken it to be a major compliment when someone describes me this way. Why? Because it implies I'm always preening over those closest to me. If you're the mother hen, it means you put the needs of others around you before yourself and are the person who makes every single one of your friends feel special. It's no wonder "mother hens" make such good mamas.
Even When You're Angry, It's Obvious You Care
So sometimes you get mad. You're human, right? But here's the thing about you: You never stay mad for long. And even when you are mad, you'd still likely give the person who upset you the shirt off your back if they needed it. That's just how you roll. When you're a mom, your kids will do things a hundred times a day that seem to defy logic. (Just yesterday, my son ripped my checkbook in half — we call him Baby Hulk.) Then, again inexplicably, they'll want you to console them when they get in trouble. Being the loving mama you're bound to be, though, you'll likely scoop your babies up and soothe them, despite whatever anger might have been welling up in you mere moments before.
You're Good At Reading Emotions
You're one of those people who can sense when someone is having a bad day, sometimes before they even realize it. Generally speaking, if you're good at reading emotions like that, it means you're also very in tune with your own. Being a mom who is in touch with her emotions translates into a mom who similarly knows how to express her emotions. She can tell when her kid needs a bear hug, a kiss on the forehead, or a kind word — and she doesn't hesitate to dole 'em out.
You're A Close-Talker
My best friend has always been a close-talker, and it's one of the most endearing things about her. She always scoots in a bit further than the average bear when engaged in conversation. Often, she rests her hand on your arm or your leg while you speak. If this sounds like you, you're a close-talker — embrace it! My BFF is one of the best mamas I know, and in a lot of ways I chalk it up to the fact that her parenting style is a lot like her conversation style. She leans in. She snuggles. She holds hands. She's a mom who isn't afraid to be all-in for her kids.
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