A mother’s love is peace. If a mother’s (or mother-figure’s) love shows up in its truest form, it is the only love we don’t have to strive to earn or attain. It is constant. It is dependable. It comes without effort. Self-love, true love, soul mates, kindred spirits, soul sisters, and all other such loves. None are quite as unconditional as the truest form of a mother’s love.

As a 47-year-old adult woman, I can be my infantile, capricious, spoiled, manipulative, selfish, ignorant, abrupt, impatient, annoying, and annoyed self in the presence of my mom. With her, I can be and show all these facets of me because she knows my heart. Because she loves me unconditionally and allows me to be fully me. No other love that I know allows me that, at least not over time. And this kind of love is freeing.

It is often said that the most important figure is the mother – or whoever assumes that role. From before birth and long after, she is the child’s first point of intimacy, safety, and reference. And as the child grows, circumstances may shift, but her place never does. All that matters is that she is warm, trustworthy, reliable, affirming, encouraging … and always there.

So if love is our mother, let’s feel it, live it, and lead with it.