We recently asked members of BuzzFeed Community to tell us a moment that has made having kids totally worth it. Their responses truly got at the heart of what it is to be a parent.
1. "I knew right then I was lost."
"The very first time I heard a little voice say, 'Mommy, I love you,' I knew right then I was lost."
—Submitted by Colleen Mary Snodgrass, Facebook
2. "Aw, mommy, you're my girl!"
I told my 3-year-old son the other night, "You're my boy! I'm so happy to be your mommy." And he said, "Aw, mommy, you're my girl! I'm very happy to be your son!"
—Submitted by ericagustafw
3. "The moment we saw each other for the first time."
4. "When he found his love of music..."
"When my 5-year-old autistic son found his love of music and sang in his school's Christmas recital."
—Submitted by geric2
5. "Don't worry, you can have my money."
I raised my daughter by myself, and money was always very scarce. One night I was trying to work out our budget when my then-4-year-old daughter asked me what was wrong. I told her money was a little tight, but not to worry. She ran to her room, came back with her little fists full of Chuck E. Cheese tickets, and said, 'Don't worry, Mommy, you can have my money.'"
—Submitted by sarahavalencia
6. "Against all odds..."
"My son suffered from encephalitis at the age of 3 and lost all of his memories. He couldn't talk but somehow deep in there he managed to kind of recognize me and mumble 'ma.' I knew then that even against all odds my little one would never forget his mommy."
—Submitted by carolinar4997b5a2b
7. "The first moments."
8. "Chocolate milk saved my life!"
"Just hearing the funny stuff my 4-year-old daughter comes up with. Like today she said, 'When I was sick I drank chocolate milk. Chocolate milk saved my life!'"
—Submitted by Ashley Marie Pepper, Facebook
9. "I'm in awe of them."
"It is a marvel to me as I now watch my children parent their children. I'm in awe of them. It has truly come full circle."
—Submitted by Linda Jarvis Furman, Facebook
10. "Finally bringing my son home from the NICU..."
"Finally bringing my son home from the NICU on the 50th day of his life. He's now 14 months, almost walking, and huge. You would never know he was born 11 weeks early. Watching him fight to come home from the hospital made every single thing we had gone through worth it. He is the strongest person I know and the most amazing blessing I could have ever asked for."
—Submitted by kailynmoraiv
11. "Hooray, Mummy!"
"I was singing along to Sam Smith in the car, and when I finished my 2-year-old daughter shouted, 'Hooray, Mummy, well done at singing!"
—Submitted by Jenna Hunter, Facebook
12. "Knowing they have each other when you’re not there."
13. "I never want to leave."
"I was snuggling with my 5-year-old daughter when she suddenly asked, 'Mommy? Why don't you live with your mommy?' I explained, 'Well, sweetheart, as you grow up you become an adult and you leave home to create a new home and maybe a family of your own!' She burst into tears and said, 'But I never have to leave YOU, right?!" I said, 'No. You never have to leave me, and I will never ever leave you.' She threw her little body into my arms and said, 'Good. I never want to leave.'"
—Submitted by Laura Chandler, Facebook
14. "Then she could see how good of a mommy you are."
When I was 6, my mom died suddenly of meningitis. Since then, there's always been that void. Then I had my own kids. It's been tough because I often doubt myself and my skills. How can I be a mom when I haven't had a (consistent) mom myself? Then, one day, my daughter said, 'Mommy, I wish your mommy was still alive. Then she could see how good of a mommy you are.'"
—Submitted by Brittany Marie Montoya, Facebook
15. "Pop loves me."
"When my 2-year-old son climbed into my lap, wrapped his arms around mine, then looked at my wife and said, 'Mama, Pop loves me.'"
—Submitted by jeremywright704
16. "Nice to know the little nugget is looking out for her Mom’s street cred."
Out of the blue, my 4-year-old daughter said, "Mom, you're a good dancer." But her tone was such that it sounded like others had been telling her differently and she was defending me. Nice to know the little nugget is looking out for her mom's street cred."
—Submitted by Fenwick37
17. "Because they always entertain you."
18. "MOMMY!"
"Whenever I go to get my son from his crib in the morning and he jumps up and yells, 'MOMMY!' and gives me a big hug and kiss."
—Submitted by Lark Oakvik-Orr, Facebook
19. "I was kind of in disbelief."
"My daughter has autism and for quite some time her speech was echolalia. She would repeat things around her over and over. One night when she was 5, my husband and I were talking, and out of nowhere she looked at me and said, "I love you, mommy." I was kind of in disbelief. She had never said it before and I, quite honestly, wasn't expecting to hear it from her."
—Submitted by InsomniacPrincess
20. "I'm strong and brave too!"
"When my daughter was 3, she met Captain America at Disneyland and happily piped up, 'You're strong and brave! I'm strong and brave too!'"
—Submitted by Jennifer Klumpp, Facebook
21. "Getting this smile every day."
22. "...head over heels."
"When I for sure felt this little thing kick. We still have five months to go but I'm already head over heels."
—Submitted by meredithp4c7f8c00f
23. "I couldn't even be upset after that."
"My oldest child decided one night that he was going to 'make himself handsome' with a pair of scissors right before holiday pictures. I had a newborn and was out of my mind with lack of sleep so I did the only rational thing I could…cry. He gently patted me on the shoulder and said, 'It's OK, mommy, you're beautiful too.' I couldn't even be upset after that."
—Submitted by InsomniacPrincess
24. "Heartsplode."
"The other night my 3-year-old daughter and I were just hanging out, being quiet, when she suddenly looked at me and said, 'I like your face. You're the best.' Heartsplode."
—Submitted by Kirby McCauley, Facebook
25. "I've been teaching my daughter fencing..."
"I've been teaching my daughter fencing for a few years now. My moment was the first time I saw my short, petite, quiet 15-year-old chase a full-grown man (who was an active duty member of the military) across the field and put him down."
—Submitted by jonc47a6cd4d4
26. "Seeing the love and bond my two sons have."
27. "I have to get you a heart balloon because I love you so much."
Around Valentine's Day, after I had a horribly grumpy morning, my 3-year-old son and I walked into the store where he saw all of the heart balloons and flowers. He looked at me and said, 'Momma, I have to get you a heart balloon because I love you so much.'"
—Submitted by Christina Jelmberg, Facebook
28. "I was very proud."
"We live in Japan and last weekend we went to a very traditional Japanese restaurant. My boys (ages 3 and 6) immediately took off their shoes and sat on the floor by the table without being told to do so. It amazes me that although we live in a different country far away from home, they are respectful to the Japanese culture and customs. I was very proud."
—Submitted by Brittany Kantack, Facebook
29. "Coffee is what activates my super powers."
"My son's school was having Superhero Day. I asked my son who he wanted to dress up as and he said, 'You, Mom!' I asked him if he was sure and he told me that because I was a paramedic I was a 'real' superhero, not like those made-up ones. So he went to school dressed as me along with my travel mug because coffee is what activates my super powers."
—Submitted by heidim4f4c1ce41
30. "Makes it all worth it."
"Tonight I got my SUV stuck in the snow pile at the end of my driveway. My husband took one look and refused to even try. My 15-year-old son, on the other hand, spent almost two hours shoveling ice and snow to get me out. Made me realize what a wonderful man I've raised. Makes it all worth it."
—Submitted by donnak414f432bc
31. "I melted."
32. "My 27-day-old son needed emergency surgery..."
"My 27-day-old son needed emergency surgery for digestive issues, leaving this first-time momma absolutely petrified. When I finally got to hold him after surgery he looked right into my eyes and smiled for the first time. I will never forget that moment as long as I live."
—Submitted by laurac4c624a9a1
33. "It's all right, mama, you don't have to be sad."
"There have been a few times where I've been so overwhelmed with life that I've had to sneak off for a a quick, private cry. Just about every time my daughter will catch me at the tail end, give me a big hug, and say, 'It's all right, mama, you don't have to be sad. I love you."
—Submitted by Kay Ludd, Facebook
34. "This kid is quite literally my best friend."
35. "I realized then I would literally climb off my death bed if I had to, just to keep my little boy smiling..."
"I had major surgery in the beginning of January and ended up being in the hospital for 16 days. My recovery has been tough and it's hard for my 3.5-year-old to understand my limitations while I recover, so it breaks my heart when I have to say no to him.
The whole week before Valentine's Day he'd been asking me to come to his dance at school. I wasn't sure I would be able to get myself there, and I didn't want to say no again, so I kept telling him maybe.
The day of the dance, I told him I didn't know if I'd make it. I struggled to get myself together and waffled back and forth on whether or not I'd go. Well, I finally made it to the school and went into the gym to wait for his class. The moment he walked in and spotted me his face lit up and he ran into my arms at full speed. He pulled back, took my face between his two tiny hands, and said, "I knew you'd be here," then planted a big kiss on my lips.
That smile, that hug, that kiss, that confidence in me — I realized then I would literally climb off my death bed if I had to, just to keep my little boy smiling, happy, and feeling loved, and that I would forever put his safety and happiness above all else, no matter how painful or challenging or difficult it may be — and I couldn't be happier."
—Submitted by courtneywilksd