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My love for the child asleep in the crib, the child's need…

“My love for the child asleep in the crib, the child's need for me, for my vigilance, had made my life valuable in a way that even the most abundantly offered love, my parents', my brother's, even Tom's, had failed to do. Love was required of me now--to be given, not merely to be sought and returned.” quote by Alice McDermott
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“My love for the child asleep in the crib, the child's need for me, for my vigilance, had made my life valuable in a way that even the most abundantly offered love, my parents', my brother's, even Tom's, had failed to do. Love was required of me now--to be given, not merely to be sought and returned.”

Alice McDermott

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Parental love demands active, vigilant care, surpassing even abundant familial affection, emphasizing responsibility over reciprocity.

In simple terms: Parental love requires active care, not just affection.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize attentive responsibility.

Themes

parenthood responsibility love

Mood

reflective warm

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • raising children
  • elder care
  • protective roles

Key Concepts

caregiving self‑sacrifice

Questions to Reflect On

  • What responsibilities come with love?
  • How does vigilance shape relationships?
A Different Perspective

Love alone may not fulfill duty.

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