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It was babies I loved looking at, the little Lords…

“It was babies I loved looking at, the little Lords, sensuous delights of pudgy flesh and fluids. For at least three years I was awash in milk and poop and piss and spit-up and sweat and tears. It was paradise. It was exhausting. It was boring. It was sweet, exciting, and sometimes, curiously, very…” quote by Siri Hustvedt
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““It was babies I loved looking at, the little Lords, sensuous delights of pudgy flesh and fluids. For at least three years I was awash in milk and poop and piss and spit-up and sweat and tears. It was paradise. It was exhausting. It was boring. It was sweet, exciting, and sometimes, curiously, very lonely.””

Siri Hustvedt

About This Quote

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

A mother reflects on the intense, varied emotions of early parenthood, from love to exhaustion and loneliness.

In simple terms: Parenthood brings love, fatigue, boredom, and loneliness.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the full spectrum of early parenting.

Themes

parenthood emotion loneliness joy exhaustion

Mood

reflective bittersweet intimate

Type

personal memoir reflective

When to use this quote

  • newborn care
  • night feeds
  • diaper changes
  • postpartum adjustment

Key Concepts

attachment identity sensory experience

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you cope with loneliness in caregiving?
  • What moments bring you joy?
A Different Perspective

The quote idealizes the experience, overlooking challenges of mental health.

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