--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel I am a child that's lost its…" description: "\"I feel I am a child that's lost its mother. I feel like a calf whose mother has gone off to slaughter.\" — Alice Walker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/alice-walker-347_calves_i-feel-i-am-a-child-that-s-lost-its-moth_715178.png" --- # I feel I am a child that's lost its mother. I feel like a… ![“I feel I am a child that's lost its mother. I feel like a calf whose mother has gone off to slaughter.” quote by Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/alice-walker-347_calves_i-feel-i-am-a-child-that-s-lost-its-moth_715178.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/alice-walker-347_calves_i-feel-i-am-a-child-that-s-lost-its-moth_715178.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/alice-walker-347_calves_i-feel-i-am-a-child-that-s-lost-its-moth_715178.png) > “I feel I am a child that's lost its mother. I feel like a calf whose mother has gone off to slaughter.” [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels deep loss and abandonment, likening herself to a child and a calf without maternal care. **In simple terms:** Feeling lost without guidance. Key Takeaway Seek supportive relationships. Themes loss abandonment search for identity Mood sad lonely reflective Type emotional personal When to use this quote - family counseling - support groups - personal therapy Key Concepts attachment theory grief maternal bonds Questions to Reflect On - Who can you turn to for nurturing support? - How does this feeling affect your daily decisions? A Different Perspective The metaphor may overstate personal pain compared to actual loss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Lost Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost-mother/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaughter/) ## Related quotes > [“To protest about bullfighting in Spain, the eating of dogs in South Korea, or the slaughter of baby seals in Canada while continuing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/to-protest-about-bullfighting-in-spain-the-eating-of-dogs-in-south/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“When you feel a child inside of you springing to life, that's how you know you're where you should be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/when-you-feel-a-child-inside-of-you-springing-to-life-that-s-how-you/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [I didn't feel as though, when I was a child, I had much control of my environment. I felt powerless. And that gave me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadya-suleman/i-didn-t-feel-as-though-when-i-was-a-child-i-had-much-control-of-my/) [Nadya Suleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadya-suleman/) > [If I feel my child is being deprived of anything that could affect her progress as a person, then I become extremely neurotic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-sisto/if-i-feel-my-child-is-being-deprived-of-anything-that-could-affect/) [Jeremy Sisto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-sisto/) > [“It's what surprised him most -- not the overpowering love all the books required that he feel for his child -- just that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-perry/it-s-what-surprised-him-most-not-the-overpowering-love-all-the-books/) Drew Perry > [It changes everything, absolutely everything. The love you feel for your child transforms everything. Now you have someone helpless and tiny that depends on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-pique/it-changes-everything-absolutely-everything-the-love-you-feel-for/) [Gerard Pique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-pique/) > [First and foremost I feel I am a child of God …Today I think that everything matters, but like a nice game of relative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-de-luca/first-and-foremost-i-feel-i-am-a-child-of-god-today-i-think-that/) [Augusto De Luca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-de-luca/) > [“No one told me that the love I'd feel for my child would be so pervasive and consuming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hatvany-yurk/no-one-told-me-that-the-love-i-d-feel-for-my-child-would-be-so/) [Amy Hatvany (Yurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hatvany-yurk/) > [When you feel your child truly loves you back, it makes you wish you had kissed your parents more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-susi/when-you-feel-your-child-truly-loves-you-back-it-makes-you-wish-you/) Carol Ann Susi > [age means nothing. If anything I feel that I'm still a child: eternity and childhood are my ages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-yourcenar/age-means-nothing-if-anything-i-feel-that-i-m-still-a-child-eternity/) [Marguerite Yourcenar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-yourcenar/) > [“To simplify your life, just think of yourself as a four-year-old child. Try to imagine the way he thinks of reality. If you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/to-simplify-your-life-just-think-of-yourself-as-a-four-year-old-child/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [As a performer you often feel that you're the child and everyone else is a grown-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derren-brown/as-a-performer-you-often-feel-that-you-re-the-child-and-everyone-else/) [Derren Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derren-brown/) > [I feel that when a child has self-worth and purpose, that's what keeps them grounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jada-pinkett-smith/i-feel-that-when-a-child-has-self-worth-and-purpose-that-s-what-keeps/) [Jada Pinkett Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jada-pinkett-smith/) > [William and I feel that every child deserves to be supported through difficult times in their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-middleton/william-and-i-feel-that-every-child-deserves-to-be-supported-through/) [Kate Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-middleton/) > [“I spent my childhood and youth on the outskirts of the Alps, in a region that was largely spared the immediate effects of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-g-sebald-2/i-spent-my-childhood-and-youth-on-the-outskirts-of-the-alps-in-a/) [W.G. Sebald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-g-sebald-2/) ## More by Alice Walker > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Just be what it is that you are, and that is just fine. You don't have to be what you're not in any way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/just-be-what-it-is-that-you-are-and-that-is-just-fine-you-don-t-have/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“Remember this-- say it & know it is true: Alice loves me Alice loves me and I am not blamed for this. ... she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/remember-this-say-it-know-it-is-true-alice-loves-me-alice-loves-me/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“Only the sky above us do we hold in common.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/only-the-sky-above-us-do-we-hold-in-common/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“Why aren't you happy in America, if everyone there drives motorcars?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/why-aren-t-you-happy-in-america-if-everyone-there-drives-motorcars/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“She saw poetry where other writers merely saw failure to cope with English.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/she-saw-poetry-where-other-writers-merely-saw-failure-to-cope-with/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [My mother had handed down respect for the possibilities...and the will to grasp them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/my-mother-had-handed-down-respect-for-the-possibilities-and-the-will/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Helped are those who are content to be themselves; they will never lack mystery in their lives and the joys of self-discovery will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/helped-are-those-who-are-content-to-be-themselves-they-will-never/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“As others might prepare for an exam whose subject matter is unknown to them, so I must study, cram, for every conversation with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/as-others-might-prepare-for-an-exam-whose-subject-matter-is-unknown/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [The original crime of niggers and lesbians is that they prefer themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-original-crime-of-niggers-and-lesbians-is-that-they-prefer/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [My mother was very strong. Once, she picked up a coconut and smashed it against my father's head. It taught me about women defending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/my-mother-was-very-strong-once-she-picked-up-a-coconut-and-smashed-it/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Many readers fail to realize this, but 'The Color Purple' is a theological text. It is about the reclamation of one's original God: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/many-readers-fail-to-realize-this-but-the-color-purple-is-a/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [The good news may be that Nature is phasing out the white man, but the bad news is that's who She thinks we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-good-news-may-be-that-nature-is-phasing-out-the-white-man-but-the/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Humans - whatever billions we are - we don't have the control. We are considered expendable, basically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/humans-whatever-billions-we-are-we-don-t-have-the-control-we-are/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my uncles. I had to fight my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/all-my-life-i-had-to-fight-i-had-to-fight-my-daddy-i-had-to-fight-my/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) [Explore all 654 Alice Walker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) ## More Calves quotes > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Most women loathe limericks, for the same reason that calves hate cookbooks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gershon-legman/most-women-loathe-limericks-for-the-same-reason-that-calves-hate/) Gershon Legman > [Most calves used by the dairy industry have their horns BURNED or GOUGED out of their heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/most-calves-used-by-the-dairy-industry-have-their-horns-burned-or/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [Mr. William Shakespeare was born at Stratford upon Avon in the county of Warwick. His father was a butcher, and I have been told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-aubrey/mr-william-shakespeare-was-born-at-stratford-upon-avon-in-the-county/) [John Aubrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-aubrey/) > [Calf love doesn't usually survive amputation, Your Majesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/calf-love-doesn-t-usually-survive-amputation-your-majesty/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [America's critics can be heard everywhere. It is too much in love with money - worshipping the god of the marketplace, the golden calf.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-saatchi/america-s-critics-can-be-heard-everywhere-it-is-too-much-in-love-with/) [Maurice Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-saatchi/) > [Everyone makes fun of my calves. They are so big. I don't really even like them, I don't really want them as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-krieger/everyone-makes-fun-of-my-calves-they-are-so-big-i-don-t-really-even/) [Ali Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-krieger/) > [I don't know but a book in a man's brain is better off than a book bound in calf--at any rate it is safer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-don-t-know-but-a-book-in-a-man-s-brain-is-better-off-than-a-book/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [You know, I've lived a long time," he told me, massaging my calf more firmly now. "And I met a lot of people. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/you-know-i-ve-lived-a-long-time-he-told-me-massaging-my-calf-more/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [...and we have so far improved upon the custom of Adam and Eve, that we generally furnish forth our feasts with a portion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/and-we-have-so-far-improved-upon-the-custom-of-adam-and-eve-that-we/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [I'm feeling alright, I am pretty happy with it. I was trying to catch her, around 37k my calf started to cramp on me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanni-marchant/i-m-feeling-alright-i-am-pretty-happy-with-it-i-was-trying-to-catch/) Lanni Marchant > [It would not do for the consumer to know that the hamburger she is eating came from a steer who spent much of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-sweet/it-would-not-do-for-the-consumer-to-know-that-the-hamburger-she-is/) [Leonard Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-sweet/) > [In college, girls would come up to me: 'I want your calves.' It just makes me laugh. I guess people pay a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-krieger/in-college-girls-would-come-up-to-me-i-want-your-calves-it-just-makes/) [Ali Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-krieger/) > [I had a turbulent relationship with my calves, but I love them now because I realize that they were never the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iskra-lawrence/i-had-a-turbulent-relationship-with-my-calves-but-i-love-them-now/) [Iskra Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iskra-lawrence/) > [“To protest about bullfighting in Spain, the eating of dogs in South Korea, or the slaughter of baby seals in Canada while continuing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/to-protest-about-bullfighting-in-spain-the-eating-of-dogs-in-south/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) Browse all 130 Calves quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I feel I am a child that's lost its mother. 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