--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A first child is your own best foot…" description: "\"A first child is your own best foot forward, and how you do cheer those little feet as they strike out. You examine every turn of flesh for precocity, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/barbara-kingsolver-200_baby_a-first-child-is-your-own-best-foot-forw_2518725.png" --- # A first child is your own best foot forward, and how you… ![“A first child is your own best foot forward, and how you do cheer those little feet as they strike out. You examine every turn of flesh for precocity, and crow it to the world. But the last one: the baby who trails her scent like a flag of surrender through your life when there will be no more…” quote by Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/barbara-kingsolver-200_baby_a-first-child-is-your-own-best-foot-forw_2518725.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/barbara-kingsolver-200_baby_a-first-child-is-your-own-best-foot-forw_2518725.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/barbara-kingsolver-200_baby_a-first-child-is-your-own-best-foot-forw_2518725.png) > “A first child is your own best foot forward, and how you do cheer those little feet as they strike out. You examine every turn of flesh for precocity, and crow it to the world. But the last one: the baby who trails her scent like a flag of surrender through your life when there will be no more coming after--oh, that' s love by a different name.” [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parents often compare children, celebrating early talent while fearing the final child who may seem less remarkable, yet that child holds a unique, unconditional love. **In simple terms:** Parents compare children, fearing the last child, but love is unique. Key Takeaway Value each child's distinct love. Themes parenting comparison love family expectations Mood reflective empathetic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - celebrating early talent - supporting later children - recognizing unique love - balancing expectations - managing parental anxiety Key Concepts child development familial bonds emotional value Questions to Reflect On - How do you honor each child's uniqueness? - What expectations limit our perception of love? A Different Perspective The quote may idealize the 'last child' and overlook individual differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) [Baby Trails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby-trails-1228570/) [Cheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheer/) [Child Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-best-583746/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crow/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feet/) [First child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-child/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Flags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flags/) [Flesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flesh/) [Foot Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foot-forward/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Little Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-feet/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Scent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scent/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) [Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/) [Trails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trails/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [After having your first child, it's a massive shock to the system. I work in an industry where people judge you and the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-nurding/after-having-your-first-child-it-s-a-massive-shock-to-the-system-i/) [Louise Nurding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-nurding/) > [“You’re only as happy as your least happy child,’ is the best description of motherhood I have ever read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-payne-stuart/you-re-only-as-happy-as-your-least-happy-child-is-the-best/) [Sarah Payne Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-payne-stuart/) > [Humanity owes the child the best it has to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eglantyne-jebb/humanity-owes-the-child-the-best-it-has-to-give/) [Eglantyne Jebb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eglantyne-jebb/) > [Mankind owes to the child the best it has to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mankind-owes-to-the-child-the-best-it-has-to-give/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anytime you have a child, it's one of your best days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-flacco/anytime-you-have-a-child-it-s-one-of-your-best-days/) [Joe Flacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-flacco/) > [Having a child is the best thing that could happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pink/having-a-child-is-the-best-thing-that-could-happen/) [Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pink/) > [Anyone who says having a child is the best moment of their life has obviously never had two Kit-Kats fall out of a vending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anyone-who-says-having-a-child-is-the-best-moment-of-their-life-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But now I have a child, and it's the best thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-moynahan/but-now-i-have-a-child-and-it-s-the-best-thing-in-the-world/) [Bridget Moynahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-moynahan/) > [“Oh, child. The best thing is to know. I always tell ’em, best to be who you is. What you is deep down inside.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-wingate/oh-child-the-best-thing-is-to-know-i-always-tell-em-best-to-be-who/) [Lisa Wingate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-wingate/) > [Being a novelist and being a mother have exactly coincided in my life: the call from my agent saying that I had a contract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/being-a-novelist-and-being-a-mother-have-exactly-coincided-in-my-life/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“He doesn't even look at her because there is too much there, and he's afraid. She is his first child, his favorite, every mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/he-doesn-t-even-look-at-her-because-there-is-too-much-there-and-he-s/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Many of us who aren't farmers or gardeners still have some element of farm nostalgia in our family past, real or imagined: a secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/many-of-us-who-aren-t-farmers-or-gardeners-still-have-some-element-of/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [A telkhine was hunched over a console, but he was so involved with his work, he didn't notice us. He was about five feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/a-telkhine-was-hunched-over-a-console-but-he-was-so-involved-with-his/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [We've begun to long for the pitter-patter of little feet - so we bought a dog. Well, it's cheaper, and you get more feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/we-ve-begun-to-long-for-the-pitter-patter-of-little-feet-so-we-bought/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [I see you young and soft oh little baby Little feet, little hands, little baby One year of crying and the words creep up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/i-see-you-young-and-soft-oh-little-baby-little-feet-little-hands/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) ## More by Barbara Kingsolver > [“Jesus was a more reliable backer, evidently, less likely to drink himself unconscious or get liver cancer. No wonder people chose Him as their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/jesus-was-a-more-reliable-backer-evidently-less-likely-to-drink/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Now I'm starting to think he wasn't supposed to be my whole life, he was just this doorway to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/now-i-m-starting-to-think-he-wasn-t-supposed-to-be-my-whole-life-he/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Cooking is 80 percent confidence, a skill best acquired starting from when the apron strings wrap around you twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/cooking-is-80-percent-confidence-a-skill-best-acquired-starting-from/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“In Bobby Ogle's version of heaven everyone would wind up in one place, criminals and Muslims included.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/in-bobby-ogle-s-version-of-heaven-everyone-would-wind-up-in-one-place/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“Weeds are job security for the gardener.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/weeds-are-job-security-for-the-gardener/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“It's what you do that makes your soul, not the other way around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/it-s-what-you-do-that-makes-your-soul-not-the-other-way-around/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“Lusa turned to Crys, her eyes shining. "That was a luna." Crys shrugged. "So?" "So? So what? You want it should sing, too?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/lusa-turned-to-crys-her-eyes-shining-that-was-a-luna-crys-shrugged-so/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [The strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/the-strength-of-motherhood-is-greater-than-natural-laws/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“An imperfectly remembered life is a useless treachery. Every day, more fragments of the past roll around heavily in the chambers of an empty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/an-imperfectly-remembered-life-is-a-useless-treachery-every-day-more/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Respecting the dignity of a spectacular food means enjoying it at its best. Europeans celebrate the short season of abundant asparagus as a form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/respecting-the-dignity-of-a-spectacular-food-means-enjoying-it-at-its/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“Somehow it had come to pass that this man was her whole world, and she had failed to take his measure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/somehow-it-had-come-to-pass-that-this-man-was-her-whole-world-and-she/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [After 'The Poisonwood Bible' was published, several people believed that my parents were missionaries, which could not be further from the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/after-the-poisonwood-bible-was-published-several-people-believed-that/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [I can count all the ways in which being a mother has enriched my understanding of the world, of character, my sense of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/i-can-count-all-the-ways-in-which-being-a-mother-has-enriched-my/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [But we've all ended up giving body and soul to Africa, one way or another. 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Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [“I looked down into my baby’s beautiful green eyes and ached inside. She looked up at me with wide-eyed innocence. I kissed her warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/i-looked-down-into-my-baby-s-beautiful-green-eyes-and-ached-inside/) [Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/) > [I've retired my sneakers for stilettos, baby!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivica-a-fox/i-ve-retired-my-sneakers-for-stilettos-baby/) [Vivica A. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivica-a-fox/) > [I didn't expect to be so comfortable handing my child off to a nanny without getting any of her information. As soon as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/i-didn-t-expect-to-be-so-comfortable-handing-my-child-off-to-a-nanny/) [Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/) > [And I gave you my all, now baby be mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/and-i-gave-you-my-all-now-baby-be-mine/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) [Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. 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