--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everybody says, 'When you have kids, you…" description: "\"Everybody says, 'When you have kids, you really get away from yourself.' But really, it's the most selfish thing I've ever done. It's like, Okay, I'm g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/brooke-shields-8270_ask_everybody-says-when-you-have-kids-you-re_152776.jpg" --- # Everybody says, 'When you have kids, you really get away… ![“Everybody says, 'When you have kids, you really get away from yourself.' But really, it's the most selfish thing I've ever done. It's like, Okay, I'm going to create unconditional love for myself, and I'm going to need it and want it and ask for it every day, and I'm going to get it.” quote by Brooke Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/brooke-shields-8270_ask_everybody-says-when-you-have-kids-you-re_152776.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/brooke-shields-8270_ask_everybody-says-when-you-have-kids-you-re_152776.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/brooke-shields-8270_ask_everybody-says-when-you-have-kids-you-re_152776.jpg) > “Everybody says, 'When you have kids, you really get away from yourself.' But really, it's the most selfish thing I've ever done. It's like, Okay, I'm going to create unconditional love for myself, and I'm going to need it and want it and ask for it every day, and I'm going to get it.” [Brooke Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-shields/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parenthood is often portrayed as self‑less, yet many parents seek emotional fulfillment and unconditional love from their children. **In simple terms:** Parents seek love and fulfillment. Key Takeaway Acknowledge personal needs in parenting. Themes family self‑interest love Mood reflective empathetic Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - parenting workshops - family therapy - personal journals Key Concepts psychology sociology Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance self‑care with caregiving? - What expectations do you have of your children? A Different Perspective Self‑centered motives may be judged harshly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Unconditional love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconditional-love/) ## Related quotes > [“Parents are programmed to want the best for their kids, regardless of what they get in return. That's what love is supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/parents-are-programmed-to-want-the-best-for-their-kids-regardless-of/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [I'm a really selfish person. But I would do anything for my friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-m-a-really-selfish-person-but-i-would-do-anything-for-my-friends/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [People always tend to chose what is best for them. They pretend to be unselfish, all so that they can feel good about themselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheon-eunbi/people-always-tend-to-chose-what-is-best-for-them-they-pretend-to-be/) [Cheon Eunbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheon-eunbi/) > [To be an Olympian is not flattering for any partner that's with you. It's a really selfish part of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-moir/to-be-an-olympian-is-not-flattering-for-any-partner-that-s-with-you/) [Scott Moir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-moir/) > [I was really selfish, and I didn't want to listen to anyone. Then I started working with some really amazing people, traveling more, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-was-really-selfish-and-i-didn-t-want-to-listen-to-anyone-then-i/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [I work very hard, but I also really enjoy time with my family as well. So I take everything as it comes, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-holmes/i-work-very-hard-but-i-also-really-enjoy-time-with-my-family-as-well/) [Katie Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-holmes/) > [My younger sister is really selfish. Tomorrow I am going to make one of her favorite meals but not make enough for her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-younger-sister-is-really-selfish-tomorrow-i-am-going-to-make-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think there’s a really selfish part of me that wishes I had the tools that I had today in the context of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khoi-vinh/i-think-there-s-a-really-selfish-part-of-me-that-wishes-i-had-the/) [Khoi Vinh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khoi-vinh/) > [I was sitting here all alone missing you. 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“It's only now, when a few thousand kilometres will insulate us against deceit, lies and underhandedness and we very probably won't see each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-capus/it-s-only-now-when-a-few-thousand-kilometres-will-insulate-us-against/) Alex Capus > [Music is what I love, take that away from me and I really got nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-miller/music-is-what-i-love-take-that-away-from-me-and-i-really-got-nothing/) [Mac Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-miller/) > [Venice is like doing acid. If you can't take it with you after you either come down or move away, you were never really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-alexander/venice-is-like-doing-acid-if-you-can-t-take-it-with-you-after-you/) Anne Alexander > [At this point, you are so far away from what you really are, it is ridiculous. The good news is that every step you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/at-this-point-you-are-so-far-away-from-what-you-really-are-it-is/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Brooke Shields > [Too many people use abortion as a form of birth control. And that's very wrong. I could never, ever have an abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-shields/too-many-people-use-abortion-as-a-form-of-birth-control-and-that-s/) [Brooke Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-shields/) > [My mother totally protected me as a model. She took me on every look-see, she was there on the set if I wanted her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-shields/my-mother-totally-protected-me-as-a-model-she-took-me-on-every-look/) [Brooke Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-shields/) > [I have a trainer, and I'm not a trainer person. I don't like the attention. I don't like the one-on-one scrutiny. But I've had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-shields/i-have-a-trainer-and-i-m-not-a-trainer-person-i-don-t-like-the/) [Brooke Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-shields/) > [It's okay to be successful and it's also okay to be happy with your success even though it might not be easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-shields/it-s-okay-to-be-successful-and-it-s-also-okay-to-be-happy-with-your/) [Brooke Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-shields/) > ['Suddenly Susan' is my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-shields/suddenly-susan-is-my-life/) [Brooke Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-shields/) > [I've never found therapy to be a sign of weakness; I've found the opposite to be true. 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More as a life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-shields/i-took-my-work-seriously-but-not-as-a-craft-more-as-a-life/) [Brooke Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-shields/) > [You are only as pretty as you are nice and smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-shields/you-are-only-as-pretty-as-you-are-nice-and-smart/) [Brooke Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-shields/) > [My husband perpetually makes fun of me about my creams and my jars and potions and lotions, but its simpler than anyone makes it:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-shields/my-husband-perpetually-makes-fun-of-me-about-my-creams-and-my-jars/) [Brooke Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-shields/) > [I look back at myself, this innocent person, and I think, 'Gosh, she's okay.' I handled a lot, and I'm still here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-shields/i-look-back-at-myself-this-innocent-person-and-i-think-gosh-she-s/) [Brooke Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-shields/) > [Depression is so smart - it uses all your references and patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-shields/depression-is-so-smart-it-uses-all-your-references-and-patterns/) [Brooke Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-shields/) > [I love getting baths and going to the Korean spas and getting pummeled and scrubbed, and its so hot in the sauna you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-shields/i-love-getting-baths-and-going-to-the-korean-spas-and-getting/) [Brooke Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-shields/) [Explore all 82 Brooke Shields quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-shields/) ## More Ask quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. 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I ask myself, 'What would the audience want to hear?' and 'Why would they buy my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/i-follow-a-simple-formula-when-i-compose-i-ask-myself-what-would-the/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [If you ask an actor what he'd prefer to act on, he'd probably say a tangible, real set, or even better, a real location…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/if-you-ask-an-actor-what-he-d-prefer-to-act-on-he-d-probably-say-a/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [It turns out that this part of the brain is one of the first areas that's attacked by Alzheimer's disease. So we can now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-keefe/it-turns-out-that-this-part-of-the-brain-is-one-of-the-first-areas/) [John O'Keefe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-keefe/) > [I prefer department stores. In boutiques, they come up and ask you if you need help. I can't get lost in the experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-netrebko/i-prefer-department-stores-in-boutiques-they-come-up-and-ask-you-if/) [Anna Netrebko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-netrebko/) > [A lot of people ask: 'Will you play a psycho to really change your image and prove you can act?' But that's not what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-efron/a-lot-of-people-ask-will-you-play-a-psycho-to-really-change-your/) [Zac Efron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-efron/) > [I'm not in the movie business anymore, and hardly any 70 year olds are. 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