--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I suddenly remember being very little and…" description: "\"I suddenly remember being very little and being embraced by my father. I would try to put my arms around my father's waist, hug him back. I could never..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/jodi-picoult-45_arms_i-suddenly-remember-being-very-little-an_1497170.jpg" --- # I suddenly remember being very little and being embraced… ![“I suddenly remember being very little and being embraced by my father. I would try to put my arms around my father's waist, hug him back. I could never reach the whole way around the equator of his body; he was that much larger than life. Then one day, I could do it. I held him, instead of him…” quote by Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/jodi-picoult-45_arms_i-suddenly-remember-being-very-little-an_1497170.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/jodi-picoult-45_arms_i-suddenly-remember-being-very-little-an_1497170.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/jodi-picoult-45_arms_i-suddenly-remember-being-very-little-an_1497170.jpg) > “I suddenly remember being very little and being embraced by my father. I would try to put my arms around my father's waist, hug him back. I could never reach the whole way around the equator of his body; he was that much larger than life. Then one day, I could do it. I held him, instead of him holding me, and all I wanted at that moment was to have it back the other way.” [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child's memory of growing up with a protective father, and the role of the when the roles reverse. **In simple terms:** Remembering parental love and its reversal. Key Takeaway Cherish moments of caring and being cared for. Themes family growth memory role reversal Mood nostalgic reflective warm Type personal emotional When to use this quote - parent‑child bonding - caregiver transition - reflecting on childhood - expressing gratitude Key Concepts attachment developmental psychology intergenerational bonds Questions to Reflect On - How do you feel when you become the protector? - What does this shift teach about dependence? A Different Perspective The recollection may idealize the past, overlooking complexities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Embraced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embraced/) [Embraced Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embraced-father-5479340/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Hug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hug/) [Larger than life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/larger-than-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Little Embraced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-embraced-5479341/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [One day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-day/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [That moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/that-moment/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Waist Hug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waist-hug-2408859/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“Repentance sounds like laughter and fun. We have embraced our Father, we have glimpsed His goodness, and we have become undone with gladness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-d-morrison/repentance-sounds-like-laughter-and-fun-we-have-embraced-our-father/) [Stephen D. Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-d-morrison/) > [“I wrap my arms around her, one hand in her hair, one around her waist and I hug her more tightly than I’ve hugged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-dominguez/i-wrap-my-arms-around-her-one-hand-in-her-hair-one-around-her-waist/) [Ella Dominguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-dominguez/) > [She gave me a hug and for a second I was embraced by a body that makes me want to go home and never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/she-gave-me-a-hug-and-for-a-second-i-was-embraced-by-a-body-that/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [“I had embraced you... long before i hugged you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanober-khan/i-had-embraced-you-long-before-i-hugged-you/) [Sanober Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanober-khan/) > [I think that's probably the most devastating thing - when someone who is larger than life winds up a shadow of themselves in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-think-that-s-probably-the-most-devastating-thing-when-someone-who/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Larger than life itself, and I can’t even believe this striking creature was once a little bit mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-evans/larger-than-life-itself-and-i-can-t-even-believe-this-striking/) [Katy Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-evans/) > [I stay wrecked and jealous for this, for this simple reason I just need to keep you in mind as something larger than life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keys/i-stay-wrecked-and-jealous-for-this-for-this-simple-reason-i-just/) [Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keys/) > [Poker is a charismatic game. People who are larger than life play poker and make their living from playing games and hustling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/poker-is-a-charismatic-game-people-who-are-larger-than-life-play/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [I didn't want to be the crippled songwriter or the crippled singer. I wanted to be the singer or the songwriter who was crippled.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-pomus/i-didn-t-want-to-be-the-crippled-songwriter-or-the-crippled-singer-i/) [Doc Pomus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-pomus/) > [Today America lost a great elder statesman, a committed public servant, and leader of the Senate. And today I lost a treasured friend. Ted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/today-america-lost-a-great-elder-statesman-a-committed-public-servant/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [People think that we're crazy because we do six nights a week. I would physically not be able to take it, especially when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thomas/people-think-that-we-re-crazy-because-we-do-six-nights-a-week-i-would/) [Rob Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thomas/) > [Blackbeard was larger than life. He was 6'4" in 1710. He was a colossus, and like a rock star walking into a bar. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevenson/blackbeard-was-larger-than-life-he-was-6-4-in-1710-he-was-a-colossus/) [Ray Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevenson/) > [I joked at our National Convention that our party was nominating a candidate for president who was charismatic, larger than life, memorable, so they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/i-joked-at-our-national-convention-that-our-party-was-nominating-a/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [As far as lighting and blocking, camera angles and facial expressions, all that stuff that has to be very specific in film, as opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-torres/as-far-as-lighting-and-blocking-camera-angles-and-facial-expressions/) [Eve Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-torres/) > [Every man's heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe a final breath. And if what that man did in his life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-ultimate-warrior/every-man-s-heart-one-day-beats-its-final-beat-his-lungs-breathe-a/) [The Ultimate Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-ultimate-warrior/) ## More by Jodi Picoult > [You get through it, you just never get over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-get-through-it-you-just-never-get-over-it/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Let me guess," Eric says, "You never meant for it to happen." "Hell, yes, I did. I've wanted her since you two started dating."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/let-me-guess-eric-says-you-never-meant-for-it-to-happen-hell-yes-i/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“It’s the difference between dancing along the eggshell crust of acquaintance and diving into the messy center of a relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-s-the-difference-between-dancing-along-the-eggshell-crust-of/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Because hate's just the flip side of love. Like heads and tails on a dime. If you don't know what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/because-hate-s-just-the-flip-side-of-love-like-heads-and-tails-on-a/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Some women are meant to change the world, while others are meant to hold it together. And then there are those of us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/some-women-are-meant-to-change-the-world-while-others-are-meant-to/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I love feeling loved. I don't love knowing that I will always come in second place. I love the fact that at least sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-love-feeling-loved-i-don-t-love-knowing-that-i-will-always-come-in/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Music is the language of memory”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/music-is-the-language-of-memory/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [But there is a different between mending someone who's broken and finding someone who makes you complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/but-there-is-a-different-between-mending-someone-who-s-broken-and/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“sometimes words are not big enough to contain all the feelings you are trying to pour into them. My”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/sometimes-words-are-not-big-enough-to-contain-all-the-feelings-you/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“The age wasn't as important as the milestones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-age-wasn-t-as-important-as-the-milestones/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The night is falling down around us. Meteors rain like fireworks, quick rips in the seam of the dark... Every second, another streak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-night-is-falling-down-around-us-meteors-rain-like-fireworks-quick/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“When she had packed all the artifacts that made up their personal history into liquor store boxes, the house became strictly a feminine place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/when-she-had-packed-all-the-artifacts-that-made-up-their-personal/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/maybe-who-we-are-isn-t-so-much-about-what-we-do-but-rather-what-we-re/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Here's what I hadn't realized : the mother you haven't seen for almost 36 years isn't your mother. She is a stranger. Sharing DNA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/here-s-what-i-hadn-t-realized-the-mother-you-haven-t-seen-for-almost/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [My brother believed in all sorts of mythical creatures: pixies, dragons, werewolves, honest men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/my-brother-believed-in-all-sorts-of-mythical-creatures-pixies-dragons/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) [Explore all 2,062 Jodi Picoult quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) [Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I suddenly remember being very little and being embraced by my father. I would try to put my arms around my father's waist, hug him back. I could never reach the whole way around the equator of his body; he was that much larger than life. Then one day, I could do it. I held him, instead of him holding me, and all I wanted at that moment was to have it back the other way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jodi Picoult" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-suddenly-remember-being-very-little-and-being-embraced-by-my-father/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-suddenly-remember-being-very-little-and-being-embraced-by-my-father/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/jodi-picoult-45_arms_i-suddenly-remember-being-very-little-an_1497170.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/jodi-picoult-45_arms_i-suddenly-remember-being-very-little-an_1497170.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/jodi-picoult-45_arms_i-suddenly-remember-being-very-little-an_1497170.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I suddenly remember being very little and being embraced by my father. I would try to put my arms around my…” — Jodi Picoult", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jodi Picoult", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I suddenly remember being very little...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-suddenly-remember-being-very-little-and-being-embraced-by-my-father/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-suddenly-remember-being-very-little-and-being-embraced-by-my-father/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```