---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember my mum explaining to me what…"
description: "\"I remember my mum explaining to me what adoption meant when I was still at primary school. 'Son,' she said to me, 'you didn't grow under my heart, you ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/michael-gove-7057_adoption_i-remember-my-mum-explaining-to-me-what_2128886.jpg"
---

#  I remember my mum explaining to me what adoption meant…

![“I remember my mum explaining to me what adoption meant when I was still at primary school. 'Son,' she said to me, 'you didn't grow under my heart, you grew in it'.” quote by Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/michael-gove-7057_adoption_i-remember-my-mum-explaining-to-me-what_2128886.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/michael-gove-7057_adoption_i-remember-my-mum-explaining-to-me-what_2128886.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/michael-gove-7057_adoption_i-remember-my-mum-explaining-to-me-what_2128886.jpg)

> “I remember my mum explaining to me what adoption meant when I was still at primary school. 'Son,' she said to me, 'you didn't grow under my heart, you grew in it'.”

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

## About This Quote

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

Adoption is described as love that lives inside the heart, not just a biological connection.

**In simple terms:** Love lives in the heart, not just biology.

Key Takeaway

Cherish emotional bonds over genetics.

Themes

family love adoption

Mood

reflective warm inspirational

Type

personal philosophical

When to use this quote

- parenting
- adoption counseling
- family gatherings
- support groups

Key Concepts

attachment identity emotional security

Questions to Reflect On

- How does emotional love shape family identity?
- What challenges arise when love and biology differ?

A Different Perspective

May overlook practical legal complexities of adoption.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Adoption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoption/) [Adoption Meant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoption-meant-4378888/) [Explaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explaining/) [Explaining Adoption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explaining-adoption-4378890/) [Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-grew-2002019/) [Mum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mum/) [Mum Explaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mum-explaining-4378886/) [My heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-heart/) [Primaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primaries/) [Primary school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primary-school/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Son Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son-said-763127/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/)

## Related quotes

> [“He felt as if he hadn't slept because he spent all night wandering through the world looking for a maiden who bore his heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/he-felt-as-if-he-hadn-t-slept-because-he-spent-all-night-wandering/)

[Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/)

> [Somewhere between Broken Toys and Broken Heart We all grew up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-ultimate/somewhere-between-broken-toys-and-broken-heart-we-all-grew-up/)

[The Ultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-ultimate/)

> [“their heart grew cold they let their wings down”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sappho/their-heart-grew-cold-they-let-their-wings-down/)

[Sappho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sappho/)

> [And what happened then? Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/and-what-happened-then-well-in-whoville-they-say-that-the-grinch-s/)

[Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/)

> [Close to my heart you'll stay. with every beat you move closer and closer. My heart grew fond of you, growing stronger. My mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-c/close-to-my-heart-you-ll-stay-with-every-beat-you-move-closer-and/)

[Gabrielle C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-c/)

> [“I’ll take care of your son,’ said Laurent. ‘I’ll protect his kingdom as if it were my own. I’ll give my life for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-ll-take-care-of-your-son-said-laurent-i-ll-protect-his-kingdom-as/)

[C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/)

> [“My son … he … he said he came alive in Tahrir.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-robert-hamilton/my-son-he-he-said-he-came-alive-in-tahrir/)

[Omar Robert Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-robert-hamilton/)

> [“A few months after my mom died, he said he was tired of trying. He said he couldn't understand me or why I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-reese/a-few-months-after-my-mom-died-he-said-he-was-tired-of-trying-he-said/)

[Jaime Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-reese/)

> [Well, my daddy, he didn't leave me much, you know he was a very simple man, but what he did tell me was this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/well-my-daddy-he-didn-t-leave-me-much-you-know-he-was-a-very-simple/)

[Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/)

> [“What is a Bongaloo, Daddy?" A Bongaloo, Son," said I, Is a tall bag of cheese Plus a Chinaman's knees And the leg of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/what-is-a-bongaloo-daddy-a-bongaloo-son-said-i-is-a-tall-bag-of/)

[Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/)

> [“-I love yeh, son, said Jimmy Sr. He could say it and no one could hear him, except young Jimmy, because of the singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-doyle/i-love-yeh-son-said-jimmy-sr-he-could-say-it-and-no-one-could-hear/)

[Roddy Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-doyle/)

> [Son, she said, have I got a little story for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-jam/son-she-said-have-i-got-a-little-story-for-you/)

[Pearl Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-jam/)

> [“I’m proud of you, son,” he said. “I guess it has finally sunk in that it’s important to stand up for yourself in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-mueller-coombs/i-m-proud-of-you-son-he-said-i-guess-it-has-finally-sunk-in-that-it-s/)

[Karen Mueller Coombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-mueller-coombs/)

> [“Thank-you, son,’ said his father. ‘I want you to know we’re both proud of you. Take care, and keep in touch if you can.’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-tinniswood/thank-you-son-said-his-father-i-want-you-to-know-we-re-both-proud-of/)

[Chris Tinniswood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-tinniswood/)

> [“Look, little son," she said. "Many times I do not answer you when you ask me things, and other times I simply talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-antonio-villareal/look-little-son-she-said-many-times-i-do-not-answer-you-when-you-ask/)

[José Antonio Villareal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-antonio-villareal/)

## More by Michael Gove

> [You know, you don't see hospital consultants going on strike, and I don't believe that teachers and headteachers should. It's within their rights, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/you-know-you-don-t-see-hospital-consultants-going-on-strike-and-i-don/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

> [If we leave the European Union, yes there will be bumps in the road, inevitably, but we will be in a better position to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/if-we-leave-the-european-union-yes-there-will-be-bumps-in-the-road/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

> [The common fisheries policy unfortunately led to the devastation of fishing in Scotland. My dad had to close his business. As a result something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/the-common-fisheries-policy-unfortunately-led-to-the-devastation-of/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

> [Ever since going up to university, I have accumulated new debt, and new means of becoming indebted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/ever-since-going-up-to-university-i-have-accumulated-new-debt-and-new/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

> [I will take all the steps necessary to give the NHS at least another £100million per week by 2020.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/i-will-take-all-the-steps-necessary-to-give-the-nhs-at-least-another/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

> [Labor, under their current leadership, want to be the Downtown Abbey party when it comes to educational opportunity. They think working class children should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/labor-under-their-current-leadership-want-to-be-the-downtown-abbey/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

> [With the single exception of Park Lane, every north-south route in London slows traffic to the pace of a wounded gnat with pleurisy struggling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/with-the-single-exception-of-park-lane-every-north-south-route-in/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

> [The British people rejected politics as usual and government as usual. They want and need a new approach to running this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/the-british-people-rejected-politics-as-usual-and-government-as-usual/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

> [Children in dysfunctional homes at risk of abuse are kept in danger for too long because politically correct rules mean we won't challenge unfit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/children-in-dysfunctional-homes-at-risk-of-abuse-are-kept-in-danger/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

> [Adopting means opening your home, and heart, to a life you've never known. But there is nothing as richly rewarding as being an adoptive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/adopting-means-opening-your-home-and-heart-to-a-life-you-ve-never/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

> [The challenges facing Britain required not just a cool head, but a heart burning with the desire for change - not business as usual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/the-challenges-facing-britain-required-not-just-a-cool-head-but-a/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

> [Now that Britain has voted to leave, I think the country deserves to have a leader who believes in Britain outside the European Union…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/now-that-britain-has-voted-to-leave-i-think-the-country-deserves-to/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

> [Why ... do the myths of America the Hateful take such powerful hold? Because anti-Americanism provides a useful emotional function which goes beyond logic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/why-do-the-myths-of-america-the-hateful-take-such-powerful-hold/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

> [Teachers themselves know if there's a colleague who can't keep control or keep the interest of their class, it affects the whole school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/teachers-themselves-know-if-there-s-a-colleague-who-can-t-keep/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

> [One of the things I know about the European Union is that the European Union can destroy jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/one-of-the-things-i-know-about-the-european-union-is-that-the/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

[Explore all 95 Michael Gove quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

## More Adoption quotes

> [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/)

[Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/)

> [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/)

[James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/)

> [Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It's something quite magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/somehow-destiny-comes-into-play-these-children-end-up-with-you-and/)

[Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/)

> [I have a lot of respect for my birth mother I know she must have had a lot of love for me to want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hill/i-have-a-lot-of-respect-for-my-birth-mother-i-know-she-must-have-had/)

[Faith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hill/)

> [Despite the reams of paperwork, obstacles worthy of a horse show, and a wait that can rival an elephant's gestation, adoption feels no different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-simon/despite-the-reams-of-paperwork-obstacles-worthy-of-a-horse-show-and-a/)

[Scott Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-simon/)

> [“Some adventures should never be repeated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-l-hopper/some-adventures-should-never-be-repeated/)

[Mike L. Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-l-hopper/)

> [Some women just skip having babies or adopt because they don't want to get fat or they haven't put in the time to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-pressly/some-women-just-skip-having-babies-or-adopt-because-they-don-t-want/)

[Jaime Pressly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-pressly/)

> [“I love Russia because Russia gave me you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-simmons/i-love-russia-because-russia-gave-me-you/)

[John M. Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-simmons/)

> [I've never been keen on open adoption. It doesn't seem to solve the main problem with adoption, which is that somebody feels she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-ve-never-been-keen-on-open-adoption-it-doesn-t-seem-to-solve-the/)

[Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/)

> [“Yes, I see why we endured infertility and a lengthy adoption process now, but I don’t know all the reasons for all the struggles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-wells/yes-i-see-why-we-endured-infertility-and-a-lengthy-adoption-process/)

[Ashley Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-wells/)

> [As we grew to love South Australia, we felt that we were in an expanding society, still feeling the bond to the motherland, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-helen-spence/as-we-grew-to-love-south-australia-we-felt-that-we-were-in-an/)

[Catherine Helen Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-helen-spence/)

> [Every great movement must experience three stages: ridicule, discussion, adoption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/every-great-movement-must-experience-three-stages-ridicule-discussion/)

[John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/)

> [With all the chaos, pain and suffering in the world, the fact that my adoption of a child from who was living in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/with-all-the-chaos-pain-and-suffering-in-the-world-the-fact-that-my/)

[Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/)

> [“The Friends Thou Hast And Their Adoption Tried Grapple Them To Thy Soul With Hooks Of Steel”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-friends-thou-hast-and-their-adoption-tried-grapple-them-to-thy-2/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

[Browse all 560 Adoption quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoption/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I remember my mum explaining to me what adoption meant when I was still at primary school. 'Son,' she said to me, 'you didn't grow under my heart, you grew in it'.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Gove"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/i-remember-my-mum-explaining-to-me-what-adoption-meant-when-i-was/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Adoption"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/i-remember-my-mum-explaining-to-me-what-adoption-meant-when-i-was/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/michael-gove-7057_adoption_i-remember-my-mum-explaining-to-me-what_2128886.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/michael-gove-7057_adoption_i-remember-my-mum-explaining-to-me-what_2128886.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/michael-gove-7057_adoption_i-remember-my-mum-explaining-to-me-what_2128886.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I remember my mum explaining to me what adoption meant when I was still at primary school. 'Son,' she said…” — Michael Gove",
                "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": "Michael Gove",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I remember my mum explaining to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/i-remember-my-mum-explaining-to-me-what-adoption-meant-when-i-was/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/i-remember-my-mum-explaining-to-me-what-adoption-meant-when-i-was/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
