--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She started out of the kitchen, then…" description: "\"“She started out of the kitchen, then stopped and put her hand on my shoulder, bending down to kiss me gently on the forehead. She smelled like vanilla..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/sarah-dessen-110_mother_she-started-out-of-the-kitchen-then-stop_1851017.png" --- # She started out of the kitchen, then stopped and put her… ![“She started out of the kitchen, then stopped and put her hand on my shoulder, bending down to kiss me gently on the forehead. She smelled like vanilla and Joy perfume, and suddenly I felt like I might start crying again. "You really scared me, Caitlin," she said, smiling as she brushed her fingers…” quote by Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/sarah-dessen-110_mother_she-started-out-of-the-kitchen-then-stop_1851017.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/sarah-dessen-110_mother_she-started-out-of-the-kitchen-then-stop_1851017.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/sarah-dessen-110_mother_she-started-out-of-the-kitchen-then-stop_1851017.png) > ““She started out of the kitchen, then stopped and put her hand on my shoulder, bending down to kiss me gently on the forehead. She smelled like vanilla and Joy perfume, and suddenly I felt like I might start crying again. "You really scared me, Caitlin," she said, smiling as she brushed her fingers through my hair. "I don't know what I would do if something happened to you." I could tell her, I told myself. I could tell her right now and fix this. I could say that he hits me and I hate cheerleading and I miss Cass but I know why she left and I wish I could make everything better but I can't, I can't, I can't even tell you where it hurts, not now. "Don't worry," I said instead, as she ruffled my hair and walked away, my mother, to do what she did best, to take care of me. "I'm fine.”” [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Vulnerability and love can surface deep emotions, prompting both fear and comfort. **In simple terms:** Love can make us cry and feel safe. Key Takeaway Embrace honest emotional expression. Themes love vulnerability comfort fear Mood tender reflective Type narrative emotional When to use this quote - confession - comfort - support - emotional support Key Concepts emotional intimacy relationship dynamics self‑disclosure Questions to Reflect On - What does vulnerability teach you about yourself? - How can you balance caring for others and self‑care? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on others can hinder personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) ## Related quotes > [“What are you most scared of, Caitlin? What I can do to you, or how I make you feel?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-j-pryor/what-are-you-most-scared-of-caitlin-what-i-can-do-to-you-or-how-i/) [Lindsay J. Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-j-pryor/) > [You've never been in love," she said. "You don't understand." 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I could say that he hits me and I hate cheerleading and I miss Cass but I know why she left and I wish I could make everything better but I can't, I can't, I can't even tell you where it hurts, not now. \"Don't worry,\" I said instead, as she ruffled my hair and walked away, my mother, to do what she did best, to take care of me. \"I'm fine.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah Dessen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/she-started-out-of-the-kitchen-then-stopped-and-put-her-hand-on-my/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Mother" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/she-started-out-of-the-kitchen-then-stopped-and-put-her-hand-on-my/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/sarah-dessen-110_mother_she-started-out-of-the-kitchen-then-stop_1851017.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/sarah-dessen-110_mother_she-started-out-of-the-kitchen-then-stop_1851017.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/sarah-dessen-110_mother_she-started-out-of-the-kitchen-then-stop_1851017.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“She started out of the kitchen, then stopped and put her hand on my shoulder, bending down to kiss me gently…” — Sarah Dessen", "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": "Sarah Dessen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“She started out of the kitchen,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/she-started-out-of-the-kitchen-then-stopped-and-put-her-hand-on-my/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/she-started-out-of-the-kitchen-then-stopped-and-put-her-hand-on-my/#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 } } ] } ```