A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year old kids, “What does love mean?” The answers they received were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:
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“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over to paint her toenails anymore, so my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis, too. That’s love.”
Rebecca – age 8
“When someone loves you, the way they saw your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.”
Billy – age 4
“Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on cologne and they go out and smell each other.”
Karl – age 5
“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.”
Chrissy – age 6
“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.”
Terri – age 4
“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she tales a sip before she gives it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.”
Danny – age 7
“Love is when you kiss all the time. And when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My mommy and daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss.”
Emily – age 8
“Love is what is in the room at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.”
Bobby – age 7 (Aww!)
“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.”
Nikka – age 6 (We need a few million more Nikkas on this planet)
“Love is when you tell a guy that you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.”
Noelle – age 7
“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.”
Tommy – age 6
“During my piano recital, I was on stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore.”
Cindy – age 8
“Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.”
Elaine – age 5
“Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer that Robert Redford.”
Chris – age 7
“I know my sister loves me because she gives me all her clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.”
Lauren – age 4
“When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.” Much tv?
Karen – age 7
“Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn’t think it’s gross.”
Mark – age 6
“You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.”
Jessica – age 8
Practical Application
He’s teaching her arithmetic,
He said it was his mission.
He kissed her once; he kissed her twice and said
Now that’s addition.
And as he added smack by smack
In silent satisfaction,
She sweetly gave the kisses back and said,
“Now that’s subtraction.”
Then he kissed her and she kissed him,
Without an explanation,
And both together smiled and said,
“That’s multiplication.”
Then Dad appeared upon the scene and
Made a quick decision.
He kicked the kid three blocks away and said,
“That’s long division.”
Dan Clark
