“Mommy, I don’t love you.” My two-year-old stands in the bathtub, smudging foam onto her belly. I hold the shower head, and soapy rivulettes stream into the whirlpool of the drain. “That’s okay. I still love you,” I say. “And I don’t!” She stomps her foot. Water splashes onto the tiles. I wrap her in a towel. “You don’t have to. The important thing is that I love you and I always will.” “And I don’t.” She presses her cheek to mine as I pick her up. Aligned, our hearts beat in harmony, a rhythm that speaks louder than words.
A. Zaykova is a New Zealand-based writer, PR professional, global nomad, and mother of one dragon. Visit her at www.azaykova.com or on Instagram @azaykovawriter.