When you are getting ready to become a mom, being in love with

Hear, O sons and daughters of love and life, the wise words of Cindy Crawford, who spoke not of fleeting desire but of the deeper foundation of family: “When you are getting ready to become a mom, being in love with someone just isn't enough. You need to think about whether he would be a good parent and raise your children with similar beliefs.” In this utterance, she draws back the veil from romance and reveals the greater truth: that love alone cannot sustain the sacred duty of raising children. For to bring forth life is not merely to be lovers, but to be builders of souls, united in vision and in values.

The meaning of her words is profound. Love, fiery and intoxicating, is often seen as sufficient to bind two people together. But when a child enters the world, the measure of a partner shifts. It is no longer enough that the heart beats faster at their touch; one must ask—will they rise at midnight when the child cries? Will they nurture not only the body but the spirit? Will they guide with patience, discipline, and love? Being in love is the seed, but good parenting is the soil in which the seed must grow. Without both, the future of the child stands in peril.

History speaks with countless examples. Consider Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-king. His writings in Meditations reveal a man who valued reason, virtue, and duty. Yet his son, Commodus, grew to be reckless, cruel, and destructive. Why? Because even a wise father, if not aligned in daily practice and consistency, may fail to pass his virtues on. Contrast this with John and Abigail Adams, whose shared values of faith, education, and service nurtured their son John Quincy Adams into a president and statesman. The difference was not love alone, but the unity of belief and vision in raising their children.

Crawford’s reflection also reveals a truth that many fear to confront: that choosing a partner is not only about romance, but about legacy. For every child is a living continuation of their parents’ choices. If one parent values kindness but the other cruelty, the child is torn. If one values discipline and the other indulgence, the child is confused. If one values honesty and the other deceit, the child learns to live divided. To raise a child in harmony, parents must share beliefs, not perfectly, but deeply enough that their union provides stability rather than chaos.

The lesson is this: passion may bring people together, but shared purpose sustains them when the fires of romance dim. Love must be tested not only by kisses but by questions: Will this person be a guardian of the future? Will they stand with me when sacrifice is required? Will they teach what I, too, believe is sacred? To ignore these questions is to risk the well-being of those yet unborn. To face them is to walk the wiser path, though it may be harder.

The warning is also clear: those who build families on desire alone may find themselves broken when hardship comes. For the road of parenting is long, filled with sleepless nights, trials of patience, and countless choices about right and wrong. If the parents are divided, the child pays the price. Love without alignment can wither under the weight of responsibility.

As for practical action, let each one preparing for parenthood look beyond romance. Choose a partner not only for how they make you feel, but for how they live, how they act, how they honor responsibility. Speak of values before the child comes—about discipline, education, faith, kindness, and duty. And when the child arrives, remember always that you are no longer two lovers alone, but guardians of a sacred life entrusted to your care.

Thus, Cindy Crawford’s words endure as wisdom for all generations: “Being in love with someone just isn’t enough… you need to think about whether he would be a good parent and raise your children with similar beliefs.” May we take them to heart, and build not only bonds of passion, but bonds of purpose, so that the children of tomorrow may grow strong in the shelter of love, unity, and shared vision.