Whenever I am dating somebody, I want her to take care of me like

Hear now the tender and earnest words of Saqib Saleem, spoken from the depths of the human heart: “Whenever I am dating somebody, I want her to take care of me like my mother.” These words, though simple, unveil a truth as ancient as love itself—that in every bond, whether romantic or familial, we seek not only passion, but nurture; not only admiration, but care. The longing to be cared for, to be understood and cherished, lies at the root of all human connection. Beneath the surface of this quote flows an emotional river, one that carries the wisdom of generations and the unspoken reverence we hold for those who first taught us what love truly means.

In its origin, this saying springs from the deep well of human memory. Every person’s first teacher in tenderness is their mother, the one whose love is unconditional and whose patience is boundless. When Saleem speaks of seeking such care in a partner, he is not declaring weakness, but revealing a universal truth—that love, to be complete, must echo the warmth of the mother’s embrace. The ancients, too, knew this sacred principle. In the Vedas of India, in the hymns of Greece, and in the songs of Africa, the divine feminine—the mother figure—was praised as the sustainer of all life, the healer of wounds, the eternal nurturer. To long for such love is not to cling to childhood, but to recognize the divine thread of compassion that runs through all human bonds.

Yet, there is more beneath these words. Saleem’s longing reflects not merely a desire to be cared for, but to find a mirror of home within another’s heart. For what is a home, if not the place where one feels safe enough to be vulnerable? In love, as in life, we crave that sanctuary where we may rest from the storms of the world. The mother’s love is the first form of that sanctuary—a love that asks for nothing yet gives everything. When a man seeks such care in his beloved, he seeks not to be coddled, but to be seen fully, to be loved not for his victories, but for his fragile humanity.

Consider the tale of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-king of Rome. Though he commanded legions and ruled an empire, he often spoke of his mother, Domitia Lucilla, with deep gratitude. In his Meditations, he wrote that from her he learned “piety, generosity, and simplicity of life.” Her quiet care shaped his greatness far more than the swords of his generals. Even as emperor, he sought in others that same balance of strength and compassion. This is the eternal rhythm of love—that even the mightiest among us longs for gentleness, that the warrior, too, needs the healer.

But beware, O listener, of misunderstanding the essence of Saleem’s words. The care he speaks of is not servitude, nor the burden of one soul upon another. True care is reciprocal, born of respect and shared tenderness. Just as he seeks to be loved like a son, so too must he love like a son—honoring, protecting, and cherishing the one who offers her affection. The ancients taught that love is a circle, not a chain; when one gives nurture, the other must return gratitude. Thus, a relationship becomes a living temple, each partner both guardian and worshipper.

The wisdom that flows from this truth is clear: to love deeply, we must learn both to give and receive care. Many in the world seek love only as excitement or conquest, forgetting that love’s highest form is companionship in vulnerability. It is not in the glitter of grand gestures, but in the quiet acts—listening, comforting, forgiving—that the spirit of a mother’s care endures. To be cared for is a blessing; to care in return is divine.

Therefore, children of the heart, remember this: in your search for love, seek not only beauty or brilliance, but kindness. Find someone who reminds you of home—not because they shelter you from growth, but because they give you the courage to grow. And when you find such a soul, do not take their care for granted; honor it with your own. For love that mirrors the tenderness of a mother’s care is the kind of love that endures the storms of time. In such love, one finds not only comfort, but eternity.