It is unconditional.
It makes people happy.

Today was a slightly rough day for Jacob and I. I’m sure it was my fault–not doing much and telling him what to do often–that resulted in a lot of boundary-pushing. By bedtime I was exhausted. We are out of town, and the long day at the Safari Park yesterday begged for a quieter day today; well, it begged me, I suppose. Jacob was not impressed.
We climbed into the hotel bed we are sleeping in. He asks for just the sheet to be placed over him. I turn on some soothing nature sounds and turn out the lights. We are facing each other, noses only inches apart, my arms around his sheet-wrapped little frame.
I whisper to him in the darkness: “you are special.”
“I love you, too” he whispers back.

I love you always.
I love you always.
I love you forever.
I love you forever.
I love you more.
I love you more-er.
I love you so much.
I love you all the time.
I love you every minute of every day.
That makes me happy.

He looks at me and smiles.