Watch young children and parents together, and you’ll see how many times the children look to their parents for eye contact and meaningful interaction (Campbell 1977). This isn’t just attention-seeking; children get emotional refueling from these moments of connection with their parent (Mahler and Pine 1975). Children need their parent’s emotional engagement and affection in order to grow stronger, more secure, and eventually more independent. No wonder a parent’s love feels so crucial.
