Cover Story

What is love?
We’ve all experienced love in one form or another. There’s everyone’s favorite – romantic love. Some say it makes the world go ’round, and it’s probably the very thing that caused you to become a parent in the first place. But you can also love friends, pets, your country, shopping...and even chocolate!

So, what is love, exactly? We went out to local schools and posed this question to the love experts – your children – for whom love in all its many incarnations comes so easily. As you’ll see, love is a simple, but very big, word that means many things to the most innocent among us.

1st grade
Valencia Elementary School
   >> 25661 Paseo de Valencia, Laguna Hills
   >> Teacher: Mrs. Nancy Jumper

“Love is loving your family and your baby sister.”
- Emily, 6

“Love is when mommy packs my lunch. Daddy loves me when he helps my boo-boo. Love is my puppy licking me. I find love everywhere.”
- Nicole, 6

“Love is marriage. Marriage is when they get together and have a family.”  
- Jason, 6

“Love is marriage.
       It is big, big, big!”
- Logan, 6

“Love is kisses and hugs. Love is your family. Love is laughing. I love love!”
- Megan, 7

2nd grade
Courreges Elementary School
  >> 18313 Santa Carlotta St., Fountain Valley
  >> Teacher: Mrs. Ann Saba

“Love is when your heart feels warm. It is when someone in the world cares for you.”
– Anna, 8

“Love is playing with my hamster.”
Maithy, 7

“Love is getting a blanket
and looking at the stars.”
Hannah, 8

“When you think of love, you feel happy.”
Kennedy, 7

“Just a simple smile
could be love.”
Brandon, 7

“You can smell a flower, and it can make you feel love.”
– Justin, 7

“Love is when your dad plays catch with you.”
Lucas, 7

“I can tell Mrs. Saba loves us because we are a good class.”
Brianna, 7

“Love is when you respect your mom and dad.” – Kasey, 7

“Love is kissing my dog, Pearl, on the forehead.”
Olivia, 7

3rd grade
Page Private school
  >> 657 Victoria St., Costa Mesa
  >> Teacher: Mrs. Lori Roulette

“Love is hugging my parents when they’re sad.”
Jordan, 8

“Love is when my mom brushes my hair in the morning.”
Brent, 10

“Love is my bunny nibbling my fingers.”
Ashley, 7

“Love is my bunny nibbling my fingers.”
Ashley, 7

“Love is people standing up for me.”
Kathleen, 8
“Love is smelling the pasta my grandma makes.”
– Emmalee, 8

“Love is eating homemade pancakes.”
Gillian, 8

“Love is when I see my sister. My sister is cute.”
Taylor, 7

“Love is when my dog sleeps with me.”
Dustin, 9

4th grade
Tustin Ranch
Elementary school
  >> 12950 Robinson Dr., Tustin
  >> Teacher: Mr. Curtis Porter

“Love is so important that you need it for the rest of your life.”
Jennifer, 10

“Love makes you want to jump for joy.”
Sowon, 9

“Love is a mystery and shall wait for no one. Find your way to love, and you’ll feel something.”
– Mark, 9

“Love is something we all cherish and pass on to one another. It is a sensational feeling!”
Kristyn, 9

“Love is amazing, even irresistible. When you date, you probably love that person.”
Alexis, 9

“Love is not gross. It is beautiful.”
Aiden, 9

“I love Alana, my best friend. There! I said it!”
Bea, 10

“If you love someone and they don’t love you back, that’s a big problem.”
–    Lynnea, 9
–    
Can't get enough love?
To see more adorable faces from the schools that participated in our "What Is Love?" story, go to ocfamily.com and click on "Videos." And for a real treat, watch the "What Is Love?" video!