This picture is what I think of when I hear “mama bear.” (Shout out to pixabay for the CC0 license for the image.)
The mama bear has her baby. She loves her baby. But, after all, she is a bear, so if someone messes with her baby, watch out.
The mama bear is my spirit animal. To paraphrase Anne Lamott, this is a term we are allowed to use in Boulder.
You know who is a true mama bear? The Colorado woman who wrested her son’s head out of a mountain lion’s mouth. Brava, Colorado Mama Bear.