As a child, growing and developing in the home, we look to our mother to provide unconditional love, support, guidance.
It's reasonable to assume that she has our best interests at heart, but is that always the case; does mother really know best or has she on occasions, her own reasons for guiding us the way she does.
She may not even be consciously aware that her actions have an underlying agenda behind them.
Does mother really know best or might there be other factors influencing her actions and advice: Many people become parents and vow not to repeat the same mistakes that their mothers or fathers made with them.
Whether their mother was too busy and disinterested or over-attentive and interfering there are often areas that people often feel determined to rectify when they have children of their own.
As we get older we learn to appreciate that our mother was, more often than not, well-intentioned.
But she has her own story; her history, issues and experiences that influenced her choices and the way she subsequently treated us as we were growing up.
Many factors can affect a mother's actions and attitude towards her children.
Her background, present-day relationships with friends and family, and concerns at what others may think can all influence the way she behaves.
Let's look at some of the issues she may have: - Is she a jealous mother? Some mothers are jealous of their children, especially their daughters, as they see them growing into attractive young women with their whole lives ahead of them.
They may be jealous of their youth, their potential, the opportunities that seem so exciting and full of promise.
Some mothers may become irritated and critical of their daughters as they watch them live a life that is no longer available to them.
- Does mother live vicariously through her children? Some mothers imagine that their children think and feel in the same way as they do, that they have the same hopes and dreams.
Living through their children, putting emphasis on areas that are of importance to them, over-riding their children's interests, tastes or personality, insisting that they share their enthusiasms, puts an intolerable strain on children.
Children can end up feeling that their wants, needs and aspirations are insignificant, wrong or not good enough, that if they want to please their mother, ensure that she is happy and gain her praise they must adopt the same values and outlook that she regards as important.
- Does mother want what is best for her children? She may have had a poor upbringing with little money and lots of hardship, or an education that was inadequate or curtailed.
Consequently these areas of achievement become of especial importance to her as she pushes her children in a bid to ensure that they don't have to endure the same difficulties that she experienced.
Whilst these motives are well-intentioned her children may not necessarily share her aptitude, skill or interest in these aspirations.
They may be resistant to the goals she has in mind.
They may be more adept in other areas and her support in achieving their own potential could bring her pride in unexpected ways.
Maintaining open and honest channels of communication is an important element in developing successful family relationships.
A supportive mother encourages her children to achieve of their best but also to demonstrate mutual respect and regard for their own and for other's individuality, opinions and path in life.
This approach allows for personal growth, development and an appreciation of the qualities that we can all bring to each others' lives.
It's reasonable to assume that she has our best interests at heart, but is that always the case; does mother really know best or has she on occasions, her own reasons for guiding us the way she does.
She may not even be consciously aware that her actions have an underlying agenda behind them.
Does mother really know best or might there be other factors influencing her actions and advice: Many people become parents and vow not to repeat the same mistakes that their mothers or fathers made with them.
Whether their mother was too busy and disinterested or over-attentive and interfering there are often areas that people often feel determined to rectify when they have children of their own.
As we get older we learn to appreciate that our mother was, more often than not, well-intentioned.
But she has her own story; her history, issues and experiences that influenced her choices and the way she subsequently treated us as we were growing up.
Many factors can affect a mother's actions and attitude towards her children.
Her background, present-day relationships with friends and family, and concerns at what others may think can all influence the way she behaves.
Let's look at some of the issues she may have: - Is she a jealous mother? Some mothers are jealous of their children, especially their daughters, as they see them growing into attractive young women with their whole lives ahead of them.
They may be jealous of their youth, their potential, the opportunities that seem so exciting and full of promise.
Some mothers may become irritated and critical of their daughters as they watch them live a life that is no longer available to them.
- Does mother live vicariously through her children? Some mothers imagine that their children think and feel in the same way as they do, that they have the same hopes and dreams.
Living through their children, putting emphasis on areas that are of importance to them, over-riding their children's interests, tastes or personality, insisting that they share their enthusiasms, puts an intolerable strain on children.
Children can end up feeling that their wants, needs and aspirations are insignificant, wrong or not good enough, that if they want to please their mother, ensure that she is happy and gain her praise they must adopt the same values and outlook that she regards as important.
- Does mother want what is best for her children? She may have had a poor upbringing with little money and lots of hardship, or an education that was inadequate or curtailed.
Consequently these areas of achievement become of especial importance to her as she pushes her children in a bid to ensure that they don't have to endure the same difficulties that she experienced.
Whilst these motives are well-intentioned her children may not necessarily share her aptitude, skill or interest in these aspirations.
They may be resistant to the goals she has in mind.
They may be more adept in other areas and her support in achieving their own potential could bring her pride in unexpected ways.
Maintaining open and honest channels of communication is an important element in developing successful family relationships.
A supportive mother encourages her children to achieve of their best but also to demonstrate mutual respect and regard for their own and for other's individuality, opinions and path in life.
This approach allows for personal growth, development and an appreciation of the qualities that we can all bring to each others' lives.