You and I need to be willing to look inside our own experiences to identify any places we may still be affected by our relationship with our own mother. We can begin that journey by simply being willing to search our hearts and better understand ourselves. Professional counseling may also be a valuable part of that process.
Laura Ingalls Wilder said, “What is there in the attitude of your children toward yourself that you wish were different? Search your own heart and learn if your ways toward your own mother could be improved.”
This is important whether your mother is still living or not. Our relationships with our mother deeply affect us. One of the most powerful gifts we can give to our children is our own emotional health. A first step you can take on this journey is reading The Mom I Want to Be by T. Suzanne Eller. This book is designed to help you rise above your past and give your kids a great future.
A child should never feel as if they need to earn a mother’s love. This will leave a void in their heart all of their life. A mom’s love must be given unconditionally to establish trust and a firm foundation of emotional intimacy in a child’s life. If love is withheld, a child will look for it in a million other ways. Sometimes they will search throughout their lifetime unless they come to some sort of peace with their past. The emotional foundation we give our children at home is foundational to their life. We cannot underestimate the value of the home and the power of a mother’s love.