Can You Recognize Your Mother?

The Over-Protective Mother

This mother keeps treating you like a child and thinks you are incapable of doing even the most basic things. She discourages you from taking risks and tries to protect you from disappointments by pointing out all the things that can be wrong before you even take the first step. She is a wary of your relationships because she doesn’t want you to get hurt. She want you to remain her “little girl”.

The Ambitious Mother

This is the classic ‘stage-mother’ who thinks you were born to make up for all the disappointments she had in her life. She always encourages you to perform, but you end feeling desperate that you have to succeed not just for you but for her as well. She boasts about you to her friends and though you don’t like doing half of what she makes you, you feel guilty and don ‘t want to let her down.

The Domineering Mother

People describe her as aggressive and you are afraid of her anger if you disagree with her or fail to do as she says. You are passive and docile, and let her think that she knows best. And even though you might be married she will tell you how to bring up your children and even handle your husband. Every time she comes to stay she takes over your entire household but you are just too afraid to stand up to her.

 The Helpless Mother

This mother is helpless without you especially now that she’s widowed/ill/old. She asks your advice on everything and you feel responsible for her and are constantly trying to make her happy. Unfortunately, the more you do, the more she wants. You feel she is lonely and only has you for company but you need to pursue your own life too. But when you try, you feel guilty that things can only get worse for her and you won’t be able to cope.

The Unloving Mother

This mother is not interested in what you do or say. She never shows any signs of affection and never talks of you with fondness. You keep hoping she’ll change and

you knock yourself out trying to please her. Because she’s never there for you, you’ve learnt to be tough, self-reliant and not expect love from anyone.

The ‘Best Friend’ Mother

People often mistake you for sisters and you do lots of things friends do, like go shopping together, see movies, etc. You confide in her and get on well, but sometimes you wish she’d act more like your mum than your best bud. At times you feel that she’s almost competing with you.