Explicating the Whole Mother

Download or read book Explicating the Whole Mother written by Patricia Peed Ashley and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 106 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study was an attempt to gain a greater awareness of the lived experience of the "whole mother." the research consisted of interviews with six Caucasian mothers, who each had at least two children, with one of them currently between the ages of 12 and 18. Analysis of the interview data showed a common fear of not being good enough as a mother. This concept may be a shadow aspect of the archetypal mother, which is referred to in this paper as the "too good mother." Themes surrounding the integration of the "too good mother" into a "whole mother" are highlighted as: "resolving the Martha Stewart complex," the ways in which judgment, guilt and expectations influence wholeness; "remembering the oxygen mask," the importance of self-care and support systems; "it's not the wind, it's the set of the sail," individual differences and identity formation; "loving and letting go," the task of launching children into adulthood through unconditional love; and "living in the gray area," the paradoxical nature of mothering. the summary draws conclusions regarding the qualities of wholeness that are necessary for healthy parenting relationships. These characteristics include compassion, respect, nurturing and creating a democratic home environment. A "whole mother" is one who is able to hold these qualities in balance with an understanding of the human condition and its imperfections.