A Letter From Your Mother (who fell short) — Aha! Parenting
Dr. Laura Markham acknowledges how difficult Mother's Day can be for moms who grew up with difficult mothers. You'll know if this resonates.
"When Mother's Day rolls around, any wounds in our relationships with our own mothers feel more raw than ever, and leave us feeling like needy children. We find ourselves wishing we'd had a fairytale mother, the kind everyone else must have had, the ones who inspire all those Mother's Day Cards.
"And then Mother's Day ends up feeling the way Christmas does for many children. One day, so burdened with wishes, that no reality can live up to the urgency of our desire. "
Her remedy is to give you what you want through Wish Fulfillment—telling a What If story of this mother making repairs with her child, with empathy.
In a separate article, Dr. Markham noted, "Brain scans show that when we imagine having what we want, the brain indicates satisfaction as if we actually have it, so this helps [your child] feel better. And using imagination to "think" about the issue gives [your child] more access to the rational brain."
Originally posted a couple of years ago, this still is worth a read, and reread, here, to see how she (virtually) grants your wishes.
