Why Daughter Love Is Important: Effects Of Mothers' Parenting On Daughters
The relationship between mother and daughter is often one of the first and most impactful bonds a person will form in their lifetime. Studies have linked a person’s overall satisfaction in some of the most meaningful areas of life to their perceived relationship with their mother. In addition to having positive impacts on role satisfaction and self-esteem, a generally positive relationship between mother and child can buffer the negative effects of challenging life circumstances, including child poverty. Whether you are a mother, daughter, or both, working with a therapist online may help you with any parenting-related mental health challenges.
The impact of mother-daughter relationships
The study also revealed an apparent lack of correlation between a mother’s role choice and her daughter’s. Put simply, a woman whose mother chose the role of being a homemaker will not necessarily choose to become a homemaker herself. Typically, a woman’s role choice in adulthood, whether it be career-centric, family-oriented, or non-career work-oriented, tends to be more contingent on the overarching message they received from their mother growing up.
The influence of early relationships on a daughter’s love
By studying the growth and development of children’s brains, researchers are beginning to see the lasting effects of the presence of warm maternal love from birth. Research shows that a positive relationship with a mother from the earliest stages of life can buffer the negative effects of certain challenging or difficult life circumstances.
Additionally, studies show an early bond between mother and daughter can lead to the development of a secure attachment style later in life. A secure attachment style is generally characterized by the ability to control emotions, the ability to seek emotional support, and the ability to feel comfortable alone.
Typically, the attachment style a child develops with their parents dictates their attachment style in future relationships. The development of a secure attachment style in early childhood has the potential to positively impact both friendships and romantic relationships in a person’s future.
How parental engagement impacts daughter love and education
Another study conducted over the course of a decade concluded that parental engagement in a child’s education outside of school generally had positive impacts in the areas of literacy, math, and social-emotional skills. Key findings revealed the potential importance of familial involvement in the development of a child’s reading and math skills.
While this particular study focused on family involvement as a whole, these findings can apply to any family unit that includes a maternal figure. Typically, a child’s interest in education can contribute heavily to success later in life.
When it comes to education, a mother’s involvement in her daughter’s early learning and development outside of school can play a largely positive role in her overall success later in life.
Navigating gender-based difficulty
Research conducted by therapist and renowned mother-daughter relationship coach Dr. Rosjke Hasseldine explored the existence of the many hidden controversies that exist between mothers and daughters.
In a recent article, Dr. Hasseldine describes common difficulties between mothers and daughters to feel heard by each other. Additionally, she discusses the negative effects of “mother-blaming,” which is typically characterized by the attribution of all personal problems to a mother figure.
Due to the intense complexity and outside societal influences that can factor into these particular difficulties between mothers and daughters, seeking individual talk therapy for additional guidance on building and maintaining a positive parental relationship with a daughter can be helpful.
The benefits of mother-daughter love
When it comes to general science and research on relationships between parents and children, positive, high-quality, loving relationships tend to lead to positive effects in the following areas:
- General success
- Self-esteem and self-adequacy
- Education
- Emotional control
- Social competence
- Mental health
How parental mental health affects mother-daughter relationships
There tends to be exceedingly high pressure placed on the significance of a mother raising a daughter “perfectly”. It can be important to remember that parenting often comes with many challenges, and there may be no one correct way to be a mother.
What usually positively affects relationships between mothers and daughters is the presence of mutually understood love and acceptance. It can be crucial to keep in mind that the quality of a parent-child relationship can be quite reliant on the mental well-being of the parent.
Mental health concerns in parents
Parents who experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses may notice the symptoms of these conditions affect their quality of parenting. For this reason, it may be beneficial for any parent experiencing these types of challenges to participate in regular talk therapy.
Seeking help through online therapy
There can be endless challenges and roadblocks that tend to come with mothering a daughter. A mother’s own mental well-being often plays a critical role in building and maintaining a positive relationship with a daughter.
Improving mother-daughter relationships with online therapy
When parenting, hectic schedules can make it especially difficult to stay on top of regular therapy and mental wellness. In such cases, online therapy may offer flexibility that regular in-person therapy typically cannot.
Online therapy can provide a safe environment to open up about the challenges of parenting, as well as individual concerns regarding parenting style, personal mental health, and other factors that can affect overall mothering performance.
Effectiveness of online therapy
According to this study, the effectiveness of online therapy is typically equal to that of in-person therapy. Due to the significant role that personal mental well-being usually plays in nearly every aspect of life, online therapy can be especially effective in providing guidance in the matters of mothering and parenting overall.
Takeaway
Additionally, it can be important to consider one’s own mental health in matters of parenting. Often, participating in therapy, whether in person or online, or finding a support system composed of other mothers or parents can be very helpful in maintaining good mental health, which typically contributes to higher-quality parenting.
Why is a daughter’s love important in life?
A mother/daughter bond can be very special and unique. As Catherine Pulsifer said in one of the most famous mother/daughter quotes, “A mother’s treasure is her daughter.”
When talking about her mother, Judy Garland, and their relationship, Liza Minnelli once said, “It was no great tragedy being Judy Garland’s daughter. I had tremendously interesting childhood years.” Many people have realized what an important role this relationship can play in their lives.
How can I keep a good relationship with my daughter?
Maintaining a healthy relationship with your child, whether they are a girl or a boy, often involves the following:
- Providing them with physical and emotional support
- Spending quality time with them (without distractions)
- Talking together about a variety of topics
- Setting healthy boundaries, rules, and consequences
How do I make my daughter love me more?
While you generally can’t force someone to feel a certain way about you, you can show your daughter or son that they are loved in a variety of ways. Offering affection, being attentive, frequently praising them, creating special rituals and traditions (such as birthday celebrations), listening to them, and simply having fun together can strengthen your relationship.
How do I manage my daughter?
Parenting can be challenging. One of the most important things to remember may be consistency. Setting healthy limits, rules, and boundaries can be vital. If you’re encountering difficulties, you may benefit from speaking with a therapist individually or as a family.
How can you love your daughter unconditionally?
You can show your child unconditional love in several ways. For instance, even when they misbehave or engage in harmful behavior, you can continue to empathize with them and remind them that you love them.
Why is a daughter special?
It can be hard to find the perfect words to explain how special daughters can be. A quote from Heather Gudenkauf reads, “Having a little girl has been like following an old treasure map with the important paths torn away.” Having a darling daughter who is like a treasure map can be a truly rewarding experience.
How can I help my daughter with self-love?
One of the best ways to help your daughter with self-love may be to display it yourself. Children often pick up on how their parents feel about themselves and internalize those feelings. Praise your child’s efforts, try not to harshly criticize them, encourage them to try new things, and empower them to recognize their own positive traits.
Can a daughter be the love of my life?
Many parents see their children as the loves of their lives. The day they are born may change their lives forever, even if it’s hard for parents to find the words to express how much they love their children. One of the popular mother-daughter quotes that may put this love into words is, “A daughter is just a little girl who grows up to be your best friend.”
How do you love a child who is hard to love?
It can be vital to show your child love, even when it’s hard. You might try to connect with them through play, speak in a calm tone of voice, and praise and affirm them whenever they display appropriate behavior. While being a perfect mother or father may be impossible, you can still find ways to express that you care for your child. Try to remember that your words can stay with them for many years to come, so it can be best to choose them carefully.
How do I respect my daughter?
You can respect your children by allowing them age-appropriate boundary and space, showing them that you trust them, taking what they say seriously, truly listening to them, and respecting their choices and opinions.
- Previous Article
- Next Article