Sometimes we think that a big part of what happens in therapy involves criticizing the mother of the patient. Actually as a profession, therapists probably have a greater sense of the importance of mothers than almost any other group.
D.W. Winnicott helped us understand the importance of mothers and the accepting love they share and the security they bring us as infants. He was adamant that women should not strive to be the “perfect” mom because in that striving there is just too much pressure.
Winnicott instead talked of the “good enough mother” as being the ideal parent. He helped us see that when women intuitively take care of and nurture their children, make the occasional mistake and keep on loving, they are giving their child exactly what their child needs. You see, as it turns out, the good enough mother is in fact the perfect mother.
Grand Rapids Therapy Group would like to honor all mothers today with a few quotes from some prominent psychotherapists. Thank you for all you have done, all the sacrifices you have made, while loving and raising your children.
Feelings of love and gratitude arise directly and spontaneously in the baby in response to the love and care of his mother.
– Melanie Klein
If a community values its children, it must cherish its mothers.
– John Bowlby
Mother’s love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved.
– Erich Fromm