Peace at Home Blog

Mother’s Day and Mental Health – Self-Talk and Our Children’s Mental Health 

April 22, 2024 | Ruth Freeman

Mother’s Day arrives in the middle of Mental Health month. A coincidence? Maybe. But mothers really do have a profound influence on children’s mental well-being and at the same time are often unfairly blamed for just about every problem behavior children display. Let’s talk. 

At its best, Mother’s Day is an opportunity to reflect on the women who have shaped our lives with love, guidance, and support. However, amidst the flowers and heartfelt cards lies a deeper conversation about the complexities of the mother-child relationship, particularly its impact on mental health.

Mothers, like fathers, play a key role fostering children’s social-emotional development. A nurturing and supportive parent-child relationship with firm limits and boundaries lay the foundation for positive self-worth, resilience and healthy coping strategies. In contrast, frequent maternal criticism and negative interactions are associated with children’s depression and anxiety later in life. In addition, mothers’ well-being impacts co-parents, sibling relationships and the overall family environment. 

At Peace At Home, we believe that frequent criticism and negative interactions with children by mothers or any caregiver is built on problematic internal self-talk or perceptions. What do you tell yourself about your children’s behavior? What are your expectations of yourself and your kids? Where did those expectations and negative interpretations come from? These are serious and necessary reflections that we invite all Peace At Home parents to practice. Ask yourself, are my expectations built on adequate information about my child’s developmental stage? When my child displays challenging behavior, am I able to think about what might be behind that behavior? Can I recognize my child’s unmet needs when they show up as obnoxious talk and actions? 

As we celebrate Mother’s Day and embark on Mental Health Month, let us take a moment to honor the profound influence of maternal figures in our lives. Let us recognize the power of a mother’s love and support in shaping not only our childhood but also our mental well-being as adults. And let us commit to fostering environments where all mothers and children can thrive, free from judgment and filled with compassion.

To all the mothers out there, thank you for your unwavering love, strength, and resilience. Your influence reaches far beyond the confines of a single day or month—it shapes the very fabric of our lives.

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