response to motherhood readings

I think that the compilation of motherhood readings this week are all quite daring in some way. We tend to view mothers almost as not even humans anymore, they are meant to have unconditional commitment and love for their children. We expect all mothers to be nurturing, even if they are not nurturing as people. As soon as a woman has a child, she is then a mother, and everything in her personality will shift and bend to accommodate the traits needed in a mother. These readings approached motherhood from a completely different angle. Perhaps most importantly, these readings allowed the mother characters to maintain their own identity and personalities as people. The mothers in these readings are honest, selfish, foolish, harsh, cold, and troubled. Although often this meant that the readings were somewhat uncomfortable or disturbing, it is refreshing to read about mothers who are complicated, real people, and not just defined by their motherhood.