The Myth of the Good Mother

Original artwork by Emily Dooley — Published here with permission

My idea of the good mother began long before I became a mother. The good mother was implied in the toys I played with, the TV shows I watched in the 70s and 80s, and the cultural cues I got from religion, family, and community.

The good mother was kind, patient, and endlessly compassionate. The good mother was happy too and, perhaps more importantly, her children were happy.