mothers have a profound influence
on the mental stability and emotional ability
of their children to thrive or merely survive
they can nurture and coax
boost and boast
or shred their child to threads
self worth hangs on her approval
crumbles violently at disapproval
most feed and cloth their kids
her subliminal messages bids
whether they bloom
or wilt and wither
reflect on her impact
felt enough or lacked
each child subjected
none left unaffected
favoured or unsavoured
know well what impacted you
will you parent with that hue
or level that field
sensibility revealed
mothers set the tone
awesomeness or blown
each action or inaction
causes reactions
empowered or soured
promoted or demoted
bemused or confused
bolstered or blistered
enabled or disabled
at ease or appeased
happy or hated
elated or slated
helped or harmed
fulfilled or fuelled
open or awkward
silent or subdued
kind or cruel
how will your children mature?
inspired by a character in the book I’m currently reading
… she’s still trying to prove herself!
aroused 
This is awesome! Exactly the message I am working on right now in my own work! The cycle of dysfunction is generational and can be very damaging to children and then their children and so on. Having learned from my own experience, I’m myself on a mission to break that dysfunctional cycle and reparent myself first. My son is only 2 and a half now and I am pregnant with my second (girl) so I’m glad I discovered generational patterns early in my motherhood:).
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Thank you for sharing!
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Who knows how they will mature? Much of it is up to them…
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but the family lays the basis …
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They lay it, but it isn’t necessarily followed
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So true, Kate. My mom is great and I hope one day my kids would say the same about me.
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So beautifully written Kate, poignant 😊
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Very much the child is affected by the words or actions of his or her mother. I always try to teach my sister in law to mind her words and actions when she is around my niece. Time when ascends changes the beauty of the relationship if the words are harsh. I have recently watched many Korean series depicting the antagonist to have been affected by his mothers behaviour.
Right words.
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Motherhood is such a huge gift and also a huge responsibility. And as your poem so eloquently points out, it deserves that we give our very best!
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I am so glad that you elevated “motherhood” kate..it seemed though that lately i always came accross prose and poetry about painful and destructive relationships between mothers and children…this poem made me so happy as a mom and as someone who was raised by a really wonderful woman.
My mother is really amazing.
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Reblogged this on B +Ve!!.
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Wonderful poem, Kate. Coincidentally today is mother’s day in Norway 🙂
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Great poem, Kate and so true. I’d love to know which book you are reading that inspired it.
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AMEN.
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I am so grateful for the good moms in the world. And grateful for those women who are not moms, but who give love, model amazing life skills, “adopt” others to be a positive person in their lives, etc. I’ve met many of these women. 🙂
Powerful poem, SweetKate! And the photo is interesting.
(((HUGS))) 🙂
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Yes what I’am today credits goes to almighty and my parents..
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I think my mother did her best and I admire her courage to keep going through a lot of difficulty. I got that from her and I am now doing my best, trying to learn from what I lacked. My kids are good humans and might also have to work through where I have been limited – I share that with them honestly and humbly. Your poem is beautiful and aptly conveys how much a mother impacts little human lives growing into people.
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I bet they appreciate that you have such discussions with them, that is so important … and I bet they have good hearts!
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You have shown the awesome responsibility of motherhood. Some of the blogs I read are based on the destructive influences when they were children. It is so sad and unnecessary, but it still is happening. You have raised the awareness to a new level with this poem.
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sadly it happens all too often Dwight, they need more support and understanding as it’s difficult to rise above such oppression 😦
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So much sad truth here, Kate. There are a lot of great moms, but I’ve known some really crappy ones as well. It’s ashamed, really. The silver lining is: the not-so-great ones give us the opportunity to learn unconditional love and forgiveness. 🌞
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Yes, a true reflection of how our earliest relationships and environment can impact one’s self-worth as they go through their early years of development and growth.
It’s amazing how the things we engage with in all forms bring to light such inspired reflections on various aspects of life.❤️
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So much truth! I was lucky that my mother (and father) were both supportive. There was discipline but we always knew we were loved and cared for. With my own children I made sure that I encouraged their talents and praised their achievements. I made my parents proud and my sons have made me proud. Life is good! But I am keenly aware of those who did not receive the same nurturing I did. For the ones without a positive upbringing I applaud all their efforts to overcome the obstacles that their childhood created….
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I like your poem, Kate: a rflection in verses about the art to be a good mother.
Love ❤
Michel
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wow, powerful and profound. My mother has always been elevating and wanting me to be the best I can be – and for that I will always be grateful. As I see the opposite in other mothers, who don’t bother at all and then the children grow up to be mini – monsters.
To be a parent is huge responsibility. Which can go either way.
great photo
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You are absolutely right, Kate. A true poem written on what a Mother is all about to her children. She can be a bad mother or a very noble mother too all depending on how she was nurtured by her mother. I have loved both my children for who they are and have never differentiated between them. Thanks a lot, Kate.
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Yes I was her only child and she had her ups and downs cause she left my dad when I was nine but we were both taken care of by her mother and we were safe and secure in a big family in those days.
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glad to know you both had that family support, it must have most difficult in those days!
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Yes Kate it sure was for my mom and she also kept me in boarding school and with God’s blessings and grace I got a great job in a multi oil company and then everything changed for the better too. And then marriage and children and that is how life moved on. But my grandmother was a pillar of strength to both my mom and me. Hope all was good with you Kate from childhood.
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I think we all do Kate that is our human life in all its ups and downs 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
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From the lessons I have learned; those negative ones not to repeat – I am thankful my own have bloomed.
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I know of a few people whose confidence has been shattered by too harsh parents.
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My problem as a mother has always been loving myself enough to be a good example to my children: I played the martyr for so many years and now I fear the pendulum may have swung to far the other way! Motherhood is a difficult craft to master but I think love is the key! Thought-provoking writing Kate 😊
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This is so very wonderful 🙂
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Your reflections on the impact mothers have on their children’s lives are real. There may be a mother who cuts her wings, denies anything the baby will do, but she can add wings when she supports, shows her dreams, lets her go her own way, and takes pride in her achievements. A mother’s love for her children should be wise, not possessive.
Thank you for the interesting poem.
greetings
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