Blog 62: Mum’s the Word

Hello again! With us celebrating Mother’s Day, I thought it was the perfect time to look at some of the different portrayals of mothers from various stories. There is a bit of a cliché when it comes to this particular character. The quiet, ever-patient, perfect woman.  Her clothes, hair and makeup are immaculate. She has limitless energy, is understanding, nurturing, and, of course, always wears a stunning smile.

There is a societal expectation of mothers to be flawless. As if once they have children, they are turned into a new creature: a Supermum. When in truth, and I know it may come as a shock to a lot of children, mums are just as human as everyone else. I certainly felt cheated after I gave birth to my first child when I realised that no cape had materialised, x-ray vision or super strength! Instead, I was tired, constantly questioning my ability as a new mum and petrified that I would make some terrible mistake that would impact my baby for the rest of her life.

Like any other character, there are lots of variables that can influence how a mother can act and react. Her upbringing, beliefs, who she spends time with, her role models and experiences. We also have to remember how much she may be juggling.  Is she working full-time, is she an older mum who is going through the menopause, does she have health issues, or lack of sleep? Perhaps she is caring for her parents as well as her children. This woman could be on the edge! And what kind of mum is she? Were the children planned and wanted, or could she be a young mum who feels bitter that her life has been invaded? Perhaps she is neglectful and uncaring. Or she could be a full-on mama bear who bears her teeth when her children are threatened. She could be a mixed bag of these things as she goes along her journey. I recall a girl’s mother from my childhood whose daughter was quite a bully. However, she would not have anything said about her precious baby, believing she was a little angel and would verbally challenge anyone who said otherwise.

Mother characters in literature range from nurturing, selfless matriarchs to complex, flawed figures. One of my favourite mum characters is Sarah Connor from The Terminator by Shaun Hutson. Becoming a mother truly transforms her emotionally and physically into a strong woman who will do anything to protect her son. In contrast to this is the more stereotypical Molly Weasley from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, who is warm, protective, and nurturing. And don’t forget the mother, Zinnia Wormwood, in Roald Dahl’s Matilda, who is more interested in herself than either of her children, leaving her young daughter to fend for herself.

Sarah Connor Molly Weasley Zinnia Wormwood

Let’s have a look at some other books where the mum is a main character. I recall reading one quite a few years ago, the title of which I cannot recall, and Google also refuses to pull it out from the depths. It was about a girl who was abused by her mother, and when she eventually left home and became pregnant, she had to work out how to be a good mother to her daughter without mirroring the behaviour she had been subjected to, while trying to cope with the trauma of her childhood.

Tully by Paullina Simons: The nearest thing I can find is this contemporary women's fiction, romance and drama/coming of age. Tully escapes a difficult homelife, becomes pregnant, and struggles to break the cycle of her own traumatic upbringing to be a better mother.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng: A drama exploring the contrasting practices of two different kind of mums: the traditional/conformist parenting of Elena Richardson vs the free spirited Mia Warren. Rifts begin between the two families when the Richardsons decide to adopt a Chinese-American baby and their different parenting techniques clash.

The End We Start From by Megan Hunter: A lyrical dystopian novel about a new mother's survival after an environmental crisis floods London. Slightly different to the norm, written in fragmented, poetic prose, it follows an unnamed narrator, her partner R, and their baby Z as they flee the city to navigate a dangerous, unfamiliar landscape.

Home Front by Kristin Hannah: This emotional, contemporary drama focusing on the impact and strain war places on a marriage and family. When Jolene, a helicopter pilot in the Army Reserve, is deployed, her husband, Michael, must care for their children alone, forcing them to confront their crumbling relationship and the realities of PTSD. 

Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth: A dark comedic horror with supernatural themes, about a woman trying to save her husband from his "soul-sucking" mother, who continues to torture them even after death.

Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews: Categorised as a gothic/horror, this psychological suspense, melodrama, features Corrine Dollanganger, who, due to greed and psychological manipulation, imprisons her children in the attic.

Sundial by Catriona Ward: This psychological horror, thriller and modern gothic novel, explores a deeply disturbing mother-daughter dynamic where a mother fears her daughter is dangerous, leading to a suspenseful game of survival.

The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon: A political thriller and psychological suspense novel which focuses on Eleanor Iselin, a master manipulator who brainwashes her son to be a political assassin.

There you have a few colourful motherly or not so motherly characters to get your teeth into. Or more accurately, your eyes. So whether you want a good read or would like new ideas to flesh out the next mum you write about, these could be what you are looking for.

Catch you next week.