Early nurturing essential to ability to love
IMFC Release: It is blatantly obvious that without mothers there would be no life on the planet. There would be no civilization. Human beings simply would not exist.
Now, I must acknowledge mothers can't do it alone, but it is the mother who bears the child and traditionally has also provided the necessary child care to ensure its survival. There is an essential value of mothers to all of us.
Yet a distinction should be made between the mother and the act of 'mothering'-- one is a noun, the other, a verb.
Historically and biologically driven, the role of mothering has been, and to a large extent still is, primarily fulfilled by the biological mother. But with changes in family structures and shifts in values and priorities, this role is now often carried out by a variety of mother substitutes such as fathers, grandparents, adoptive, foster, step-parents or paid caregivers.
In Every Child's Birthright: In Defense of Mothering (1977) author Selma Fraiberg writes this: "mothering... is the nurturing of the human potential of every baby to love, to trust and to bind himself to human partnerships in a lifetime of love."
In Every Child's Birthright: In Defense of Mothering (1977) author Selma Fraiberg writes this: "mothering... is the nurturing of the human potential of every baby to love, to trust and to bind himself to human partnerships in a lifetime of love."
Mothering, whoever takes on the responsibility of raising the child, requires a strong and prolonged commitment toward the goal of maximizing human potential. Fraiberg notes the evidence from various sources converges to a consensus that the human capacity to love is formed in infancy and this bond should not only be considered as a “gift” of love to the baby, but a right -- "a birthright for every child."
Unfortunately, the recognition and awareness of the crucial role of mothering in a child's healthy development, and consequently, to future generations, is gradually being eroded. It is often seen as a secondary role in the scheme of our busy lives.
The devaluation of nurturing harms children
According to Fraiberg, "we are seeing a devaluation of parental nurturing and commitment to babies in our society, which may affect the quality and stability of the child's human attachments in ways that cannot yet be predicted."
Fraiberg warned deprivation of a mother or mother substitute will diminish the child's capacity for life, and that the numbers of such children are growing in our society.
One doesn't need to look far to see the truth in her words in today's world. Her cautionary notice is already apparent in the ever-growing numbers of troubled youth and young children as reflected in mental health issues and criminal behaviours.
In 2006, drug-related crimes among young people climbed dramatically compared with 10 years earlier making the rate of drug offences among youth nearly double (an increase of 97 per cent) during that period.
Canada has the ninth-highest rate of bullying in the 13-year-old category on a scale of 35 countries. At least one in three adolescent students in Canada have reported being bullied recently and 47 per cent of Canadian parents report having a child who is a victim of bullying. Most disturbing is any participation in bullying increases the risk of suicidal thoughts in youth.
Time and again, social scientists have emphasized the importance of attachment in the early years to long-term healthy emotional, social and intellectual development. Time and again, they have told us what we can do to maximize the well-being of children. Yet, time and again, we turn a blind eye or a deaf ear.
The role of mothering continues to be eroded when it is, in fact, the most important contribution to society that can be made.
Fraiberg's words are as true today as they were in her time. The basic needs of children have not changed -- our values have. Our priorities have been rearranged as advertisers shape our wants into needs.
We did not invent childhood. We are only discovering what has likely existed since the beginning of time. As Doris Lessing pointed out in the CBC Massey Lectures, "... what we have, we take for granted. What we are used to, we cease to value."
The contradiction lies in the fact that, while we rightly honour our mothers annually on Mother's Day, at the same time we devalue their role. We have only one childhood and it provides the only opportunity to give our children the legacy by which they can change the future.
As Lloyd deMause says, "... the psychic structure of childhood must always be passed from generation to generation through the narrow funnel of childhood."
Mothering is a labour of love, and an investment, not only for the next generation, but for the future of civilization.
Libby Simon, RSW, MSW, worked in child welfare services for several years prior to joining the Child Guidance Clinic in Winnipeg as a School Social Worker for 20 years, from which she evolved as a freelance writer. Her works have appeared in Canada and U.S. in a variety of periodicals, such as Canadian Living, Winnipeg Free Press and OISE.
A version of this was published in the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 10, 2014, A17
Permission granted to reprint in full with attribution to the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada
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