“The Importance of Maternal Care and Love in Childhood”-Part 1

Though my topic is mostly on Maternal love and care, it doesn’t mean that Paternal or father’s love isn’t necessary or isn’t important. Parents(both father and mother), who love children unconditionally, serve as excellent role models. All facets of parental love and care are of vital importance to children's all-round growth. Love expressed in silent, unspoken ways, can have a powerful impact on children's lives. But demonstrating love freely in as many different ways possible can be a powerful elixir in children’s lives. That is possible with a mother and that’s what I would like to focus here.

Nature entrusted the job of bringing up kids primarily to mothers because of their natural intuitive mind and patience. Young kids in their growing age are like saplings, very delicate. Any harsh treatment damages the sapling and retards its proper growth. The kids have to be guided with love and lots of understanding. Little things matter in parenting little kids.

Children need to be assured of parental love; when parents express their love and care in simple ways like with a hug and a kiss, it makes them feel secure. Showing children your genuine love and care in loving heartfelt ways like a pat on the back; a little note or simply by expressing it in words, can create a deep, significant impact on their lives. 

Let us look closely at some of the qualities that children get when they receive genuine love and care:

·         When love is Demonstrated

This is the first vital step. The mother-baby interaction, in the first year especially, it is the very foundation of human emotions and intelligence. Love grows the brain. The capacities for what make us most human – empathy, co-operation, intimacy, the fine timing and sensitivity that makes a human being charismatic, loving, and self-assured – are passed from mother to baby. A child's self-esteem, self-worth and confidence can be bolstered. It can bring in a sense of security. Mothers are more demonstrative than fathers. The mother becomes the child herself in her love for her offspring. The child is not a separate person for the mother, but very much a part of her. And hence she protects, cares and guides the child as she would do to herself. Studies have found that the longer the hours a child stays in day care, the more aggressive, disobedient and difficult the child would become to get along with.

·         When love is Communicated

Words spoken with warmth and affection can equip and emotionally sustain the child to take on the challenges of the day! It can serve as a helpful reminder that you, his parent are your child's closest life-long ally and well-wisher. They have a positive impact on the child's intellectual and emotional development. These are important aids to enhancing the child's future successes. Verbalizing easily comes to a mother.  She is too intuitive, that she recognizes the right moment to say the right words for the child. A mother lives with her heart, which makes it easy to understand her child.

·         When love is Performed as care

Children often find it hard to express their unmet needs to their parents. At times, even older children tend to feel that they do not have all the right words to express their feelings; it is here that mother can step in and help their child to open up to them. Mothers are better listeners and they try to delve into the deeper meaning and causes of any emotion of their child’s. Mothers are more approachable not just for kids but adults alike.

·         When Encouragement is lavished

A mother is able to lavish praise without any shyness. Hearing this, the child is motivated and spurs the child’s efforts and raises his self-esteem and self-confidence. Natural motherly instincts guide the mother in matters of child’s wellbeing.

·         And Above all,  Be there for the child

A mother is capable of crossing the seven seas or climbing the Himalayas to be with her child and will always be there to openly and proudly cheer and applaud every effort her child makes irrespective of the results, letting the child know how important his success is, this helps in strengthening and energizing a mother-child relationship.

            Genuine love and care, is the soul of good parenting. It could be the single-most energizing and motivating force through all the stages of child development and beyond! 

 There is a wise saying, "Kids go where there is excitement; but they stay, where there is love."

The truth is that there is no parenting manual or handbook that has all the solutions to parenting issues.  Parenting is not easy. But a mother is able to connect her intuitiveness, resourcefulness and a loving heart to fulfill one of the most difficult jobs known to man, even during those times when the task becomes too overwhelming – Parenting

I’d like to conclude  with an inspirational story about a MOTHER’S LOVE written by an unknown Author

See you tomorrow.

Meena