The longer I live the more I become convinced that we humans never outgrow our need for a mother.
Daddies, do not get me wrong, here. You are vitally important, too. That is why God made the requirement that it takes both a man's and a woman's contribution to create life. Fathers' roles cannot be understated nor underestimated, but the role of a mother might be in a slightly different category.
"Where does this undocumented and un-researched observation come from?" you may ask.
Working with larger groups of people and my own experience.
Before you leave me and my train of thought, allow me to explain.
From the perspective of working with groups, I am convinced that both men and women need/enjoy/crave some sort of mothering. Not smothering, not nagging, not hovering - just some "mother-henning", if you will. And, no, most men do not want or need mothering. But as co-ed and single-gender groups go, perhaps nurturing is a better term, although I do believe that nurturing is closely aligned with mothering.
Doesn't almost everyone, from somewhere deep inside our souls and psyches, respond to the warm feeling that arises when we realize that someone else cares for us? The psychology of a group is not immune from needing to feel wanted and appreciated and isn't that one of the traits of mothering? (Fathering, too!) Think about where the term "mother hen" comes from. The instinct of a mother hen, goose, duck, loon, other water fowl, etc. to tuck her young ones under her wings to protect them from danger, the elements, or predators.
From a personal perspective, I am discovering that I am not too old to miss my mother, as evidenced recently after a particularly long string of rough days, when I informed poor Capt. SO that I really wanted my mother and Max, neither of which are available any more for comforting moi. This recent remark was not my first "I-miss-my-mother!" wail nor will it probably be my last but it did make me sit up and take notice of the strong feeling that comes from missing one's mother.
So, what did I just say? That mothering is a naturally occurring human need, regardless of gender, number or age AND that having a dog or a puppy can be a suitable substitute for missing one's mother.
Yes, I just said it and I mean it. I believe I've mentioned this before.
Ancora imparo
