The groundbreaking guide to self-healing and getting the love you missed “Years ago, I was on vacation and read The Emotionally Absent Mother. That book was one of many that woke me up. . . . I began the process of reparenting and it’s changed my life.”—Dr. Nicole LePera, New York Times–bestselling author of How to Do the Work Was your mother preoccupied, distant, or even demeaning? Have you struggled with relationships—or with your own self-worth? Often, the grown children of emotionally absent mothers can’t quite put a finger on what’s missing from their lives. The children of abusive mothers, by contrast, may recognize the abuse—but overlook its lasting, harmful effects. Psychotherapist Jasmin Lee Cori has helped thousands of men and women heal the hidden wounds left by every kind of undermothering. In this second edition of her pioneering book, with compassion for mother and child alike, she explains: Possible reasons your mother was distracted or hurtful—and what she was unable to give The lasting impact of childhood emotional neglect and abuse How to find the child inside you and fill the “mother gap” through reflections and exercises How to secure a happier future for yourself (and perhaps for your children).

Missing, dead, disappeared, or otherwise absent mothers haunt us and the stories we tell ourselves. Our literature, from fairytales like Cinderella and The Little Mermaid to popular narratives like Cheryl Strayed's recent book Wild, is peopled with motherless children. The absent mother, whether in literature or life, may force us to forge an independent identity. But she can also leave a mother-shaped hole and a howling loneliness that dogs us through our adult lives. This anthology explores the theme of absent mothers from scholars and creative writers, who tell personal stories and provide the theoretical framework to recognize and begin to understand the impact of motherlessness that ripples through our cultures and our art.

Gustafson provides a comprehensive overview of Lessing's comments on the structure and purpose of the domestic tragedy within the context of his Laokoon essay, demonstrating that the fundamental psychic-deep structures informing his aesthetic and dramatic production are male narcissism and the abjection of the woman/the mother. As opposed to earlier studies of gender/generic questions in Lessing's dramas, this analysis explicates the theoretical basis for the rigid codification of gender which informs Lessing's fictional symbolic order.

This anthology explores the recurring trope of the dead or absent mother in Western cultural productions. Across historical periods and genres, this dialogue has been employed to articulate and debate questions of politics and religion, social and cultural change as well as issues of power and authority within the family. Åström seeks to investigate the many functions and meanings of the dialogue by covering extensive material from the 1200s to 2014 including hagiography, romances, folktales, plays, novels, children’s literature and graphic novels, as well as film and television. This is achieved by looking at the discourse both as products of the time and culture that produced the various narratives, and as part of an on-going cultural conversation that spans the centuries, resulting in an innovative text that will be of great interest to all scholars of gender, feminist and media studies.

Did your mother’s love always feel out of reach, conditional, or absent? Have the wounds of being emotionally neglected by the person who should have nurtured you left lasting scars? Are you searching for a way to understand, heal, and finally reclaim your sense of worth? Growing up with an emotionally absent mother is a profound and isolating experience, often leaving adult children feeling invisible, unlovable, or like they never measured up. You may find yourself grappling with self-doubt, anxiety, and strained relationships, all while struggling to give yourself the compassion your childhood lacked. Mothers can be emotionally distant for many reasons: unresolved trauma, cultural pressures, depression, perfectionism, or being overwhelmed by life’s demands. Perhaps your mother seemed preoccupied, cold, or incapable of meeting your emotional needs. She may have been physically present but disconnected, unable to express affection or interest, leaving you with an enduring sense of emptiness. If you recognize these signs in your mother, this book is for you: - Her affection felt conditional, based on your achievements or behavior. - She kept you at a distance, or her love felt transactional. - Your emotions were dismissed, minimized, or never acknowledged. - She rarely expressed pride in or delight about who you are. - Her mood was unpredictable, making you hyper-vigilant to avoid conflict. - She prioritized appearances over genuine connection, often more invested in her image than your well-being. - Conversations were one-sided, dominated by her struggles or needs. - You often walked on eggshells, trying to avoid her judgment or disapproval. - She had her own emotional struggles that overshadowed your needs. These behaviors, and more, shape how you perceive yourself and others. The damage can be subtle yet all-encompassing, affecting your ability to trust, express emotions, or feel deserving of love and acceptance. Perhaps you: - Feel burdened by guilt and unworthiness, questioning your own value. - Struggle with a pervasive sense of rejection, constantly fearing abandonment. - Battle perfectionism or people-pleasing as you yearn for validation. - Experience emotional numbness, having disconnected from your own feelings to cope. - Find yourself drawn to relationships that echo your childhood pain. But there is hope. This book offers compassionate guidance to help you recognize and heal these invisible wounds. Inside, you’ll discover practical strategies to break free from destructive patterns, cultivate self-worth, and transform the legacy of emotional absence into one of resilience and emotional presence. You deserve healing, love, and a future free from the shadows of your past. This book will walk with you as you reclaim your self-worth, build fulfilling relationships, and discover the peace and wholeness that have always been within reach.

In this sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, author Lindsay Gibson offers powerful tools to help you step back and protect yourself at the first sign of an emotional takeover, make sure your emotions and needs are respected, and break free from the coercive control of emotionally immature parents. Growing up with emotionally immature (EI) parents can leave you feeling lonely and neglected. You may have trouble setting limits and expressing your feelings. And you may even be more susceptible to other emotionally immature people as you establish adult relationships. In addition, as your parents become older, they may still treat your emotions with mockery and contempt, be dismissive and discounting of your reality, and try to control and diminish your sense of emotional autonomy and freedom of thought. In short, EIs can be self-absorbed, inconsistent, and contradictory. So, how can you recover from their toxic behavior? Drawing on the success of her popular self-help book, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, author Lindsay Gibson offers yet another essential resource. With this follow-up guide, you’ll learn practical skills to help you recognize the signs of an EI, protect yourself against an emotional takeover, reconnect with your own emotions and needs, and gain emotional autonomy in all your relationships. This is a how-to book, with doable exercises and active tips and suggestions for what to say and do to increase emotional autonomy and self-awareness. If you’re ready to stop putting your own needs last, clear the clutter of self-doubt, and move beyond the fear of judgment and punishment that’s been instilled in you by emotionally immature parents, this book will help you find the freedom to finally live your life your way.

"The Emotionally Absent Mother"" is a practical guide to understanding and working out the pain of being emotionally abandoned as a child. Insightful explanations offer new perspectives on old problems. The exercises in the book can direct you through your emotional numbness or distress and into a brighter future. The book describes how the trauma of emotional abuse can get started. It lists and describes the symptoms of emotional abandonment. In later chapters, the book tells you what to do about it now that you are an adult and offers not only hope, but a method to reach the goals of becoming emotionally connected with others in a healthier way and becoming freer and more independent. It belongs on the "to-be-read" list of adults who still suffers the pain of being an emotionally abandoned child, as well as those who care about them. Here Is A Preview Of What You'll learn: What exactly is an Emotionally Absent Mother? Describes the symptoms of emotional abandonment. Recognize Why Your Mother Was Emotionally Absent. How to Forgive Your Mother and Forgive Yourself How to Face Feelings of Anger, Resentment and Hurt How to Separate Past Emotions from Your Current Situation Much, much more.