Dr Colman Noctor: A mother doesn't have to be a perfect parent, just a 'good enough' one

Mothers play a pivotal role in our lives, we need to thank them for their unwavering support and love 

The key to being a good enough mother begins with being authentic. Picture: iStock

This is the first time I've written exclusively about the role of mothers. Maybe this is because as a man, there has always been a sense of trepidation about the possible ‘what would you know?’ response, often with the ‘you haven’t given birth’ argument making any challenge hard to counter. But, as a son, a brother, a dad and a child psychotherapist, I am acutely aware of the importance of the role of mothers in family life. 

In my Asking for a Parent podcast,  I have had the privilege of speaking to well-known Irish people about their experience of growing up and being parented. Over the course of these interviews, I have been struck by the central role each interviewee’s mother has played in their lives. Whether this is a positive or complicated relationship, the level of influence was undeniable.