“Making the case for mothers under siege”

ACCORDING to the results of a British study, mothers are the Chief Instigators of Family Arguments.

Researchers found that in the average family, there are approximately 10 combative episodes a day and mothers are involved in these more often than any other family member. When I read this, my first thought was and last thought still is, no surprises there. I feel compelled, on behalf of all mothers who love their children more than makes sense and whose job is best defined by the principle of service above self, to make a case in their defence.

CASE 1: Mother A had what began as a pleasant chat with her 17-year-old son at 2pm. She was carrying twice her weight in wet washing and he was relaxing in bed. “I had a word with my boss, a couple of days ago, about you getting a summer job in the bar,” she said to him. “He said he’d see what he could do but things are tricky at the moment because of the recession.”