Understanding the Mother Identity: Changing Meanings During Middle Childhood

For decades, scholars have stressed the importance of counsellors understanding the mother identity in more depth. Yet, little academic attention has been paid to the mother's experience and identity during middle childhood, a significant period of transition for children which inevitably impacts on a mother. To gain insight into the identity and experiences of mothers in middle childhood, fifteen mothers of two or more children aged between 5 and 12 years old participated in semi-structured interviews and follow-up responses. Data analysis closely aligned with constructivist grounded theory resulted in the construction of the category, evolving into a different mother, which included three subcategories: (1) shaping children's present and adult selves; (2) dealing with a child's expanding social world; (3) changing worries and concerns. Understood through the lens of identity theory, specifically the meanings of ‘teacher’, ‘nurturer’ and ‘negative emotions’, this research found significant change within the mother identity during middle childhood, change caused by shifting interactions with one's children, and the influence of culture and society. Implications for professionals interacting with mothers in mental health and educational settings are discussed.