Terri Apter

“Difficult mothers are not simply products of their own difficult childhoods. They are products of a culture that devalues motherhood and then infantilizes mothers.”

“The sister relationship is a strong and complex one, a blend of loyalty and rivalry, of love and hate.”

“What a mother feels is not necessarily what a daughter perceives.”

“Shame arises from the fear of contempt, which is the fear of being worthless in the eyes of others.”

“In-laws are the only relatives you choose, and you choose them by choosing your mate.”

“Even a happy family is a minefield of hurts and misunderstandings.”