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What is certain is that he [the baby] has too much…

“What is certain is that he [the baby] has too much attention from the one person who is entirely at his disposal. The intimacy between mother and child is not sustaining and healthy. The child learns to exploit his mother's accessibility, badgering her with questions and demands which are not of…” quote by Germaine Greer
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““What is certain is that he [the baby] has too much attention from the one person who is entirely at his disposal. The intimacy between mother and child is not sustaining and healthy. The child learns to exploit his mother's accessibility, badgering her with questions and demands which are not of any real consequence to him, embarrassing her in public, blackmailing her into buying sweets and carrying him.””

Germaine Greer

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A mother’s excessive availability can foster a child’s manipulative behavior, undermining healthy independence.

In simple terms: Too much motherly attention breeds entitlement.

Key Takeaway

Encourage balanced independence early.

Themes

parenting boundaries child development family dynamics independence

Mood

concerned reflective

Type

advice psychological

When to use this quote

  • early childhood
  • parent‑child interactions
  • teaching self‑reliance
  • setting limits

Key Concepts

attachment theory psychological dependence behavioral conditioning

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can parents set healthy boundaries without harming attachment?
  • What signs indicate a child is overly dependent?
A Different Perspective

May limit emotional bonding if not handled sensitively.

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