Children Quote by Carolyn Heilbrun
““Today women live long into their children's adult lives . . . too little is made of the pleasure we women feel in conversing with our grown children, and in allowing ourselves, from time to time, to think of them as friends. I have been fortunate in having children with whom conversation is possible; the sheerest pleasure here, for me, has been in meeting with them each alone . . . [p. 185]””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Mother‑Daughter Relationship, 1985
The passage celebrates deep, adult friendships between mothers and their grown children, emphasizing the joy of equal, conversational intimacy.
In simple terms: Mothers can be friends with adult children, finding joy in equal conversation.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate friendship with adult children.
Themes
family
friendship
intergenerational dialogue
joy
Mood
warm
nostalgic
Type
advice
reflective
When to use this quote
- family gatherings
- holiday meals
- regular coffee chats
- shared hobbies
Key Concepts
sociology
psychology
gender studies
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you create space for equal conversation with your adult children?
- What barriers exist to viewing them as friends?
A Different Perspective
Cultural expectations may discourage such closeness.
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