---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: --what's really unique about maternal…"
description: "\"“--what's really unique about maternal anxiety today is our belief that if something goes wrong with or for our children, it's a reflection on us as mo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/judith-warner-28813_anxiety_what-s-really-unique-about-maternal-anxi_1351634.png"
---

#  --what's really unique about maternal anxiety today is our…

![“--what's really unique about maternal anxiety today is our belief that if something goes wrong with or for our children, it's a reflection on us as mothers. Because we believe we should be able to control life so perfectly that we can keep bad things from happening.” quote by Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/judith-warner-28813_anxiety_what-s-really-unique-about-maternal-anxi_1351634.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/judith-warner-28813_anxiety_what-s-really-unique-about-maternal-anxi_1351634.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/judith-warner-28813_anxiety_what-s-really-unique-about-maternal-anxi_1351634.png)

> ““--what's really unique about maternal anxiety today is our belief that if something goes wrong with or for our children, it's a reflection on us as mothers. Because we believe we should be able to control life so perfectly that we can keep bad things from happening.””

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

## About This Quote

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

Maternal anxiety stems from unrealistic expectations of control.

**In simple terms:** Mothers feel pressure to control everything.

Key Takeaway

Accept limits of control in parenting.

Themes

parenthood anxiety control expectations

Mood

empathetic concerned

Type

psychological social

When to use this quote

- parenting advice
- mental health
- social policy
- family dynamics

Key Concepts

psychology social norms

Questions to Reflect On

- How can mothers reframe expectations?
- What support reduces anxiety about uncontrollable events?

A Different Perspective

Control is impossible; anxiety persists despite effort.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Bad thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-thing/) [Bad things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-things/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Judith-warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judith-warner-98456/) [Maternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maternal/) [Maternal Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maternal-anxiety-4427185/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Motherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motherhood/) [Mothers Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mothers-believe-2889070/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Perfectionism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectionism/) [Reflection Mothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflection-mothers-4598673/) [Unique Maternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique-maternal-4598674/)

## Related quotes

> [“When the hour of departure drew near, the maternal anxiety of Mrs Morland will be naturally supposed to be severe... Cautions against the violence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/when-the-hour-of-departure-drew-near-the-maternal-anxiety-of-mrs/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [“Something is missing, and it's something not so easy to name as semiabsent husbands, not so easy to point to as a lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/something-is-missing-and-it-s-something-not-so-easy-to-name-as/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“I realized, listening to the silences that fell sometimes in my interview groups, that there are things that are sayable and unsayable about motherhood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/i-realized-listening-to-the-silences-that-fell-sometimes-in-my/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“Too many of us now allow ourselves to be defined by motherhood and direct every ounce of our energy into our children. This sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/too-many-of-us-now-allow-ourselves-to-be-defined-by-motherhood-and/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“We seem to feel as though the life our children have -- that we have built for them -- is just a delicate house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/we-seem-to-feel-as-though-the-life-our-children-have-that-we-have/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“The Mommy Mystique tells us that we are the luckiest women in the world -- the freest, with the most choices, the broadest horizons,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/the-mommy-mystique-tells-us-that-we-are-the-luckiest-women-in-the/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“The media not only fans our fears, it comforts us in our hubris. Nearly every scare story comes with a Message: You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/the-media-not-only-fans-our-fears-it-comforts-us-in-our-hubris-nearly/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“All these things we do bespeak a terrible anxiety: that our children simply will not be able to make it through life if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/all-these-things-we-do-bespeak-a-terrible-anxiety-that-our-children/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [I am definitely a person who supports mothers. I believe in having children. Maternity leave and all that stuff is super important to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-roy/i-am-definitely-a-person-who-supports-mothers-i-believe-in-having/)

[Rachel Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-roy/)

> [“War is possible because our mothers believe only other women's sons will die”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-nascimento/war-is-possible-because-our-mothers-believe-only-other-women-s-sons/)

[Cesar Nascimento](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-nascimento/)

> [“I know it is hard for you young mothers to believe that almost before you can turn around the children will be gone and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-pay-hinckley/i-know-it-is-hard-for-you-young-mothers-to-believe-that-almost-before/)

[Marjorie Pay Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-pay-hinckley/)

> [Morality measured in centimeters: all mothers believe that only their daughters dance decently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-bergam-n/morality-measured-in-centimeters-all-mothers-believe-that-only-their/)

[Jose Bergamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-bergam-n/)

> [“Mothers, I believe, intoxicate us. We idolize them and take them for granted. We hate them and blame them and exalt them more thoroughly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mayhew-bergman/mothers-i-believe-intoxicate-us-we-idolize-them-and-take-them-for/)

[Megan Mayhew Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mayhew-bergman/)

> [O maternal earth which rocks the fallen leaf to sleep!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/o-maternal-earth-which-rocks-the-fallen-leaf-to-sleep/)

[Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/)

> [Miami Beach - that's where I grew up, in a middle-class Jewish family led by my maternal grandfather. Me, my great-grandmother - a Holocaust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-ratner/miami-beach-that-s-where-i-grew-up-in-a-middle-class-jewish-family/)

[Brett Ratner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-ratner/)

## More by Judith Warner

> [“The Mommy Mystique tells us that we are the luckiest women in the world -- the freest, with the most choices, the broadest horizons,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/the-mommy-mystique-tells-us-that-we-are-the-luckiest-women-in-the/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“We seem to feel as though the life our children have -- that we have built for them -- is just a delicate house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/we-seem-to-feel-as-though-the-life-our-children-have-that-we-have/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“Too many of us now allow ourselves to be defined by motherhood and direct every ounce of our energy into our children. This sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/too-many-of-us-now-allow-ourselves-to-be-defined-by-motherhood-and/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [What kind of choice is it, really, when motherhood forces you into a delicate balancing act -- not just between work and family, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/what-kind-of-choice-is-it-really-when-motherhood-forces-you-into-a/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“Something is missing, and it's something not so easy to name as semiabsent husbands, not so easy to point to as a lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/something-is-missing-and-it-s-something-not-so-easy-to-name-as/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [The American middle class, it seems to me, is looking to politicians now to satisfy a pretty basic - and urgent - level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/the-american-middle-class-it-seems-to-me-is-looking-to-politicians/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“All these things we do bespeak a terrible anxiety: that our children simply will not be able to make it through life if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/all-these-things-we-do-bespeak-a-terrible-anxiety-that-our-children/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“There’s a general sense now that children’s rights, children’s needs, children’s wants and desires have taken on too prominent a place in our family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/there-s-a-general-sense-now-that-children-s-rights-children-s-needs/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“I found that when women were able to act in line with their natural inclinations and ambitions -- whether to work or stay at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/i-found-that-when-women-were-able-to-act-in-line-with-their-natural/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“I realized, listening to the silences that fell sometimes in my interview groups, that there are things that are sayable and unsayable about motherhood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/i-realized-listening-to-the-silences-that-fell-sometimes-in-my/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“I experienced a devastating loss of self...But in the same moment, I also recognized that a profound commitment had taken root inside me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/i-experienced-a-devastating-loss-of-self-but-in-the-same-moment-i/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“If things are better for women there, it is due to a profound and enduring social consensus that life should be made livable based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/if-things-are-better-for-women-there-it-is-due-to-a-profound-and/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“The media not only fans our fears, it comforts us in our hubris. Nearly every scare story comes with a Message: You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/the-media-not-only-fans-our-fears-it-comforts-us-in-our-hubris-nearly/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [Remember: You're not alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/remember-you-re-not-alone/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

> [“For too many women in America are becoming sick with exhaustion and stress as they try to do things that can't be -- shouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/for-too-many-women-in-america-are-becoming-sick-with-exhaustion-and/)

[Judith Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

[Explore all 19 Judith Warner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/)

## More Anxiety quotes

> [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/)

[Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/)

> [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/)

[Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/)

> [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/)

[Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/)

> [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/)

[Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/)

> [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/)

[Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/)

> [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/)

[Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/)

> [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/)

[Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/)

> [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/)

[Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/)

> [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/)

[Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/)

> [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/)

[Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/)

> [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

[Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“--what's really unique about maternal anxiety today is our belief that if something goes wrong with or for our children, it's a reflection on us as mothers. Because we believe we should be able to control life so perfectly that we can keep bad things from happening.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Judith Warner"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/what-s-really-unique-about-maternal-anxiety-today-is-our-belief-that/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anxiety"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/what-s-really-unique-about-maternal-anxiety-today-is-our-belief-that/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/judith-warner-28813_anxiety_what-s-really-unique-about-maternal-anxi_1351634.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/judith-warner-28813_anxiety_what-s-really-unique-about-maternal-anxi_1351634.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/judith-warner-28813_anxiety_what-s-really-unique-about-maternal-anxi_1351634.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“--what's really unique about maternal anxiety today is our belief that if something goes wrong with or for…” — Judith Warner",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Judith Warner",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-warner/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“--what's really unique about maternal anxiety...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/what-s-really-unique-about-maternal-anxiety-today-is-our-belief-that/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-warner/what-s-really-unique-about-maternal-anxiety-today-is-our-belief-that/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
