--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My mum has never wanted me to have…" description: "\"My mum has never wanted me to have children. She thinks I would be destroying my life, even now.\" — Tracey Emin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/tracey-emin-6953_children_my-mum-has-never-wanted-me-to-have-child_3016172.jpg" --- # My mum has never wanted me to have children. She thinks I… ![“My mum has never wanted me to have children. She thinks I would be destroying my life, even now.” quote by Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/tracey-emin-6953_children_my-mum-has-never-wanted-me-to-have-child_3016172.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/tracey-emin-6953_children_my-mum-has-never-wanted-me-to-have-child_3016172.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/tracey-emin-6953_children_my-mum-has-never-wanted-me-to-have-child_3016172.jpg) > “My mum has never wanted me to have children. She thinks I would be destroying my life, even now.” [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) ## 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 opposition to children reflects personal fears about life disruption and self‑sacrifice. **In simple terms:** Mother fears children will disrupt life. Key Takeaway Consider personal motivations. Themes family fear parenthood autonomy identity Mood empathetic reflective Type psychological philosophical When to use this quote - family planning - career decisions - mental health counseling Key Concepts Psychology sociology personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - What fears underlie her stance? - How can she reconcile desire and concern? A Different Perspective Opposition may stem from deeper trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mum/) ## Related quotes > [I think my mum wanted me to join the army or something, or become a surveyor - something with good career prospects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/i-think-my-mum-wanted-me-to-join-the-army-or-something-or-become-a/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [My mum wanted me to go to university.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/my-mum-wanted-me-to-go-to-university/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [Teach yourself that there is no such thing as perfection and that your never-ending pursuit of it is destroying your life and your relationships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/teach-yourself-that-there-is-no-such-thing-as-perfection-and-that/) Senoraroy > [I see neither bravery nor sacrifice in destroying life or property, for offense or defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-see-neither-bravery-nor-sacrifice-in-destroying-life-or-property/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [My mum always wanted me to have a career. Now she says that I've gone and got myself the best one in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bugzy-malone/my-mum-always-wanted-me-to-have-a-career-now-she-says-that-i-ve-gone/) [Bugzy Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bugzy-malone/) > [My mum very much wanted me to go into the theatre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/my-mum-very-much-wanted-me-to-go-into-the-theatre/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [My mum wanted me to be a doctor because she worked in nursing. So she was quite disappointed when I came back from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/my-mum-wanted-me-to-be-a-doctor-because-she-worked-in-nursing-so-she/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [Do good for all your life,you 'll earn nothing like becoming an imortal. You will also die like other's do. But even doing bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacent-nakato/do-good-for-all-your-life-you-ll-earn-nothing-like-becoming-an/) [Jacent Nakato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacent-nakato/) > [Life is beautiful, as long as it consumes you. When it is rushing through you, destroying you, life is gorgeous, glorious. It's when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/life-is-beautiful-as-long-as-it-consumes-you-when-it-is-rushing-2/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [The sheer folly of trying to defend a nation by destroying all life on the planet must be apparent to anyone capable of rational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-noor-of-jordan/the-sheer-folly-of-trying-to-defend-a-nation-by-destroying-all-life/) [Queen Noor of Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-noor-of-jordan/) > [Life is beautiful, as long as it consumes you. When it is rushing through you, destroying you, life is gorgeous, glorious. Its when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-beautiful-as-long-as-it-consumes-you-when-it-is-rushing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I was too busy destroying my life to bother with a minor detail like contractual obligation. I had veins to blow. A child to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-stahl/i-was-too-busy-destroying-my-life-to-bother-with-a-minor-detail-like/) [Jerry Stahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-stahl/) > [Being the house ethnic was destroying my life and my sense of myself, because I had been consigned to play every dusky maiden you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/being-the-house-ethnic-was-destroying-my-life-and-my-sense-of-myself/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [“In driving, one assumes the danger of destroying life, beginning with one’s own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-t-kelly/in-driving-one-assumes-the-danger-of-destroying-life-beginning-with/) Richard T. Kelly > [It wasn't so much destroying my dancing, it was destroying me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/it-wasn-t-so-much-destroying-my-dancing-it-was-destroying-me/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) ## More by Tracey Emin > [Someone else who liked what I did might turn around and say, "She's reworking and rethinking everything. She could just be making blankets now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/someone-else-who-liked-what-i-did-might-turn-around-and-say-she-s/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I know people went to laugh at my bed and to jeer at it. Still, at least they actually went to see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-know-people-went-to-laugh-at-my-bed-and-to-jeer-at-it-still-at/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [People don't remember. Revenge is sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/people-don-t-remember-revenge-is-sweet/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I'm a terrible cook, but if I could cook, I would see that in art as well, it's how much creative energy you put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-m-a-terrible-cook-but-if-i-could-cook-i-would-see-that-in-art-as/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [For me, being an artist with a high profile is a good thing for art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/for-me-being-an-artist-with-a-high-profile-is-a-good-thing-for-art/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [When you don't have children you have to define and make your own purpose, and make your own reason for being here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/when-you-don-t-have-children-you-have-to-define-and-make-your-own/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I really love animals. My cat is my little soul mate. He's not just a cat, he's my friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-really-love-animals-my-cat-is-my-little-soul-mate-he-s-not-just-a/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [It wasn't so much destroying my dancing, it was destroying me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/it-wasn-t-so-much-destroying-my-dancing-it-was-destroying-me/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [The reason why I'm popular as an artist in this country is because it suits the psyche of the nation at this time. Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/the-reason-why-i-m-popular-as-an-artist-in-this-country-is-because-it/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [Most people don't do something seminal. I've done it twice: with my tent and my bed. Picasso did it with Cubism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/most-people-don-t-do-something-seminal-i-ve-done-it-twice-with-my/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I found that life has to be edited to continue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-found-that-life-has-to-be-edited-to-continue/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“DON'T BE AFRAID TO TAKE THE PAST HEAD ON.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/don-t-be-afraid-to-take-the-past-head-on/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“I don’t believe in love, but I believe in you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-don-t-believe-in-love-but-i-believe-in-you/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [When it comes to words I have a uniqueness that I find almost impossible in art – and it's my words that actually make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/when-it-comes-to-words-i-have-a-uniqueness-that-i-find-almost/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“He pulled my skirt up. I began to worry. Everyone knew he had broken in girls before and I didn't want it to happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/he-pulled-my-skirt-up-i-began-to-worry-everyone-knew-he-had-broken-in/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) [Explore all 96 Tracey Emin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My mum has never wanted me to have children. She thinks I would be destroying my life, even now.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tracey Emin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/my-mum-has-never-wanted-me-to-have-children-she-thinks-i-would-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/my-mum-has-never-wanted-me-to-have-children-she-thinks-i-would-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/tracey-emin-6953_children_my-mum-has-never-wanted-me-to-have-child_3016172.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/tracey-emin-6953_children_my-mum-has-never-wanted-me-to-have-child_3016172.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/tracey-emin-6953_children_my-mum-has-never-wanted-me-to-have-child_3016172.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My mum has never wanted me to have children. She thinks I would be destroying my life, even now.” — Tracey Emin", "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": "Tracey Emin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My mum has never wanted me...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/my-mum-has-never-wanted-me-to-have-children-she-thinks-i-would-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/my-mum-has-never-wanted-me-to-have-children-she-thinks-i-would-be/#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 } } ] } ```