---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think watching my mom gave me great…"
description: "\"I think watching my mom gave me great inspiration, I wish that had been reinforced more verbally. It would have kept me from a lot of pain.\" — Viola Davis"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/viola-davis-1174_inspiration_i-think-watching-my-mom-gave-me-great-in_957304.png"
---

#  I think watching my mom gave me great inspiration, I wish…

![“I think watching my mom gave me great inspiration, I wish that had been reinforced more verbally. It would have kept me from a lot of pain.” quote by Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/viola-davis-1174_inspiration_i-think-watching-my-mom-gave-me-great-in_957304.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/viola-davis-1174_inspiration_i-think-watching-my-mom-gave-me-great-in_957304.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/viola-davis-1174_inspiration_i-think-watching-my-mom-gave-me-great-in_957304.png)

> “I think watching my mom gave me great inspiration, I wish that had been reinforced more verbally. It would have kept me from a lot of pain.”

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

## About This Quote

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

Lack of verbal affirmation from a parent can cause lasting emotional pain; recognizing this can inspire healing.

**In simple terms:** Missing praise from mom caused pain; acknowledging it helps heal.

Key Takeaway

Seek supportive affirmation to heal past wounds.

Themes

family healing validation

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

inspirational therapeutic

When to use this quote

- counseling
- parenting
- self‑esteem work

Key Concepts

psychology trauma recovery

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you give yourself the validation you missed?
- What steps can you take to heal?

A Different Perspective

Healing requires more than acknowledgment; action is needed.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Great Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-inspiration-499411/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Inspiration Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration-wish-1747187/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Mom Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom-gave-1747188/) [My mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-mom/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Watching Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watching-mom-658999/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/)

## Related quotes

> [I think a lot of the way that I try to write my stories come from watching my mom write plays and trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmine-sullivan/i-think-a-lot-of-the-way-that-i-try-to-write-my-stories-come-from/)

[Jazmine Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmine-sullivan/)

> [Well, Mom and Dad are both actors, and Ive spent a lot of time watching my mom on stage and a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-tomlinson/well-mom-and-dad-are-both-actors-and-ive-spent-a-lot-of-time-watching/)

[Eleanor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-tomlinson/)

> [She was really strong around me. Having me at 16 had to have been a big responsibility. My mom gave up everything for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/she-was-really-strong-around-me-having-me-at-16-had-to-have-been-a/)

[Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/)

> ['The Joy Luck Club' is not a perfect film. But, I distinctly remember watching it with my mom - and bursting into tears after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-henwick/the-joy-luck-club-is-not-a-perfect-film-but-i-distinctly-remember/)

[Jessica Henwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-henwick/)

> [My first vivid memory is watching Mom in a restaurant kitchen. She was flipping something with a spatula. I tried to copy her and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/my-first-vivid-memory-is-watching-mom-in-a-restaurant-kitchen-she-was/)

[Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/)

> [I grew up watching my mom and my stepdad fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-lewis/i-grew-up-watching-my-mom-and-my-stepdad-fight/)

[Derrick Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-lewis/)

> [I know how to read music, watching my mom and listening to Mom play music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-know-how-to-read-music-watching-my-mom-and-listening-to-mom-play/)

[Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/)

> [I always loved movies, especially watching some of my mom's films when I was younger, like 'Out of Darkness,' where she played a schizophrenic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-ross/i-always-loved-movies-especially-watching-some-of-my-mom-s-films-when/)

[Evan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-ross/)

> [I love watching my mom argue with the GPS on the way home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabelle-fuhrman/i-love-watching-my-mom-argue-with-the-gps-on-the-way-home/)

[Isabelle Fuhrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabelle-fuhrman/)

> [I started cooking from watching my mom. My mother was a really, really great cook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coolio/i-started-cooking-from-watching-my-mom-my-mother-was-a-really-really/)

[Coolio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coolio/)

> [I grew up watching my mom express her love through food, and I followed in her footsteps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorit-kemsley/i-grew-up-watching-my-mom-express-her-love-through-food-and-i/)

[Dorit Kemsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorit-kemsley/)

> [My first memory of a beauty product was watching mom do her makeup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janhvi-kapoor/my-first-memory-of-a-beauty-product-was-watching-mom-do-her-makeup/)

[Janhvi Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janhvi-kapoor/)

> [I grew up watching my mom cook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-bielema/i-grew-up-watching-my-mom-cook/)

[Bret Bielema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-bielema/)

> [Well, Mom and Dad are both actors, and I've spent a lot of time watching my mom on stage and a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-tomlinson/well-mom-and-dad-are-both-actors-and-i-ve-spent-a-lot-of-time/)

[Eleanor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-tomlinson/)

> [“Wow," I heard Mom say, and I turned to her with a smile. "Good luck explaining to God that you used to spank one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/wow-i-heard-mom-say-and-i-turned-to-her-with-a-smile-good-luck/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

## More by Viola Davis

> [I look back at pictures of myself and I remember thinking, "I was so fat when I was growing up. I was 165 pounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-look-back-at-pictures-of-myself-and-i-remember-thinking-i-was-so/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I am not a glam woman - this definitely is a mask I put on for the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-not-a-glam-woman-this-definitely-is-a-mask-i-put-on-for-the/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I was bullied at school. The black girl in Central Falls, Rhode Island, in 1973. There'd be 8 or 10 boys; I would count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-was-bullied-at-school-the-black-girl-in-central-falls-rhode-island/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [That's why there's so much bad acting out there, because you could see actors watching themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-why-there-s-so-much-bad-acting-out-there-because-you-could-see/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I want my work to reflect my level of gifts and talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-want-my-work-to-reflect-my-level-of-gifts-and-talent/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I don’t want anyone putting any limits on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-don-t-want-anyone-putting-any-limits-on-me/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [ I think that's why August \[Wilson\] named her Rose \[in "Fences"\]; I really do. She's a rose in her sweetness and her kindness and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-think-that-s-why-august-wilson-named-her-rose-in-fences-i-really-do/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I suffered from low self-esteem for much of my life. And now to feel like maybe something that I'm projecting or saying could mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-suffered-from-low-self-esteem-for-much-of-my-life-and-now-to-feel/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I tell my daughter every morning, 'Now, what are the two most important parts of you?' And she says, 'My head and my heart.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-tell-my-daughter-every-morning-now-what-are-the-two-most-important/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I started a production company out of necessity, the need for great narratives for actors of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-started-a-production-company-out-of-necessity-the-need-for-great/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [That's always the biggest surprise when people meet me: how buoyant I am and how fun and light I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-always-the-biggest-surprise-when-people-meet-me-how-buoyant-i/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out-2/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [ It was hard, that confrontation scene \[in "Fences"\], that was a hard one. I felt like it was relentless, I never felt like I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/it-was-hard-that-confrontation-scene-in-fences-that-was-a-hard-one-i/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I am addicted to any facial product that's anti-aging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-addicted-to-any-facial-product-that-s-anti-aging/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

[Explore all 279 Viola Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

## More Inspiration quotes

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

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

> [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/)

[Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/)

> [“Success is for a man whose stories of sruggles and chalenges are inspirations to and up coming generation..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-sanaba-c/success-is-for-a-man-whose-stories-of-sruggles-and-chalenges-are/)

[Nelly sanaba .c](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-sanaba-c/)

> [Loving you is the best feeling have ever had, and you loving me is the greater gift I have..I will be brave, I wont…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fash/loving-you-is-the-best-feeling-have-ever-had-and-you-loving-me-is-the/)

[Fash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fash/)

> [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/)

[St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/)

> [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/)

[Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/)

> [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/)

[Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/)

> [I have learned that you can go anywhere you want to go and do anything you want to do and buy all the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c-2/i-have-learned-that-you-can-go-anywhere-you-want-to-go-and-do/)

[C JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c-2/)

> [Every human creates his own problems. Problems are ones private property and we shouldnt meddle into them self-initiatively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/every-human-creates-his-own-problems-problems-are-ones-private/)

[Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/)

> [“Serve in the grace of strength within thy soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/serve-in-the-grace-of-strength-within-thy-soul/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Be proud of who you are &amp; who you represent.You are unique, there is no other exactly like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/be-proud-of-who-you-are-who-you-represent-you-are-unique-there-is-no/)

[Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/)

> [Have a Blast; Life wont last! Make the best of the journey before it is over!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-a-blast-life-wont-last-make-the-best-of-the-journey-before-it-is/)

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

> [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [“Complete - Yourself! Others may only enhance your completeness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lashauna-d-hinton/complete-yourself-others-may-only-enhance-your-completeness/)

[Lashauna D. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lashauna-d-hinton/)

[Browse all 17,129 Inspiration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think watching my mom gave me great inspiration, I wish that had been reinforced more verbally. It would have kept me from a lot of pain.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Viola Davis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-think-watching-my-mom-gave-me-great-inspiration-i-wish-that-had/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Inspiration"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-think-watching-my-mom-gave-me-great-inspiration-i-wish-that-had/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/viola-davis-1174_inspiration_i-think-watching-my-mom-gave-me-great-in_957304.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/viola-davis-1174_inspiration_i-think-watching-my-mom-gave-me-great-in_957304.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/viola-davis-1174_inspiration_i-think-watching-my-mom-gave-me-great-in_957304.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think watching my mom gave me great inspiration, I wish that had been reinforced more verbally. It would…” — Viola Davis",
                "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": "Viola Davis",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think watching my mom gave...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-think-watching-my-mom-gave-me-great-inspiration-i-wish-that-had/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-think-watching-my-mom-gave-me-great-inspiration-i-wish-that-had/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
