#Mother-Daughter Relationship

[bluejaysandblackbats]

the mother i know

Fandom: DC Comics, Arrowfam

Summary: Roy leaves Lian with Jade for a few weeks while he follows up on a lead for the perfect Mother's Day gift for Jade. What starts as a quest for confirmation, becomes a complicated family situation, and a worrisome reunion.

Jade spends quality time with Lian, but she fears that Roy's hiding something.

Chapters: 1/?

Characters: Roy Harper, Jade Nguyen, Lian Harper, Tommy Blake Jr.

Relationships: CheshRoy

Additional Tags: Complicated Relationships, Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Mother-Daughter Relationship, Accidental Bonding, Multiple POV, Reunion

Chapter One: Mother's Day (Roy's POV)

I’m notorious for not getting the best gifts. I don’t expect extravagant gifts, so I don’t know much about getting them… And it’s not like Jade asked for anything at all. But, she deserved something special. It was Mother’s Day, and I owed her something unforgettable. It was our first Mother’s Day after getting Lian back. I had a month and a half to think about it, and I pored over everything she ever told me, every argument we ever had, and everything she ever fondly mentioned. I couldn’t believe how well I remembered her in my mind. I realized I made a mistake with how I dealt with her and Lian. And without thinking I caused some undue hurt thinking I was doing the right thing. I think we both made mistakes in how we dealt with Lian at first, but I took Lian away. I took control, and I should’ve respected that Jade was just as capable as I was. She did it alone before I got there, but I didn’t respect that. I think everything happened so fast and emotions ran so high, that I didn’t consider her. 

So, I wanted to do something special for her to make up for it. I wanted to give her an unforgettable gift. No strings attached. I just wanted to give her a gift that made everything we’ve been through feel… I don’t know. Maybe I just wanted to see her to know how much she still meant to me. And somehow, that led me to do something as impulsive as it was stupid. It was a long shot based on a hunch, but I had to look into it for her sake. There was no harm in checking. If I was right, I’d have great news for Jade by Mother’s Day. If I was wrong, no one would have to know.

The only problem was keeping it a secret from Lian. I didn’t want to get her hopes up. Obviously, I couldn’t take her with me, so I left her with Jade. Besides, they needed that time together anyway. I think Lian secretly wanted an excuse to spend time with her mom long-term. So, I was shocked to receive a call from her when I checked into the hotel. “What’s up?” I questioned. 

“Why won’t you tell me what you’re getting Mom?” Lian questioned. 

I smelled my shirt and looked in the mirror at the back of the door. “Because you’d give it away,” I replied, “And I want you to be just as surprised as she is…” I threw a file down on the bed before untying my boots and laying back. 

“Are you tired?” Lian asked. Her voice was soft. 

“A little bit, but it’s good to hear your voice. What’d you eat today?” I asked. 

Lian made a soft noise over the phone while she tried to remember what she had eaten. “A smoothie bowl with graham crackers… Then, I made a grilled cheese sandwich, and Mom made tuna so we ate half of each. Now, Mom’s making fettuccine for dinner,” Lian replied. 

“Mmm… Fettuccine. Sounds good right now,” I smiled.

“Did you eat? It’s gotta be dinnertime wherever you are,” Lian pried. 

I chuckled. “I can’t disclose that kind of information, Pumpkin. But I haven’t eaten yet. Would I be a copycat if I ate pasta, too?” I asked. 

“Copycat? I thought we were above cat puns, Dad,” Lian sighed. I knew she secretly thought they were funny but that one was completely unintended. “Dad? Do you have to go?” 

“Not yet… No, I can stay on the phone for a little while longer,” I answered. 

“Do you wanna talk to Mom?” Lian asked. I know she wanted Jade and I to get back together, but I didn’t want to push things. If it was going to happen, it’d just happen. 

I hesitated. “Yeah, I can talk to her. But first, I wanna say I love you very much,” I whispered. 

“I love you too, Dad,” Lian whispered in reply. 

“Do you need my help with something?” Jade teased. 

I chuckled. I know she would’ve preferred to hear me beg for her help, but I didn’t want or need it this time. This was for her… And I had to do it by myself if I wanted it to mean anything. “Nope. Having fun?” I questioned. 

“I am. Thanks for this,” Jade replied. Her voice sounded softer, and she was so genuine. So sweet. It sounded like the Jade I fell in love with. She had her moments. Vulnerable. Gentle. Maybe I spoiled that… But I was starting to see her smooth out around the edges again. I think I wanted that more than her love. I just wanted her to be herself with me again. Her full self. “You’re quiet… What’s on your mind?”

“It’s nothing. I just—. I just wanna listen to you talk. How was your day?” I replied.

Jade sighed, but it was the kind of pleasant sigh a person gives when they have nothing but good things to say. “It was great… We went to the gym and there was this new smoothie bowl place she wanted to try out. Oh, and we got matching T-shirts. I’m still cool enough for her to match outfits with me,” Jade answered. “You’re not usually one to ask about my day. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine… I’ve just been thinking a lot—.”

“You must be exhausted,” Jade teased.

“Cute. Real cute,” I replied. I think I missed that part of us. I miss the parts before the hurt. I can’t undo it, but I can—. I don’t know if I can fix it. I want to. 

“Are you sure you’re good? Lian and I could come there if you—.”

“No, no. I’m good. I’ve just been thinking about you. I think things need to change soon,” I interrupted. 

“You can’t—.” 

“Not like that. I want you to have her more… You need each other. I was scared when I first found out about her, and we were both—. We can work out the details privately later on, but I wanna do the right thing by Lian. She should be with you more… If that’s what you want,” I suggested. I couldn’t believe the words came out of my mouth so easily. I don’t know if I wanted to say that exactly, but it was out of my hands. 

She laughed, but it sounded sad. “Um… Yeah. Yeah, I’d love that. We’ll talk when you get back, and I wanna talk about something else, too,” Jade whispered, “But I’ll let you do what you’ve got to do right now. Take care of yourself.” 

“You too,” I mumbled as I hung up the phone. I don’t know why it scared me so much to talk to her about Lian. I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to split time more evenly between us. Maybe it’d turn out perfectly and we’d slowly become the family we should’ve been… Or… It’d backfire terribly, and they’d both end up resenting me. I had to take that chance for Lian and Jade’s sake, though… Didn’t I?

**

I fell asleep reading the file. I had a lot of time to think in that hotel room about how I’d go about things. I couldn’t just take him. I mean, I could. They didn’t legally adopt him. They just sort of received him from some questionable people out to hurt Jade. I didn’t even know what kind of people they were. It was a sensitive situation, and I wanted advice, but I didn’t want to involve anyone. I couldn’t sleep for long. The stress of figuring out how to go about this made me feel kind of sick. 

The address was a nice gated community in Iowa. I took a jog at their park, ran the trail around the back of their house, and walked past the private school during kindergarten recess. If the tip was correct, he would’ve been in the afternoon class. I crossed the street and stopped to tie my shoes while I glanced across to the gate, watching the kids’ faces. I didn’t see any kid that really stood out to me. It’s not like I expected things to happen all at once… But the anticipation was different for something like this. I spent a month trying to get a lead on him and nothing would’ve been more satisfying than being able to take him home to Jade. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I knew I wasn’t, but I wanted this for Jade so badly. If I could do this one thing for her, I think I’d feel okay.

[miss-m-calling]

How can I teach her [my daughter] some way of being human that won't destroy her? I would like to tell her. Love is enough, I would like to say, Find shelter in another skin. I would like to say, Dance and be happy. Instead I will say in my crone's voice, Be ruthless when you have to, tell the truth when you can, when you can see it.

Margaret Atwood, “Solstice Poem”

[ddollfface]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫

When the love of a mother is challenged by a man intrigued by her daughter, looking for the maiden's hand in marriage. What will she do? Will she accept this older man's request for unity between the two? Or will she spiral into a storm fueled by protective, borderline obsessive, love for her daughter?

𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐭 (𝟎.𝟏)

Trigger Warnings; depictions of violence, insinuating domestic abuse, borderline panic attack, insinuating child marriage, bad writing, unrealistic expectations being placed on a girl.

𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐭 (𝟎.𝟐)

Trigger Warnings; bad writing, abusive relationship, murder, poorly written gore, description of dead body, desperate mother, descriptive of pain and discomfort, abusive husband.

[therhetoricofmagic]

Book Review | Mothers Who Can't Love by Susan Forward

“Mothers Who Can’t Love” by Susan Forward is a comprehensive exploration of the complex and often painful relationship between mothers and daughters. The book delves into the psychological dynamics at play when mothers struggle to love their daughters, providing a deep understanding of the various types of maternal neglect, abuse, and emotional unavailability that can impact a child’s emotional…

[jeshaisabookworm]

Spencer Sisters There is Something Missing | TV Landscape

I’ve spoken about the new show Spencer Sister in the past. I said I was interested and excited for a female lead detective show that will be humorous. With the cancelation of NCIS Los Angeles I felt the need to bridge that gap. Truthfully my desire to watch the latest season of NCIS Los Angeles is non-existent. I miss Hetty, Nel, and Eric. They were the people that softened the intense action for…

[wretchmp4]

daisy johnson changed my life with this one

[nickyfrancis24]

Everything Everything – by Nicola Yoon

Title: Everything EverythingAuthor: Nicola YoonOriginally published: September 1, 2015 by Delacorte Books for Young ReadersGenre : Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction , Realistic Fiction, Audiobook, Young Adult Contemporary, Teen, Coming Of Age, Young Adult Romance, Contemporary Romance More books Nicola Yoon Literary awards South Carolina Book Award for Young Adults (2018), Teen Buckeye Book…

[ponderingthenightaway]

Unsent letters to the people who broke me

Trigger warning: brief mention of depression, it's tone is kinda agressive, dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship

{To Mother

It might be scary to hear, but you knew it deep down already: I know you more than you know yourself. I see your pain. I see your fear. Nothing escapes my eyes. You took part in training them, but I reckon it doesn’t sit quite right with you sometimes. And on the topic as such things that make you uncomfortable...  let me be clear.

You weren’t a good parent. A lot of the time you weren’t even a parent.

Who are you, really? How are you my mother when I’m being forced to be yours?

Now, now. Don’t tear up, don’t get upset. Not yet. Not for the wrong reasons. Not before I finish.

You weren’t a good parent. But I know you gave your all. I see that you did your best.

Must be terrifying to face that your best wasn’t enough, huh? Was for me too.

When I realised that although I did everything to drown my personality, to choke my inner child into submission to be less and therefore be good for you… it wasn’t enough. I do nothing by halves if it comes to begging someone to love me. And so I went overboard. I became what you call „lazy”, when in fact it was a byproduct of depression and dying on the inside.

Don’t take this the wrong way, Mother. I’m nothing if not considerate and just. This, and many other things that ended up breaking me, wasn’t solely your fault. It was a joint effort with father, wasn’t it?(If you don’t mind me joking.) As my parents, both of you took a major part in it both directly or indirectly, but there were also others, right? Like every fucking person in our god forsaken family.

Family of brutes. (Of martyrs. But I’ll get to that later.)

I’m no exception. My anger - feels like a living thing on its own - striking to hurt you, every single one of you from time to time.

You see, I put a leash on it, but it’s quite hard to hold back an animal that has been provoked for too long. And since I can't seem to push this anger, this agression off my shoulder, I shall end this letter here.

A letter of my truth.

A letter you'll never read.

Until next time, Your daughter}

All rights reserved. 2024 @ponderingthenightaway

[jepergola]

New story today: "But I Don't Want to Participate in Mating Season This Year"

[violetsmokes]

THE MENTOR/MOTHER THEY GOT!

VS THE MENTOR/MOTHER THEY DESERVED!

[bluejaysandblackbats]

the mother i know

Fandom: DC Comics, Arrowfam

Summary: Roy leaves Lian with Jade for a few weeks while he follows up on a lead for the perfect Mother's Day gift for Jade. What starts as a quest for confirmation, becomes a complicated family situation, and a worrisome reunion.

Jade spends quality time with Lian, but she fears that Roy's hiding something.

Chapters: 3/?

Characters: Roy Harper, Jade Nguyen, Lian Harper, Tommy Blake Jr.

Relationships: CheshRoy

Additional Tags: Complicated Relationships, Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Mother-Daughter Relationship, Accidental Bonding, Multiple POV, Reunion

Chapter Three: Quesadillas with a Stranger (Roy's POV)

I tried the park once I realized finding him at his school would be like finding a needle in a haystack. So, I spent the afternoon jogging around the perimeter of the park before sitting on a bench in the center of the walkway. I picked the bench facing away from the playground, and at that time, a little boy sat on the bench across from me to tie his shoe. He had a school uniform on and a beanie with iron-on patches around it. 

The little boy looked up at me, staring, and he waved before sitting on the bench across from me. I waved back, tilting my head upwards to enjoy the cool breeze under the warm sun. “Red hair is very rare,” he whispered, “That means there are very few people like you.”

“Yeah… I guess that makes me pretty unique… But I know a few others,” I replied. 

He swung his feet back and forth. “Are you left-handed? I read in an article once that redheads had a higher percentage of left handed people,” he replied. I shook my head. “I can tell you have a child. A girl, right?” 

“I do. How’d you know?” I questioned. 

“You have a handprint t-shirt. Your hands aren’t that small,” he replied, “Does she have red hair?”

I chuckled and shook my head. “Nope. She looks like her mom,” I answered, “Are you waiting for someone?”

“I’m hiding from my nanny,” he confessed, “I’d like to be away from her for a while… But I’ll let her take me home soon.” He smiled at me, his front tooth missing, and his demeanor was peculiar… Almost familiar. I had to take a chance and ask him. 

“Is your name Tommy?” I questioned. 

He scrunched up his nose and squinted at me. “Nobody knows that except my Mama and Papa… I’m not even supposed to know that. They all call me Oakley… But Oakley is a lie,” he replied. I leaned forward. I could tell by the way he spoke, he was extremely intelligent, and he knew something strange was going on.

“Why aren’t you supposed to know your name?” I asked.

“Because they didn’t want me to know I’m adopted… At least I think that’s why. But you know my name. So, you want something? Is it money? Are you going to kidnap me?” he questioned. He wasn’t afraid of what I’d do to him. I thought that was odd. 

“No. I’m not going to kidnap you… Someone already did that five years ago,” I answered. I felt like withholding information from him would’ve been counterintuitive. The kid was definitely smart enough to be talked to in a straightforward manner. I wasn’t going to waste time splitting hairs. 

“Do you know my birth mommy?” he questioned. Mommy. He was smart, but he was still a little boy. I had to remember that when I spoke. I wouldn’t dumb things down, but I had to be gentler. 

“I do… You were taken from her when you were a baby, and she thought you were gone forever. I got a tip that you were alive, but I wasn’t sure it was you… How did you know you were adopted?” I asked in reply. He stood up and took my hand. 

“We have to go… My nanny will be here soon, and she won’t like that I’m talking to you. I’ll get in trouble,” he explained. I nodded and let him lead the way. “I heard the grownups whispering at night time once. I got in trouble at school earlier that day, and Papa was upset. He said that they never should’ve taken me. Mama said, ‘Tommy is a good boy. He’s just not being challenged.’ She called me Tommy, and Papa shushed her. He told her I might hear them. 

“I heard him walking, so I hid under the stairs, and he shut the door, but I could still hear them. Papa said I’d be a killer just like my parents... Are my parents killers?” he questioned.

“I—. What should I call you? Oakley or Tommy?” I replied to dodge the question.

“Oakley is a lie. My name is Tommy…  Are they bad people?” Tommy asked. He had the same serious look in his eyes that Jade got when she needed me. Most people would mistake that look for rage, but I knew better. 

I swallowed hard. “Your mommy is someone I care about very much. I’m not your dad, but I’m your sister’s father. I promise I won’t lie to you. I don’t think your mommy is a bad person, but she’s had to do bad things before,” I answered. He squeezed my hand. 

“Show me a picture of her. I want to be sure,” Tommy whispered. He kept pulling me along, so I figured he wanted me to multitask. I pulled up a picture that Lian sent of her and Jade in matching makeup. 

“That’s your sister, Lian… And that’s your mommy—.”

“Jade,” Tommy interrupted. I stopped in my tracks.

“I never said her name. How do you know her name?” I whispered. Tommy pulled my arm. 

“Come on, Mister. I’ll tell you when we get there. Hurry up,” Tommy groaned as he dragged me further down the street. 

He took me down an alley, across the street, and in front of a restaurant. “Could I have a quesadilla and a chocolate milk?” Tommy asked. 

“A quesadilla and a chocolate milk? And then you’ll answer my question?” I asked. Tommy squeezed my hand and smiled at me. “Tommy, I’ll get you whatever you want to eat, but I need you to promise to answer my questions. Okay?”

“I promise,” Tommy whispered. 

I held his hand a little tighter as I ordered his food and mine. Tommy stood on his tiptoes. “Tommy, are the quesadillas good?” I asked. 

“Uh-huh. When grown-ups order it, they get spanish rice, too,” Tommy answered. 

“Hm… Okay. I’ll get that, then,” I replied. 

We sat down at a table in the back, and he opened his backpack and removed an old stuffed black cat plushie. It was worn and faded brown in some places, but its collar was shiny and expensive. He opened the bell part of the collar before unfolding a little photograph of Jade holding him up. His little chubby face toward the camera. I turned the photo over, and it read in Jade’s perfect handwriting, “To my newest love, Tommy Jr. Forever and always, your mommy, Jade.” He quickly took it back and returned it to the bell. He wouldn’t look me in the eye as he packed it away. 

“If you tell someone, they’ll take it from me. Please don’t tell,” Tommy pleaded. His whole demeanor changed. His face reddened and his hands tightened around his backpack. 

“I won’t let them take it… Tommy, I don’t know what to do with you. You belong with your mom, Jade, but these people—.”

“They don’t want me anymore. You can ask them. They’ll give me to you,” Tommy whispered as tears slid down his cheeks. My heart hurt looking at him. He stood up and climbed into my lap, and I wiped his tears with my thumbs before pulling him into a hug. 

No kid should ever feel that way. “Tommy, why would you say that?” I asked. 

“It’s true. Papa said I’d be a killer. He wants me far away. He doesn’t love me anymore,” Tommy cried. I rubbed his back. 

“Hey, it’s gonna be alright. I—.” They called our order, and I carried him on my hip while I got our tray. “Hey, I’m gonna try to work things out. But, I want you to eat your quesadilla first. Eat your food and drink your milk. It’ll help you calm down if you have a little bit of food in your stomach.” 

He obeyed, eating quietly while I thought about what I’d do. I thought about talking to them, trying to reason with them as best I could. “I don’t think you’ll like me anymore if I tell you why I got in trouble at school… I want you to like me, but I know you’ll find out about it if I don’t—.” 

“Tommy, everybody does bad things sometimes. If you feel bad enough about it to want to do better next time, I think you’ll be fine. Maybe if you tell me about it, you’ll feel better. It doesn’t have to be a scary secret,” I reassured him, “It doesn’t have to be a secret at all… Like… Hm… I curse when I get angry sometimes. I know I shouldn’t, but sometimes I do. It’s not a secret and no one hates me for it.” 

Tommy nodded and sighed after he finished chewing. “Michael hit Emilia at recess And I didn’t—. I didn’t stop him. I was so scared that I had to go home. Mama was upset because I wouldn’t tell her why I had—... 

“I went back to school and drew a picture of him. That’s when I got in trouble. I only drew it because he did something bad and someone needed to punish him. Emilia was bleeding, but I was so scared. I did something wrong, too. I didn’t tell on him… And I drew a bad picture. I—. The principal asked why I drew something like that, and I was too scared to tell her. I thought Michael would hit me, too. 

“Papa was so angry. He grabbed my arms and yelled at me. He shook me and told me to tell him why I would draw something so terrible. I couldn’t tell him. I wanted to, but I was scared, and he was hurting me… He sent me to my room, and I—. Do I have to tell you everything?” Tommy asked. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes and rosy cheeks, and I shook my head.

“You don’t have to tell me all of it… Just the parts that feel okay to talk about,” I replied. He took a shaky breath.

“That’s when I woke up to talk to Papa. I wanted to apologize, but he was talking to Mama. He was still so mad. So, I waited until they went to bed, and I cleaned up all by myself. I didn’t want to make him angrier. He’d never been mad at me before. Now, he’s mad at me all the time,” Tommy whimpered. I reached across the table with an open palm, and he held my fingers. “He makes me carry the picture to remind me that I’ve been bad. He’s going to make me carry it until I apologize to Michael or tell him why I did it.” He let go of my hand to reach into his bag again, and he pulled a piece of paper out of his binder. I took it and frowned. It was a drawing of Michael and he’d used red crayon to scribble blood all over him. He’d even drawn purple circles on him for bruises. 

I frowned. “You drew it to punish Michael?” I asked. 

“I wouldn’t really hurt Michael. I just wanted to make him feel bad for hurting Emilia. Her lip was bleeding, and she was crying… Our art teacher says drawings are supposed to help people feel better,” Tommy explained. 

I nodded. “Did it make you feel better to draw this?” I asked. 

“No… I thought it would, but I feel bad all the time now… Mister, my tummy hurts now. Can I sit with you?” Tommy asked. I nodded and smiled at him, turning the picture face down before picking him up and sitting him on my knee. I finished eating and zipped up his backpack before resting my chin on his head. I felt like I was talking to Jade, and it broke my heart. Maybe I was making her carry around memories of the worst things she’d ever done. Maybe I punished her for things I couldn’t understand. “You don’t like me anymore… Do you?”

“I still like you, Tommy. I do… I understand why you did it. I understand you were scared, and you just wanted to fix things in the only way you knew how. You aren’t a bad kid. I’m so sorry that you were made to feel like you were bad because of this,” I apologized. He wrapped his arms around my neck, and I could feel his tears hit the back of my shirt.

[yaymeeko]

Like dew that drops and awakens the world

Summary:

In her reflection, the girl takes a glimpse of a world she has forgotten. Mafuyu stares at a cup of tea and remembers an episode from her childhood.

[alexkablob]

Something about the inherent Lest/Maddie parallel that exists in Arcane S2—each of them the honeypot relaying the pillow talk of the clueless aristocrat they're sleeping with back to who they're really loyal to—and the way it reflects how Mel learned more from her mother than she likes admitting to herself (or than Ambessa ever gave her credit for until the very end) because, on the surface, they both use the same tactic to keep an eye on their potential rival.

And yet! Mel's compassionate treatment of Lest (a trans woman sex worker who she considers a genuine friend, is protective of and willing to accept criticism from, and who she refuses to consider expendable) contrasted to Ambessa's contingency plan with Maddie (a radicalized fascist who she converted into an asset by convincing her she was a more effective leader than Caitlyn and who was, in the end, eminently expendable) is one of the starkest illustrations of just how different Mel is, and how much better a leader of the Medarda clan she's going to be.

[jeshaisabookworm]

The Spencer Sisters | TV Show Spotlight

Have you seen the first episode of The Spencer Sisters?

Starring Stacy Faber and Lea Thompson as Darby and Victoria Spencer a mother daughter are forced to work together when Darby comes home penniless after quitting her job and finding out that her boyfriend was cheating on her returns home in the care of her mystery novelist mother, Victoria. With a bond that could do some work the mother-daughter duo starts solving crime.Airing in CTV with the next…

[cosmicwhoreo]

Moon Pearl

hwat if BP finally reformed after years of grief and took her mum's place as the new embodiment of the Almighty Sea~?

But, be wise to not mistake this change of mind as passive. For she is as beautiful as she is volatile, sailors of all stripes being cautioned to offer tribute to the sea for the promise of a safe voyage.

[fathersonholygore]

Animal Kingdom 6x12: "Exodus"

Animal Kingdom 4×12: “Exodus” Directed by Nick Copus Written by Bradley Paul * For a recap & review of 4×11, click here. * For a recap & review of the series finale, click here. Pope’s talking about all kinds of jobs he’s done, specifically mentioning hitting a wedding on a yacht they did a while back. He wants to give information in exchange for a transfer to another prison. About “a dozen…