| This research study explored the question, "What is the mother's experience of nurturing her young child?" A review of the psychological research literature revealed no studies of a similar nature. Few studies reported were qualitative, whereby participants were asked to talk about their experiences with a subject. The theoretical literature primarily focused on the parent-child relationships when the children in question were infants/toddlers, or adolescents. A phenomenological study was most appropriate to the question, in order to ascertain essential nature of experience. Ten women, all mothers of preschoolers ages 2 to 5 years, participated in the study. Selected for the study for their experience with the phenomenon and for their articulateness, each participant, or co-researcher, engaged in a two-four hour taped interview. During this time they were asked to respond to a series of open-ended questions, which they were given in advance of the interview. In as many ways as possible, the mothers challenged themselves to look within to discover the nuances and meanings of behavior, and their responses to themselves in relation to their children.; An analysis of the data, using the processes of epoche', horizontalization, identification of invariant constituents and themes led to the development of textural and structural descriptions, and a creative synthesis of the material which conveyed essence of experience. The essential nature of the experience which was revealed portrayed the phenomenon of nurturing to have both pleasant and unpleasant aspects, including intense emotional and physical components. The mothers often felt ambivalence as nurturers, but still were attracted to the experience. Mothers identified the necessity of self-nurturing, dealing with conflict, physical/sensual/emotional experiences, among others.; Social implications of the results of the study were many, and included reflections on societal views of mothering and the needs and value of children, the status of families in our culture, the moral condition of our world in relation to humanistic values. Also identified were implications relevant to education and psychology, as well as the personal value of the study. Suggestions for future studies will give others interested in human science research related ideas appropriate for phenomenological exploration. |
