How to manage your mother

Do you and your mother remain caught in the same behavioral patterns, having the same exasperating conflicts over and over again--even though you know there is a point at which your mother stops and you start as an autonomous, independent woman who always feels compelled to answer to Her? What most grown daughters don't realize is that they are partially responsible for perpetuating these painful and unproductive mother-daughter encounters. A step-by-step guide, How to.

Manage Your Mother helps women pinpoint the trouble spots in their mother-daughter relationships, first by outlining six of the most common maternal styles for daughters to identify with. Then, simple fast-acting strategies--such as learning to set limits, deflect criticism, and use humor--are discussed. Practicing these skills leads to immediate results in equalizing the mother-daughter balance of power. The roles of other family relationships (such as father-daughter). And their significance are also illuminated and put to use to help mothers and daughters communicate better. As a daughter you will learn to contend with your "Internal Mother"--That maternal voice every daughter carries around inside her head, regardless of where Mom is. You will also learn how to manage watershed events in the mother-daughter life cycle; how to get the most from and give the most to your mother; and how to come to terms with becoming a mother yourself. Without repeating the negative aspects of what has gone on before. How to Manage Your Mother illustrates that, by learning to alter their behavior, daughters can elicit those longed-for nurturing responses from Mom. Most important, this practical, authoritative--and funny-- book enables mothers and daughters of all ages to break down the barriers that prevent them from truly understanding and appreciating each other. No daughter--or mother--should be without this book.