What does an emotionally available mother look like?

[User627]

Just as the title really.

What does it mean to be emotionally available with your children?

Not dismiss their feelings.
Listen to them.
Share their joys and sorrows without centring yourself.

Basically, the opposite of my parents.

Listen to them.
Show an interest in the things they like.
Support them - instead of shouting out them, say “what we’re you thinking?” when they do something silly

Listen to them.
Be open to them expressing their feelings, but understand they don't always want to share and that's ok too.
Have easy conversations about random things, not every conversation needs to be deep and meaningful, the more of these i have with my teenagers the more comfortable they become, it makes it easier for them to mention the deeper things.

Agreed with above poster. Be completely different from my parents!
I’m having therapy which is really highlighting how there were no adults taking any responsibility for me as a child.
I am also doing a parenting course and I believe it’s going to pay off massively when I look at the changes already in my kids’ behaviour and in my responses to them.

I'd recommend reading "The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read" by Philippa Perry (the psychoanalyst).

I feel like an emotional mess as an adult and this comes out nearly always in relation to my family. Sometimes in relationships but rarely with friends or colleagues.

*Not dismiss their feelings.
Listen to them.
Share their joys and sorrows without centring yourself.

Basically, the opposite of my parents.*

This.