research on mothers role on child development

[fordfiesta]

Does anyone know where i can find some decent research on the mothers role in peranting..... I am a single mum going to court soon to sort out some visitation issues with ds father. I am more than aware of how important his father is in his life and for his future development (there is so much info about it these days i would be pretty ignorant not to be aware!) I just need to find something that will fight my corner a little..... evey thing seems to have gone pro father (in some cases quite appropriatly) mad and i can find nothing to support the mothers role!!!

thanks monkey, that would be really useful!!! That is the sort of stuff i would be interesred in reading just so i can back my corner a little. There is so much info supporting the father these days and there appears to be very little on the impact of sudden separation from mother for a toodler even if it is only for a few days at a time. If instinctively it feels so wrong for me then surely it will have a similar impact on ds..... well at least until he is able to make sense of it himself!

Oh and court should be early Feb

If he is irresponbible you should keep a list the things he does too though!

I haven't read the whole thread but try John Bowlby's Attachment Theory. I'm not getting into whether I agree or disagree but I didn't waste 3 years doing a degree in Child Psychology for nothing, and if someone asks for this advice I'll give it. I'm glad to see you won't deny access; as I say, I won't get into what I believe in )

Ah now I have read the last few posts it's a bit clearer. Attachment Theory may not be what you're looking for and isn't actually that modern.

Some good advice here. If you are going to split the journeys (and why the hell should you have to do ex's donkey work? Cheeky git forcing you into a corner because he's too irresponsible to be trusted), then suggest he picks up ds and you collect - if you let him return ds then there's always the risk he might start playing silly buggers if he wants to get back at you.

Oh, and I agree courts are bending over backwards to support father's rights and downplaying the role of mothers atm.

this might be a bit heavy for what you are looking for, but many child psychologists, and namely john bowlby say that the child creates the best attatchment with whoever is the primary carer, ie the one who gives food, so if you breast fed or did most of the feeding in the first year, then the child will have a strong attatchment for you. if this is removed then very traumatic for the child.

Haven't read the whole of this thread but re overnight stays - I've recently been told by a CAFCAS officer (no less) that they don't recommend them for children under three years. They advise 'little and often" i.e child seeing father maybe twice a week for a couple of hours instead. Realise this might be difficult if you live far apart. Anyway, hold out for what you think is right and please make sure you have a supportive solicitor. Best of luck.

Thanks for the past few comments! I am really struggling with guilt over this one so it is good to have some supportive comments (even if not what i really want to here!)