“A mother’s love is more beautiful than any fresh flower.” This was a quote from philosopher and author Dr. Debasish Mridha, and it perfectly encapsulates the photos on this list. Mothers express their affection in various ways. Their love language, whatever it may be, is a gift that keeps on giving.
And these priceless moments captured and shared on the internet are the eternal proof of that. Some may bring out chuckles, while others could be the heartwarming tear-jerker you didn’t know you needed today.
These images are part of Bored Panda’s series of articles that show how endearing, funny, lovable, and awesome moms are.
#1 This Lovely Response From A Mom
Image credits: Iamyeetlord
#2 Her Daughter's Smile Is Everything
Image credits: MrsRyan310
#3 Mother Takes Adorable Photos With Her Two Daughters In Matching Clothing
Image credits: allthatisshe
#4 Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa's Mother Watches And Breaks Down As Her Son Becomes The Second Indian To Reach The Chess World Cup Semi-Finals
Image credits: photochess
#5 My Parents Were Having A Rough Time So I Invited Them Over To Play With My Five Foster Kittens. This Is My New Favorite Photo Of My Mom
Image credits: cpics_traveler
For decades, there has been scientific research focused on motherhood's unique contributions. The consensus is that "the relationship formed through a mother's attentive love provides the foundation for all of the other unique contributions of motherhood."
Scholar Sara Ruddick deemed these contributions reflections of "three central tasks" that provide the foundation of attentive love: to preserve children's lives and well-being, foster children's growth and development, and enable children to become acceptable contributors in society.
#6 My Mom Crochets And Donated 48 Blankets To Sick Children This Year
Image credits: seacogen
#7 My Cat Is Watching TV With My Mom
Image credits: hanamihoshi
#8 My Mum vs. 7 Springer Spaniel Puppies
Image credits: Squeezieful
#9 That's Not Bad Advice If That's The Actual Reason For Not Wanting To Do It
Image credits: Makingsofabw
Here’s another quote that fits this article, this time by poet and preacher Edwin Chapin: “No language can express the power and beauty and heroism of a mother’s love.” We can all agree on this, but there is also research to back it up.
Research from the University of Miami found that maternal sensitivity strongly influences language development in children with autism. The study defined maternal sensitivity as “a combination of warmth, responsiveness to the child’s needs, respect for his or her emerging independence, positive regard for the child, and maternal structuring.”
#10 My Mom Meeting Her Dream Kitten For The First Time Today
Image credits: crazyt123
#11 My Darling Mom At Her First Book Signing. I'm So Proud Of My Momma
Image credits: Flat_Bodybuilder_175
#12 That's Sweet
Image credits: thepartypope
#13 My Mom's Favorite 90th Birthday Present - The Hat. She's As Lovely As Her Smile
Image credits: lilythepoop
#14 My Mother Found My Cat Online After A Whole Year Of Being Lost
His name is Basil. He is around 10 years old now, we don't know for sure because we found him outside and "adopted" him. He had been gone recently for a whole year, and my mother had found him online, as someone was offering to pass him to a new family. They drove all the way to my workplace when I was working and surprised me.
We lived together for 8 years and he had finally come back after a year of absence. This photo captures my first reaction when I was allowed to see him and pet him again. I missed him a lot, and he was like a brother to me.
Image credits: NexuzRequiem
#15 Iconic
Image credits: CameronxDonovan
#16 My Mom Celebrating After Biking 2,400 Miles Across The United States
Image credits: MrPositive_
Dr. Jason Baker, co-founder of the California State University Fullerton Center of Autism, stressed the importance of proper parenting in the development of children with conditions like autism.
“Parenting may matter even more for children with developmental problems such as autism because certain things that tend to develop easily in children with typical neurological development, like social communication, don’t come as naturally for kids with autism, so these skills need to be taught.”
#17 My Girlfriend's Mum Just Knitted This Beauty For Our Dog
Image credits: dooby181
#18 My Mom Made My Girls A Pom-Pom Rug Each. It Took 80 Hours And 320 Pom-Poms, And They Chose Their Favorite Colors. Just Missed Christmas, But They Are Ecstatic Nonetheless
Image credits: Ebs707
#19 My Mother-In-Law Made A Pair Of These Sleep Pants For All The Men In Our Family For Christmas
Image credits: KyleRichXV
#20 My Mom Just Finished Stitching This. Very Proud
Image credits: -emilietalbot-
#21 Thanks For The Information, Mom
Image credits: Jaxifyer
#22 I Won A Rubber Ducky For My Mom While Visiting Home. After Returning She's Been Sending Me Updates On Their Adventures Together. My Mom Is The Cutest Human Ever
She’s my best friend and I live across the world from my family. So when she missed me at dinner the first night after I left, Duckally (pronounced like “luckily”) was created. Most recently my mom got a small doll house and some miniature props that she plans to slowly reveal to me, one room at a time, through future updates of Duckally’s adventures. I’m so glad Duckally can hang out with my mom in my place.
Image credits: Fiftydollarvolvo
It goes without saying that mothers have a profound impact on their children, and it differs between their sons and daughters. A 2023 paper published by researchers from Indiana University Bloomington suggested that the absence of a mother figure in a man’s life could lead to antisocial behavior, emotional issues, and juvenile delinquency.
Further research revealed that the lack of maternal affection in males may cause a lack of attachment, which can lead to the inability to build deep, meaningful relationships with women. This individual may also develop trust issues because of the fear of abandonment.
Experts interviewed for this study also mentioned other potential consequences, such as poor academic achievement, criminal behavior, and substance abuse when they grow older.
#23 My Mom Is 92 With My 13-Year-Old Sweet Dog. Both Still Going Strong
Image credits: Guygirl00
#24 My Mom (In Yellow) Brings Her Fanny Pack Every Time She's Out In Hopes She’ll Find Any Of The Missing Dogs Posted On Her Neighborhood Facebook Group
She fills it with dog kibble, treats, poop baggies, and a leash.
Image credits: Hvnhaaa
#25 Vacationing With My Boyfriend's Family Tomorrow, His Mom Fills A Hole In My Heart (Mine Passed When I Was 18, So Blessed With A Mother-In-Law Like Her)
My boyfriend's parents, especially his mom, treat me like I'm their own. This will be my third vacation with them, as we always meet at their house and drive south together. I adore his whole family, I love that they love me too, and his mom is my best friend. Whenever we go to their house for dinner, I can hardly get in the door before she squeals, "My wine-drinking buddy is here!" & pours me a glass. I lost my mom to cancer when I was 18, and I was very close with her. Nobody will ever replace her, but having such a loving mother-in-law who makes sure to always include me and tell me she loves me, certainly does some healing things for the soul.
Image credits: United_Cow_9719
#26 The First Thing Mom Did With Her New Printer
Image credits: Dinstruction
#27 My Mum Made This For Me
Image credits: ltbluepoetry
#28 A Person At My Mom's Work Was Having A Cake Made For A Baby Shower And Asked My Mom What She Should Put On The Cake. She Used My Mom's Suggestion
Image credits: Fartica90
#29 My Mom Puts Her Puppy In Her Apron Pocket When She Preps Dinner, And I’m Not Sure Who Enjoys It More
Image credits: Iamthehamburgler
#30 Just The Fact That She Put This Together Herself Is Beyond Awesome
Image credits: AskFareeha
We now know how absentee mothers may affect their sons’ lives in the long run. But how about their daughters? How are the consequences similar or different?
Author Peg Streep wrote books such as Mean Mothers: Overcoming the Legacy of Hurt and published an article in Psychology Today. Based on her own experiences, she mentioned a lack of confidence, distrust, difficulty setting boundaries, and oversensitivity, among other possible outcomes of maternal parenting where affection is almost absent.
“The unloved daughter doesn’t know that she is lovable or worthy of attention; she may have grown up feeling ignored or unheard or criticized at every turn. The voice in her head is that of her mother’s, telling her what she isn’t—smart, beautiful, kind, loving, worthy,” Streep wrote.
#31 My Mom Sent Me An Email Yesterday With The Subject "She Won The Contest." This Is What She Sent
Image credits: satellitekid
#32 My 95-Year-Old Mother Is Trying On The Crocheted Crown I’ve Made For The Queen's Jubilee In June
Image credits: knittermum
#33 My Mom Got Mad At Me And Stole My Sheets
Why can't she take away my Xbox or phone like a normal parent?
Image credits: reddit.com
#34 Someone Stole My Mom’s Zucchini From The Community Garden
Image credits: Toxicologie
#35 I Asked My Mum To Make Me A Face Mask. I Guess Even After 40 Years, I’m Still Her Little Boy
Image credits: Andy_Cohen_1979
#36 My Niece's Kitten Opened Her Eyes. Here She Is In My Mother's Hands
Image credits: DarkUltra
#37 My Mum Sent Me A Photo This Morning
Image credits: bmoc9891
Mothers are supposedly a child’s source of affection. They are expected to provide a solid emotional foundation. But why do some end up depriving their sons and daughters?
According to research, maternal depression (a.k.a postpartum depression) could be one reason. Experts note its symptoms to be higher levels of irritability and low mood. And since the sufferer mostly exhibits negative behaviors, their child suffers in the process.
While experts see no single cause for maternal depression, they attribute it to physical changes, emotional issues, and genetics. Family history plays a significant role and could increase the likelihood of depressive episodes.
#38 Mom Stopped Pretending My Dad And Brother Were Signing My Cards
Image credits: myfavsocialworker
#39 My Mum's Pride And Joy
Image credits: Olibaba1987
#40 I Told My Mom I Was Dropping Out Today As An April Fools' Prank And Expected Her To Be Annoyed. I Was Not Expecting This Reaction
Image credits: blackcovenant666
#41 That's True Love
Image credits: Parkerlawyer
#42 My Mom Has Been Getting Into Crochet And She Put Some Leaves On My Headphones
Image credits: RedCupWithAName
These photos appear to paint a picture of a healthy relationship between mothers and their adult children. But of course, this isn’t always the case. Some deal with a contentious dynamic with their grown-up sons and daughters, whether due to substance abuse or mental illness. And that can be a difficult environment.
Judith Smith, a professor, researcher, and author of the book Difficult: Mothering Challenging Adult Children Through Conflict and Change, spoke with Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service and gave some tips for handling such a situation.
First, she advises acknowledging the problem, which many mothers fail to do. “You have to allow yourself to recognize that you are uncomfortable with your adult child’s behavior. You have to let yourself ‘see,’” Smith said.
#43 Early Birthday Gift From My Mom
Image credits: neodawg
#44 My Mom And I Go On Holiday Every Year For A Week. She's 77, And Most Times We Walk Or Hike On At Least Alternate Days. Today, Mid-Coastal Hike, I Spotted Her Badge
Image credits: awkward_toadstool
#45 My Mom Being Herself
Image credits: Disastrous_Window
#46 In 1998, I Begged My Mom To Buy Me JNCO Jeans. She Agreed, But Only On The Condition We Do A Photoshoot To Prove To My Future Self How Stupid I Looked. Look Who's Laughing Now, Mom
Image credits: korndiddy
#47 So My Mom (67) And My Nephew (12) Can't Spend Time With Each Other Because Of The Pandemic. So Today Mom Grabbed A Mask And Headed Over For Some Fun And Games Through The Door
Image credits: emerald_roses
#48 This Is So Beautiful
Image credits: ettesalveregina
#49 One Of My Mom’s Ornaments
Image credits: ThePeoplesBard
#50 My Mother Always Made My Birthdays Super Special So I’m Trying To Do The Same For My Daughter In Her Honor
I made all the wool animals for the gift bags by needle felting, I think the kids liked them.
Image credits: growup_andblowaway
