Remembering Mother, Finding Myself: A Journey of Love and Self-Acceptance [Paperback]

Patricia Commins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999

The loss of a mother is one of the most traumatic experiences of a woman's life. At any age, a mother's death may leave a daughter with feelings of anger, abandonment and profound sadness that taint the way she views herself, her world and every other relationship around her. In this breakthrough book, author Patricia Commins, who lost her mother at 26, shows readers that the key to escaping the sorority of sorrow is by understanding their mothers as women and by feeling an ongoing connection with them.

From this perspective -outside the parent-child relationship that is so fraught with conflict and complex emotions - women gain key insights into their mothers and themselves. By addressing the psychological and spiritual connection that remains after a mother's death, Remembering Mother, Finding Myself offers the essential element that is missing from other books on motherless daughters. The Path of Understanding -a unique experiential process based on journaling, conversations with friends and relatives, and meditative exercises- does not seek to negate the loss a woman feels when her mother dies. It instead gently leads her beyond the grief and pain to a new awareness, freeing her from forever trying to be the perfect daughter.

Through her own illuminating experiences and those of other women, Commins shows women how to reconnect their deceased mothers while finding peace and self-acceptance. Included are interviews with dozens of women, including such notables as writers Joyce Maynard and Nancy Friday and psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

As we enter the age of balance, we need to take a close loot at how we, as women, have perpetuated the demands of perfection that kill our souls. This book is, without a doubt, inspired by the feminine face of God. As we examine our connection to our first source of love, we open our hearts to fell that unconditional embrace of acceptance that we all crave. -- Sonia Choquette, author, The Pychic Pathway: A Workbook for Reawakening the Voice of Your Soul

Thank you for creating the book, Remembering Mother, Finding Myself. You have addressed an area of concern to many in an enlightened yet practical and forthright manner. Drawing upon and sharing your own experiences and inviting others to do the same in order to promote healing in the mother-daughter relationship sets a brave model to others. This is a book for all women. -- Dr. Micelle Thompson Iyaman, Psy.D., licensed clinical psychologist, president, Iyamah Behavioral Healthcare, Ltd.

About the Author

Patricia Commins is a seasoned journalist and essayist. She worked for Reuters America Inc., and has published articles in major U.S. newspapers including The New York Times, Boston Globe and Houston Chronicle. A journalist for over 20 years, Ms. Commins began her career at the age of 17 as a reporter at the Palladium-Times, a small daily newspaper in northern New York State. She has also written essays for the Christian Science Monitor and feature stories for the Leisure & Arts page of The Wall Street Journal. Ms. Comins currently lives in suburban Chicago with her husband, Kevin, and her son, Patrick.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 275 pages
• Publisher: HCI (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558746668
• ISBN-13: 978-1558746664
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Relationships > Love & Loss

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly a blessing, August 23, 2005

By 

Janet Giffin (Ajax, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Remembering Mother, Finding Myself: A Journey of Love and Self-Acceptance (Paperback)

What a blessing this book has been for me! My mother passed away recently after a long illness. Our relationship was often turbulent and my childhood and teen years were sometimes difficult. I spent a lot of my time being angry with her but this book really opened my eyes as to the struggle my mother had just with trying to survive on a day to day basis. I saw my mother in this book and discovered the answers to many questions that baffled me about the kind of person she was. Loving and laughing one minute then crying and accusing the next minute. Now I know why. Thank you, Patricia, for writing this book. My mom and I had many good times too. She had a great sense of humour and I cherish that part of my mother. Your book is a precious gift.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It was a gentle, helpful guide to understanding my mother, April 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Remembering Mother, Finding Myself: A Journey of Love and Self-Acceptance (Paperback)

This is a gentle, loving book. Patricia Commins pulled me through this process without judgement or bias, using compassion and support instead. I did some of the exercises and found them useful, especially putting my mother in the context of the years in which she grew up and was a young adult. The book helped me take what I admire about my mother and leave the rest. I think any reader could find themselves in this book, including and especially women whose mothers are still alive. The book is really for and about the reader. I found it a wise, wonderful read.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ALL mother daughter relationships put in perspective, June 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Remembering Mother, Finding Myself: A Journey of Love and Self-Acceptance (Paperback)

I am about to read Remembering Mother Finding Myself for the second time. While I have the good fortune of understanding my mother and getting to know her while she is still living, Commins book helps every daughter/mother relationship become more fulfilling. Everyone I have talked to loves this book - for different reasons- this is the beauty of the author's writing. At times I laughed, then the next minute I cried and every moment in between I found myself in deep reflection. This powerful book is in honor of all women. It has a message not only for women of the 90's but for future generations ..it is timeless. I had the opportunity recently to hear Ms. Commins speak about her book. Her enthusiasm and true spirit shine through her words whether they are spoken or written. I look forward to reading other publications by this author. ........ A personal note to the author if she reads this - thank you.