Annelik ikircikliği: Annelerle görüşme

The present study was conducted to give voice to maternal ambivalence experiences of mothers. It aimed to uncover how mothers experience, express, and manage their maternal ambivalence. Also, it addressed the factors in mothers' lives that make their maternal ambivalence experiences more or less difficult. Participants were 10 first-time mothers with a preschool aged child who was enrolled in a private preschool at the time. Within the framework of qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with each mother. Thematic analysis revealed that mothers had both positive and negative feelings towards their children and motherhood roles. Negative feelings were because of the child's undesired behaviors, rapid mood swings, their own exhaustion, and times of crisis. These negative feelings included regret towards their motherhood role that put restrictions on their freedom and led to difficulties. After expressing their negative feelings, however, mothers felt regret, shame, and guilt. Mothers shared their maternal ambivalence experiences with nonjudgmental people including friends, colleagues, and family members, and utilized several strategies in order to manage their maternal ambivalence experiences. Immediate and extended family members as well as others in the social circle put pressure on mothers to fit into conventional motherhood roles despite the fact that they provided limited support. Findings indicated mothers' need to share their ambivalent feelings and the importance of social support mechanisms.