The nannies virtually ruled the nurseries where the children were raised. They often never experienced close emotional contact with their mothers. Their parents visits to the nursery were often more like formal events than spontaneous familiar contact. Victorian and Edwardian parents often did not eat with the younger children who took their meals in the nursery. Childhood experiences After those childhood experiences, women were expected to have babies, but not necessarily function as mothers.
Children appear to have been more of a nuisance for many women.
Many of these woman were not well educated. Most families considered it important to educate boys , but that education for women was frivilous and might indeed distract them form their primary goal of finding a suitable husband. This attitude in fact continued well into the 20th century. Wealthy Victorian and Edwardian women did lead a rich social life. Many accounts of this period are endless accounts of socail events.