Braun-Levine, Cahn and Brott emphasize that maternal gatekeeping is usually not malicious. In some cases, it was the men who rebelled against being shut out and pressured the women to curb their possessiveness. Levine's husband, a home-based freelance writer like her, was an active, nurturing father to their young son, which was exactly what she had always wanted. What she had not expected was to feel hurt every time the boy cried for Daddy, not Mommy. When I am honest with myself, what I really want is for Bill to be an eager but charmingly inept father, a soldier to my general.
Some mothers wisely keep such feelings to themselves.
But in some instances, maternal jealousy can turn ugly and wreak havoc on parents' and children's lives. The result was that instead of being in the care of his father while the mother worked, the boy was now left in day care. Experience 'The Ripple Effect' through stories, photos, videos and sound. Explore perspectives on how devastating events bring us together. Share your stories about the 'ripple effect' through a letter or online chat.