Reply to Maternal Instinct Isn’t Real, But the Myth Makes Parenting Harder

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I actually think the maternal instinct is real. I used to have a visceral reaction when my children cried as babies. I wanted to be able to leave them to be handled by someone else sometimes so I could get sleep, but something in me reacted viscerally to their cries.

That doesn’t mean others, especially the father, should not do the fair share of the work. [/quote]

+1. To me the maternal instinct is the need to protect the baby. It doesn’t mean the mother would “instinctively” know how to swaddle or breastfeed, but she would want to learn / do these things as part of her maternal instinct to protect (providing food and comfort is part of protecting).[/quote]

But doesn’t instinct mean that it applies to ALL mothers? What about mothers who kill and abuse their kids. I don’t deny that there is a special kind of love many parent have towards their children but instinct is a reflexive act that applies to all. I don’t think it is the right term or exists. We often hear about an animal mothering instinct .... but what about animals who kill their kids/ leave them soon after birth? Just don’t think instinct is the right term and I do agree that it’s a disservice to use it.[/quote]

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