Drawn from research and the real-life experiences of adult daughters, Mean Mothers illuminates one of the last cultural taboos: what happens when a woman does not or cannot love her own daughter. Peg Streep, co-author of the highly acclaimed Girl in the Mirror, has subtitled this important, eye-opening exploration of the darker side of maternal behavior, “Overcoming the Legacy of Hurt.” There are no psychopathic child abusers in Mean Mothers. Instead, this essential volume focuses on the more subtle forms of psychological damage inflicted by mothers on their unappreciated daughters—and offers help and support to those women who were forced to suffer a parent’s cruelty and neglect. How do you begin healing from the childhood trauma of an unloving mother? The Myth of Mother Love: Deconstruct the powerful cultural taboo that keeps unloved daughters trapped in self-blame and silence. Narcissistic Mothers: Understand the subtle but devastating psychological damage inflicted by mothers who are self-absorbed, critical, or emotionally unavailable. Intergenerational Trauma: Explore the ‘ghosts in the nursery’ and learn how painful family dynamics are passed down from generation to generation. Setting Healthy Boundaries: Discover practical, supportive strategies for stilling the inner critic, overcoming the legacy of hurt, and reclaiming your self-worth.