The relationship between mother and daughter varies throughtout one's life. In the beginning, the daughter is a mini-me of mommy. The daughter dresses (whether by choice or not), mimicks manerisms, plays house and she cannot wait for her big girl body, just like mommy.
As the daughter approaches the teenage years, mini-mommy becomes mini-monster. Suddenly, the mother no longer sees her own reflection...but her evil twin. What's worse is that no amount of mothering can manuever her daughter's desire to manipulate.
After seven years or so and an exorcism, the daughter realizes her wallet isn't big enough for college. And just like that, mini-me returns. Don't get too excited. Money cannot buy her for long. The daughters see-sawing sensitivity teeters frequently from mini-me to mini-monster; undecided...on paper and in person.
Luckily, as the semesters pass, the mother notices a change as the mini-me turns into a carbon copy of mommy. Her daughter's features mature along with her attitude and she is finally ready to leave the hub of the mothership to inflict that see-sawing sensitivity on her future spouse. For as long as the engagement exists, a pax romana is in place (both know they are no longer legally bound.)
After the honeymoon, I believe there are only two outcomes that are possible in the mother and daughter equation. 1) They start harboring weapons of mass emotional destruction, or, 2) They sign a treaty and make an alliance. Either way the husband is always stuck in the War zone.
Fortunately, I am blessed with the second outcome and my mother is more like switzerland. All must be fair in love and war.
