The unpredictability of habits and routines for mothers of preschool-age children

The study reported in this article sought to gain an understanding of the daily experiences and activities of mothers with preschool-age children, and to examine what motherhood is like for them. In-depth interviews with 20 mothers of preschool-age children (newborn to 5 years old) were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. The findings reveal that mothers are immersed in the daily caretaking demands of young children and feel unprepared for the intensity of mothering. Participants described motherhood as an enfolded activity of caretaking, nurturing, and teaching. What underlies these two powerful themes, motherhood immersion and enfolded activity, is that having young children creates unpredictability in daily habits. Mothers of young children have difficulty developing even a loosely structured routine, which adds to the intensity of mothering.