I can relate to all you said about your feelings about your mom.
I know it's not easy trying to walk in the others shoes and to view things from their point. But just take it one day at a time and try to find the little blessings along the way. Sometimes they will pop out of nowhere just when you are about to give up.
My mother and I haven't seen eye to eye for quite some time now, and I feel like she doesn't even like me at times.. But just yesterday, she called out of the blue and says to me, I know you have been needing a better pair of shoes, so I bought you some. It really touched my heart to know that even tho we cant relate to most issues these days, she still thought about me in the little things.
Good luck in your new journey. I'm here if you need someone to talk to.

Thank you so much for the wonderful words of encouragement! I love how your mom did that for you, it was very thoughtful and a nice little peace offering! I will keep trying!

Hugs-
CK

lol besides being grateful for all days the good and bad i also have hope. u see when i found out i was + my counts were t_cell was 20 and viral load was 700 70thousand, after i found out what it ment,i wondered why i was alive.that was 16 years ago.i hope this reply reaches u b4 breakfast.hope this gives u hope

What were some of her suggestions for building relationships between mothers and daughters?

Hey CK, given your new adventure, you'll soon be able to sepperate what your mother does and say's that you can enjoy and what you ignor being she's not going to change. I've had to do this dealing with my MS and my family. They care, they just don't understand. Instead of being pissed, I forgive and forget being they know not or don't mean to piss me off. It's been a nice release and can now enjoy my family and MS together. Enjoy seeing it in a different light!

The talk mostly centered around how we need to be mothers, not friends, our job is to protect and guide and that is what our children need and crave from us. This doesn't mean we have to be the "mean one" rather we are the one to help guide our daughters to the wonderful and successful woman they were meant to become.

Hugs-
CK

That is a great reminder. It's easy to want to be their friend and their mom. I suppose if you do a good job of protecting and guiding the friendship will happen naturally in their adulthood. Thank you for sharing!