Expertise in Motherhood: A Grounded Theory Study on Motherhood During Middle Childhood

Abstract

The transition to motherhood is a developmental stage in which a woman's identity reveals its transformation into her maternal identity. Motherhood goes through certain stages based on the child's age. Motherhood during middle childhood differs from other periods in terms of experiences, meanings, practices, and the child's needs (Barnard & Solchany, 2002). The current study focuses on exploring mothers’ personal experiences of motherhood through a grounded theory framework in order to conceptualize motherhood in middle childhood. The sample was consisting of 22 mothers of children. As a result, the concept of expertise in motherhood (EIM) was obtained, which explains the maternal experiences of mothers with children in middle childhood. EIM is explained through six themes: EIM, pre-motherhood, motherhood enhancers, expertise in child-rearing, child-centered communication, and the transformative power of motherhood. The research results are discussed in light of the relevant literature on motherhood, maternal self-concept, and maternal role development.