An exploration of the parenting experiences of a mother bullied as a child

Abstract

This narrative research project aimed to explore the parenting experiences of a mother bullied as a child. Data collection involved using two transcribed, unstructured, and indepth interviews to obtain the mother’s oral history, as well as a narrative that was written by the mother. During an inductive analysis of the mother’s narratives, themes were identified regarding her experiences of bullying. These themes were organised as concepts pertaining to her lived experiences, feelings, and reactions of these bullying experiences. The themes were organised into factors pertaining to the circumstances/facts/conditions of her bullying experiences, namely the emotional impact, her self-esteem and identity, her personal characteristics, and her parenting style. Three spheres, each representing a section in the mother’s life, were then identified as her family sphere, social sphere, and parenting sphere. Firstly, it was found that the mother presents with a profile similar to that of a bully victim, yet with importantdifferences pertaining to her own childhood context, and her construction of the term bullying. Secondly, it was also found that there exists a thematic link between the mother’s childhood experiences and her parenting experiences. Finally, it was found that the mother’s childhood bullying experiences culminated into the mother’s own and unique parenting style. Copyright