The Unfulfilled Mother

"The Unfulfilled Mother" is the story of Ada, a woman in the 1940s - '50s who cannot find fulfillment in marriage and motherhood, and with each successive child, becomes more and more overwhelmed, so that she is unable to nurture her family. There is a lot of conflict as she becomes more and more estranged from her husband, a career Naval officer, who, unlike the children, can escape to sea. The story delves into her background where she herself was un-nurtured by her parents who worked day and night and left her responsible for a younger brother to whom she became totally devoted. She is bereft when he runs away to escape their dire existence and abusive father. He also leaves her best friend pregnant. It sounds like a soap opera, but it is based partly on real people. There is a surprise reunion at the end.