How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"I am your mother, and I should have a say in how you're raised." (2.1.26)
This idea will come up later, when Jeannette accuses Mom of not acting like a mother. Mom doesn't have any desire to raise her own kids—she lets Jeannette cook at three years old, for Shmoop's sake—until someone else does parenting for her. Maybe she feels guilty.
Quote #2
"[My children] were all postmature. That's why they're so smart. Their brains had longer to develop." (2.10.5)
Mom has pride in her children, even if she has a weird way of expressing it.
Quote #3
Mom felt that Grandma Smith nagged and badgered, setting rules and punishments for breaking the rules. It drove Mom crazy, and it was the reason she never set rules for us. (2.21.2)
Mom seems to be the way she is because she is determined to be the exact opposite of her own mother. Speaking of which, it sure does take Mom a long time to mature, herself…