When a father enforces discipline over the son or daughter, the mother intervenes to defuse the tension so that the children do not become despondent or rebellious. It is not pampering. It is not the mother's intention to win accolades from her own children at the cost of displeasure cast on her husband. In many cases, it is the fathers who show greater fondness for the children which make the latter think that their mothers are unkind.
Generally, while the mother takes care of the health of the children, the father takes care of the mind, playing the role of a mentor. When the two domains intersect, conflicts arise.
K. Jayanthi,
Chennai