Question

You have been asked to present an evaluation of the approaches of the mothers of both the baby Seagull and Amanda towards helping their children. Write this presentation draft including your insights, in about 120 words, comparing the approaches of both parents.

You may begin this way:
One acknowledges that both parents, Amanda’s mother and the baby seagull’s mother both....however,...

Answer 1

The baby seagull’s mother:

The baby seagull’s mother was a parent who wanted to better her child's life by pushing him out of his comfort zone and encouraging him to learn new skills. She believed her son could fly, even though he was afraid, and tried to motivate him by showing him how much fun it could be. She also offered him scraps of fish to reward him for his efforts, a positive reinforcement strategy.

However, the mother's approach also had some drawbacks. She was putting him in danger by constantly pushing the baby seagull to fly and risking his physical well-being. She also didn't acknowledge his fear and anxiety, which could be a source of stress for the baby seagull.

Amanda’s mother:

Amanda's mother is depicted as a strict and critical figure who always corrects Amanda's behaviour, from her posture and habits to her academic performance and personal hygiene.

While her intentions may be good, her methods are shown to be ineffective and in some cases, harmful. By constantly nit-picking Amanda's behaviour, her mother creates an atmosphere of tension and anxiety, which only makes Amanda feel worse about herself. This also causes Amanda to feel like she can never measure up, leading her to seek solace in imaginary worlds and fantasies.

The methods of Amanda's mother do not come across as conducive to achieving this goal. Rather than focusing on Amanda's strengths and encouraging her to develop them, she highlights her weaknesses and shortcomings. Amanda is thus left feeling undervalued, which could negatively impact her self-esteem and mental health.

Comparison:

In comparison to Amanda's mother, the seagull's mother seems to be more attuned to her child's needs and abilities. She recognizes that the baby seagull can fly and wants to help him achieve his full potential. However, she may not consider his fears and anxieties, which can be just as important to his well-being as his flying ability. In contrast, Amanda's mother seems too focused on correcting her daughter's flaws and may not pay enough attention to her strengths and abilities.

Even though both mothers have good intentions and want to better their children's lives, their methods, in part, may be misguided or ineffective. The seagull's mother could benefit from being more sensitive to her child's emotions, while Amanda's mother could benefit from focusing on her daughter's strengths and building her self-esteem. 

Ultimately, the best approach for both parents would be to balance positive reinforcement with sensitivity to the child's needs and limitations.