Kajol, the 51-year-old actress, recently shared her insights on motherhood and the profound, unconditional love that comes with being a parent. In a conversation with Canadian YouTuber Lilly Singh, she revealed that her understanding of parental love deepened significantly after becoming a mother herself. Reflecting on her experience, she recounted a poignant moment six months after the birth of her daughter when she called her own mother and found herself overwhelmed with emotion.

During their discussion, Kajol expressed, “I never truly grasped the extent of my mother’s love until I had my own children. I always believed I had done everything right by her and cared for her deeply. However, I didn’t realize how much she had sacrificed and loved me. Despite our differences, a parent’s love is unwavering, and you instinctively want to mend any rifts.” Her reflections underline the depth of the mother-child relationship and highlight the journey toward emotional maturity.

Delnna Rrajesh, a psychotherapist and life coach, elaborated on the complexities of the parent-child dynamic, noting that there are aspects of these relationships that often remain elusive until one experiences them firsthand. “From a psychological standpoint, the bond between parent and child is among the most intricate emotional connections we encounter. It encompasses love, expectations, disagreements, sacrifices, and sometimes even emotional distance,” she explained.

Rrajesh emphasized that the transition to motherhood transforms a woman’s role from that of a nurtured child to a caregiver. “This shift triggers a profound internal change. Mothers begin to feel an instinctual need to protect, alongside the fears of loss and the immense responsibility that comes with unconditional love. Past experiences are often re-evaluated in this new light,” she noted.

This process, referred to as emotional reframing in psychotherapy, allows individuals to reinterpret their past interactions. “What may have once felt like control is now viewed as protection, and what seemed like strictness can be seen as genuine care,” Rrajesh explained.

However, Rrajesh pointed out that this understanding does not imply that the relationship is without flaws. “It creates an opportunity to appreciate the broader context of the relationship. For many adults, this is the turning point in their relationships with their parents—not by altering the past, but by shifting their perspective on it,” she stated.

In an era where personal boundaries and independence are increasingly valued, there is also a tendency to withdraw from relationships at the first indication of conflict. “From a relationship psychology view, not every disagreement warrants a separation. Many relationships, especially those between parents and children, are intricate and imperfect, yet they hold immense value and are built over many years,” Rrajesh concluded.

A healthy relationship is characterized by:

• Recognizing and respecting differences
• Communicating openly without assigning blame
• Allowing for imperfections
• Prioritizing reconciliation over distance whenever feasible