Claire Richard

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Claire Richard, author of Forgiving Our Mothers, argues that while jokes about not wanting to become your mother are common, they often mask genuine emotional pain.

But she also believes attitudes are changing as ideas about motherhood, family and women's roles continue to evolve.

So how do you break the cycle? Ironically, trying to become your mother's complete opposite can become its own trap.

If your identity is built entirely around rejecting her, it can be difficult to work out who you actually are.

Claire Richard argues that moving beyond matrophobia doesn't mean cutting ties with your mother or rejecting everything she represents.

It's about recognising what you've inherited without feeling defined by it.

After all, sharing some of your mother's personality traits doesn't mean you're destined to repeat her life.