Growing up experiences are also common. Daughters may talk about how their mothers guided them through puberty, first love, and school difficulties, which are all important aspects of mother - daughter stories.
Another topic is cooking. They might have stories of cooking family recipes together, passing down culinary traditions from one generation to the next.
One common topic is fashion. Mothers and daughters often share their love for clothes, go shopping together, and give each other fashion advice.
One common theme is misunderstandings. For example, when the daughter misinterprets what the mother says and does something completely hilarious as a result. Like when my mom said 'dress up' for a family dinner, I thought she meant in a princess costume. I showed up in a tiara and a big ballgown while everyone else was in normal clothes.
The theme of a hidden past also frequently shows up. It could be that the mother has a dark secret from her past that comes back to haunt them both. This secret could be related to a curse, an old wrong - doing, or something she was involved in that has now put both her and her daughter in danger. This creates a sense of mystery and horror as the daughter slowly discovers the truth about her mother and the situation they are in.
Communication can be a big problem. In many real - life mother - daughter relationships, the mother may be too overbearing and not really listen to what the daughter has to say. For instance, a mother might constantly interrupt her daughter when she tries to talk about her problems at school. Also, jealousy can be an issue. Sometimes, a mother may feel jealous if the daughter gets more attention from the father or other family members. And this can create tension in their relationship. The relationship is complex and these are just some of the common challenges.
Another theme is the search for identity. The daughter often tries to define herself apart from her mother, but at the same time realizes that her mother has a big influence on her identity. In stories like 'Two Kinds', the daughter struggles with the identity her mother wants for her and the one she wants for herself.
Acceptance is a common theme. The mother has to accept herself as a lesbian and the daughter has to accept her mother's identity. Another theme is love. Despite any external difficulties, the love between them remains strong. For example, in some stories, the mother's family might initially be against their relationship, but their love overcomes this.
A third common theme is growth and understanding. As the story progresses, the characters, especially the daughters, often grow and come to a better understanding of their mothers. In 'A Pair of Tickets', the daughter's journey to China leads to a new understanding of her mother and their relationship.
A common theme is also the passing on of values. Mothers usually try to pass on their values, whether it's cultural, moral or family - related, to their daughters. Sometimes the daughters resist, but in the end, they may come to appreciate these values. Also, the theme of sacrifice is there. Mothers often sacrifice a lot for their daughters, and this is often explored in mother - daughter short stories.
Conflict is also very common. Differences in values, expectations, and generational gaps often lead to conflicts between mothers and daughters. Like in 'Two Kinds', the mother wants the daughter to be a prodigy in a certain way, but the daughter resists.
Some common topics could be fairy tales like Cinderella or Snow White. These stories often teach lessons about kindness and perseverance. Another topic might be adventures in far - off lands, which can spark the daughter's imagination. And family stories from the dad's own childhood are also popular as they can help the daughter understand her family history.
One story could be that the daughter lied about her grades to her mother. When the mother found out, she spanked her as a form of punishment. She then sat down with her daughter to talk about the importance of honesty.