BackAnew.......I believe that Hawkeye's last paragraph contains an important Essential Truth.
It brings, to mind, Sinade O'Connor's story about her mother, and the, largely, abusive treatment by her mother. Her mother, apparently struggled with mental illness, herself.
Even with all of the pain and abuse....Sinade has talked about that "primal brain" and the intense yearning that she still has for her mother's approval and love.
This is woven, very much into her songs.