Junior vs. Ricky

I couldn't help but notice the parallels between 'Night Mother and The Bluest Eye. One such example is the relationship between a mother and her child, specifically, the relationship between Geraldine and Junior and Jessie and Ricky. Geraldine is not only a mother to Junior, but she is also a teacher, who shapes Junior's views on the world and people around him. She teaches Junior what is right and what is wrong. Geraldine, in a sense, controlled Junior, which he disliked and funneled his anger on to the cat, which Geraldine adored. In 'Night Mother, Norman shows a mother-child relationship that is opposite to that of Geraldine and Junior. Jessie is frustrated by Ricky's actions. She blames herself for how Ricky turned out. Jessie can't control Ricky. Even thought these two relationships are on two opposite sides of the spectrum, they share a common underlying notion that Geraldine and Jessie still loved Junior and Ricky respectively even if they committed actions that did not match with their mothers' expectations.