Abstract:
The research was a qualitative research. The purposes of the study were 1) to study the roles of the Best Mothers in strengthening the family 2) to study the strategies those mothers had employed in order to make their families strong. The selected population for the study were the mothers in Phuket who had been selected as the the Best Mothers on Mothers National Day 2011 by the National Council on Social Welfare of Thailand. Data was collected through related work and an in-depth interview. The results of the study were as follows: 1. The roles of the best mothers in the family included nurturing, providing assistance, taking care of the children, as well as being a role model in the family. In addition to this, the mothers always encouraged the family members to participate in activities, and were responsible for each family members duty. The best mothers also tried to solve conflicts by reasoning, and employed self sufficient life skills, as well as the democratic concept in the family. 2. The strategies used by the best mothers to reinforce the strength of the family were as follows: 2.1 Control the expenses of the family: reusing things; saving; budgeting to use money wisely; avoiding debt. 2.2 Focus on Education: supporting education for their children; introducing learning resources from the community to the family members ; encouraging the family members to undertake religious study for mind development. 2.3 Support the participation of the family members in various activities: sharing opinion with each other in the family; having meals together; supporting each other; doing activities on important days and special occasions in the family.
2.4 Building an awareness of the family members of the importance of family: being a role model to show the members how to be grateful to their elders; giving and caring for their immediate family, and other relatives.