This discussion is very interesting. I appreciate hearing different points of view on Laura. It seems to me her mother's response to being told about Laura's childhood sexual abuse was to distance herself from Laura by making reference to the father's likely reaction. While this may be similar to what happens in many such mother daughter encounters, I don't think mom is responding to Laura's need for her understanding and acceptance at this moment. It seems likely to me that Laura's mother may have often responded or not responded in ways that didn't validate her daughter.