Originally Posted by Jan in VA

Critical people are angry people. and angry people are scared people.
Scared she can't do it at all.
Scared she didn't teach you well enough (in anything).
Scared of criticism that it isn't "right" so she doesn't do it at all (such as finish her own quilts).
Scared if she doesn't criticize first she'll be criticized (for something she's done that she perceives is not good enough).

Scared people need reassurance that they are in the presence of people who are quite confident/comfortable with what the scared person fears.....they need to see that *someone* isn't scared like they are. Be that person for your mother, maybe she'll eventually be able to relax and accept that you know exactly what you're doing. Or are at least compleely comfortable with how whatever is working out.

Her comments are way more an indication of how she's feeling than how you're doing!

Jan in VA