Since Liz's adolescence, when viewing television commercials that celebrated the ostensibly unconditional love of mothers for their children, or on spotting merchandise in stores that honored this unique bond with poems or effusive declarations-picture frames, magnets, oven mitts-she had felt like a foreign exchange student observing the customs of another country.
Since her teenage years, Liz has felt distanced from the societal portrayal of motherhood depicted in television commercials and merchandise. These ads and products often showcase an idealized image of mothers' love for their children, which Liz perceives as foreign. Instead of resonating with her own experiences, these representations feel like they belong to another culture altogether.
As she encounters various items that celebrate the mother-child bond, such as picture frames and magnets with sentimental messages, Liz's sense of alienation intensifies. The emotional connections that these items are supposed to evoke seem to elude her, reinforcing her perception of being an outsider in a world that holds motherhood in such high regard.
