Motherhood is one of the most important social roles of women. Similar to the role of father and child it is determined by the needs and values that dominate in the society. As we know, up to the XIXth century, the model of the patriarchal family was prevailing in Europe with the domination of husband–father power. The mother first of all should have give care, sacrifice, devotion and at the same time also love. Motherhood was seen differently in the theoretical perspective. Analysis of old source materials that are shows that the role of the mother in the process of breeding was differently understood throughout history and as a consequence the views over the sense of motherhood have changed. Considering different views of motherhood in pedagogical literature over the course of time we can describe it as a gradual evolution of the idea of motherhood: from looking at motherhood more biologically and emotionally to a more and more consciously systematic treating of the motherhood ideology. The image of mother and motherhood in this scientific description was considered normatively including pedagogical theory that found its connections in works of the education and breeding classics collected in history of breeding sources – pre-war and later. It is worth adding that maternal behaviours were sometimes disturbed what was analyzed in pathological categories of exceptions.