What are the motifs in The Heart of a Woman by Maya Angelou?

A recurring idea in the book is mother and child relationnships. A great deal of the book details the relationship between Angelou and her son, Guy. Angelou was a single mother from the age of seventeen. Unlike many young single mothers, Angelou did not allow her status or responsibilities to keep her from living life to the fullest. Angelou simply took Guy along for the ride.