Destined to be a bad mother

I'd never heard this before... "A bad mother will create another bad mother". My mother-in-law told me this a few months ago. She's perfect, I'll have you know. Makes her daughter perfect too?? I think not! She's just as good a mother as mine was... always going out, pawning of her kids to anyone who will take them, oh... and having a third?! As if the first two aren't going to be messed up enough? I don't think I agree with the statement. I've met more than one amazing mother who had a lousy mother. Makes me wonder if this was just a jab at me?? My mom was a bad mom, but does that make ME a bad mom? Was her mother bad? I don't think so... I would know, I just about spent the first 5 years of my life with her and then again when I was a teenager, castaway by my mom. But, here's what I know...
My grandmother was the sight of perfection from the 50's. Her gorgeous homemade dresses, tiny waist, petite figure, high heels and always looked beautiful... even holding her newborn baby girl, my mom. In old pictures, my grandmother just glowed standing next to my dashing grandpa with a headful of black hair. My mom dressed all in white with bows in her hair, everyone smiling. I can predict what happened all day long, but with no certainty. My mom always makes her childhood seem so horrible once my aunt was born, but let's face it, they're 8 years apart! Out of my first eight years, I spent 3 with my mom. However, I can't help but think that once my grandmother had a miscarriage, things went south for my mom. I can't imagine the disappointment for my grandmother, the sadness she must of felt, which could have very well left my mom feeling pretty lonely. They don't talk much about it, I get the same story everytime they bring it up. However, when my aunt was born, my mom was just about forgotten. My aunt was the miracle baby, mamma's little girl. Maybe this is where it all started?
So, maybe it is true? Bad moms breed bad moms? I can't help it? I don't ignore my kiddos... I love them more than anything. And even though I'm an only child, I try to spread my time and love evenly among the three. A little hard with such a cute little 3-year old, but I do try. Makes me sad that a generalization like this can be made so blindly. My mom may have always been too busy to spend any time with me, but that's not me.