Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-11469381-20131204233104/@comment-21812275-20140702003429

I think a mother figure is definitely the one thing missing in the turtles' lives. They have no older, feminine character to give them maternal love of any kind. They literally have no idea what it's like to experience having a mother. Aside from their turtle mommy, I guess, but Heaven knows what happened to her.

I feel like if Tang Shen were still alive, she would show the turtles a lot of understanding and compassion, in a way that only a mother can care for her children. I feel like she would get a lot of respect in that household (if one ought to call a sewer a household)--and if she didn't, Splinter would knock some sense into his sons. (A rather amusing thought)

She would help Leo grow into his role as leader, and counter Raph's anger with her patience. She would encourage Donnie in his thirst for knowledge, and she would be the only one who believes Mikey when he tells crazy stories about pizza monsters or robots with brains in their chests...most of the time. ;)

I don't know why, but when I see that woman in the photograph, that's the kind of mother I picture. And heck, she'd be one shell of a mom.