In the secret life of bees why is it important for lily to have a motherly figure in her life?

the importance of a mother for a young girlIn the secret life of bees why is it important for lily to have a motherly figure in her life?
sounds like you just answered your own question. The same reason why its important for a boy to have a father figure as well. Someone they can look up to, a good role model. They can relate on a man to man basis or women to women. It will also pretty much set the course for how they interact with the opposite sex later on and their general perspective of how they view life and social situations.