Ah, Joyce Summers and her daughter Buffy. From my perspective, they sure have what I call a unique bond — especially when it comes to mothers and daughters.

One example of that is in the Season 2 episode Bad Eggs. In the opening scene, Buffy and Joyce discuss Buffy's desire to buy a revealing dress while at the Sunnydale Mall; they then split up to each do an important errand before the mall closes — Joyce goes to the printers (as she needs to order the flyers for the grand opening of a (possibly) brand-new wing of the art gallery she owns) before getting some food for her and Buffy at the food court, and Buffy is sent off to the tailor and pick up her mother's outfit from Everyday Woman.

On her way there, Buffy sees a guy wearing a cowboy hat romancing a girl, but then realizes he's a vampire when she looks in a nearby mirror and notes his lack of a reflection. She follows them upstairs, where she scares the girl off and fights with the vampire (who introduces himself as Lyle Gorch) until he runs away. 

Buffy then returns to her mom, but has forgotten about her errand. This frustrates Joyce, who then lectures Buffy on responsibility; when Joyce asks if Buffy ever thinks about anything besides boys and clothes, a chagrined Buffy replies with "Saving the world from vampires?" (meaning the demonic Hellmouth kind), causing her mother to sigh in exasperation. 

Joyce's saying she doesn't know what goes on in Buffy's head is basically a callback to the mother-daughter scene in the Season 1 finale Prophecy Girl where Joyce brings up the Spring Fling Dance. Buffy replies someone did ask her (meaning her friend Xander Harris), but is surprised when Joyce says it wasn't the right someone (possibly meaning Angel), and adds, "See? Sometimes I actually do know what you're thinking."

Buffy: Come on, Mom, please?

Joyce: I'm sorry, honey.

Buffy: Don't you understand how important this is?

Joyce: It's an outfit — an outfit that you may never buy.

Buffy: But I looked good in it.

Joyce: You looked like a streetwalker.

Buffy: But a thin streetwalker. (gets a look from her mom) That's probably not gonna be the winning argument, is it?

Joyce: You're just too young to wear that.

Buffy: Yeah, and I'm gonna be too young to wear it until I'm too old to wear it.

Joyce: That's the idea. (stops and looks around) The stores are closing, and I still need to order the flyers for the opening. (considers, then puts both bags in one hand) Okay. I'll go to the printers and then get our food. (pulls out a slip of paper) You go to the tailor and pick up my outfit from Everyday Woman. (hands Buffy the slip of paper)

Buffy: (looks at the paper) Everyday Woman?

Joyce: Mm-hm. There's the receipt.

Buffy: Why didn't you just go to Muumuus R Us?

Joyce: Do now, make fun of your mother later. (walks off)

Later, after Buffy does her sacred duty (but forgets her errand)..

Buffy: (comes walking into the mall food court and spots her mom at a table with their food, waiting for her. Joyce stares at the food, looking bored and watching it get cold; she looks up as Buffy arrives) Oh, bliss. (sits) Mall food. (looks up)

Joyce: Buffy?

Buffy: (attentive) Mom?

Joyce: Where's my dress?

Buffy: (confused) Your dr..? Oh. (winces in realization) Oh, God.

Joyce: Let me guess: you were distracted by a boy.

Buffy: (cringes) Technically.

Joyce: (leans back) Buffy...

Buffy: (exhales) Look, I-I can go get it right now.

Joyce: They're closed. I'll just have to fit it in tomorrow.

Buffy: Sorry.

Joyce: (sternly) A little responsibility is all I ask. Honestly, don't you ever think about anything besides boys and clothes?

Buffy: Saving the world from vampires?

Joyce: (crosses her arms and shakes her head) I swear, sometimes I don't know what goes on in your head. (Buffy just looks back at her)

Now that is a really great part of the episode to watch. Basically, Joyce has this image of her daughter only thinking about clothes and boys instead of her grades at school or her future. Sometimes, mothers are that way when it comes to their daughters.

Of course, I can see Kristine Sutherland (who did an amazingly awesome job with her portrayal of Joyce in the series) watching those parts of the episode, as well as laughing a little at Joyce's lines. I can also see her taking a liking to the one "Don't you ever think about anything besides boys and clothes?" and how it sounds — as that line sure speaks volumes to many women who are mothers.

"That Joyce — she sure has a mind of her own."

Well, from my perspective, I find that to be quite true about Joyce right there. Deep down, she knew there was something special about her daughter Buffy (and was eventually able to accept the world her daughter was in when it came to vampires, demons and the Hellmouth in Sunnydale before she passed away from a brain aneurysm at the end of the Season 5 episode I Was Made to Love You).

Of course, not all mothers think that their daughters only care about their looks, clothes and boys. Some think that they care about the environment, or helping out others, too.