Thank you, you are very kind:))

It doesn't sound strange to American ears. But your rendition will do as well.

Yes, Mark, she is. It just sounds very awkward in English - perhaps it could just be written so: I think she had a very hard time, Mother did. `?

See units 24-26.

Wendy, I thought that Ann-Mari, the girl speaking here, was the 'illegitimate' daughter of Signe. So, referring to her as 'mother' would fit.

Vorschlag Mark: I think she had a very hard time of it, the mother.
I think you need to use 'the mother' here, as she doesn't have a close relationship with her and doesn't normally address her as 'mother', rather as 'Signe'.