The direct object is the person doing the action, so in this case, the answer is 'The mother'.
Action verbs indicate an action, they do something.
Linking verbs indicate non-action words, they require no action.
Action verbs:
turned
grows
played
looked
wandered
Linking verbs:
became
felt
sounds
Determine action verbs:
smelled
looked
grows
tasted
performed
turned
Determine linking verbs
sounded
smelled
feels
1. rusticate
2. lacerate/truncate
3. obfuscate
4. intricate
5. delicate
6. replicate/duplicate
7. abdicate
8. desiccate
9. placate
10. eradicate
11. extricate
12. bifurcate
13. domesticate
14. implicate
15. vindicate
16. dedicate
17. complicate
18. pontificate
19. certificate
20. inculcate
21. demarcate
22. locate
23. vacate
24. advocate
25. educate
26. medicate
27. allocate
28. fabricate
29. dislocate
30. intoxicate