-Not Quite A Mother-
She was the one who broke up the fights (when she wasn't starting them). She was the one with a comforting hoof for everypony's shoulder (when there wasn't one wrapped around hers). She was the one who was gentle but firm (when she didn't default to yelling).
They caused trouble, got scared and ran back to each other to make excuses. But then she did exactly the same thing. In the end, Applejack wasn't quite sure what she was trying to be. She wasn't a troublemaker, a dreamer, a coward or a clown. But she wasn't quite a mother, either.