Why Do Sons Forget Their Mothers?
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Does it feel like your son has forgotten all about you? Are you worried that your relationship with your son will falter?
Take a deep breath and relax.
There are good explanations about why you feel this way and somewhat easy ways to solve this big problem you are facing.
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Why Do Sons Forget Their Mothers?
Most of them don’t. It only feels as though your son has forgotten you, but that is usually a one-sided emotion. Your son may be pulling away from you as part of a healthy, independent relationship. Give him the space he needs while also reminding him that you will always be there for him.
The Mother/Son Dynamic
Children and mothers have an automatic bond. The nurturing, caring environment that the mother brings is cherished by their children.
When they are young, sons need their mothers to provide love, shelter, food, and other basic necessities.
As these sons get older, they need their mother less and less.
Around the time your son hits his teenage years is when you will first feel a divide in your relationship. It will grow stronger as he ages.
When Sons Pull Away
Sons don’t pull away from their mothers out of spite. They do so because the mother has served her purpose.
The goal of raising children is to give them the tools they need to be successful, independent people.
A teenager will find that he can be largely self-sufficient. An adult no longer needs a mother to cut food into bite-size pieces or hold hands to cross the street.
The child pulling away from you is not something to fear but something to celebrate. It means you have done your job well.
The Changing Role of the Mother
It is natural to feel pain as your son pulls away from you.
You have been an integral part of his life for so long that taking a much smaller role can feel dismissive.
You can continue to be a regular part of his life but you will need to take a backseat role.
Let him live the way he chooses but also provide unconditional love and support. He will turn to you when he needs you, but that might not be as often as you like.
Being Proactive With the Divide
A great way to manage your emotions and your son’s conflicting feelings about pulling away from you is to facilitate these changes yourself.
This is beneficial to both you and your son.
For instance, recently,I told my son that I would no longer be checking up on his grades and homework. As a junior in high school, he needs to learn the responsibility of managing his schoolwork himself.
I said that I would look at interim progress reports and report cards, but I would no longer be checking daily to insure all assignments are handed in and grades are in a good place.
He looked terrified.
While the idea of independence was appealing to him, he also wanted the safety net of knowing his mom would make sure his homework was handed in on time.
After a few days, he realized that he could manage his homework fine on his own. While he no longer needs me for this, he is still successful and he appreciates the freedom.
For me, it’s a win-win.
How to Manage Growing Pains
Your child’s growth cannot and should not be stopped.
Give him all of the skills he needs for his future, and then congratulate yourself for making it through potty training, driver’s ed, talks about his changing body and that awful smell coming out of his bedroom.
Next, give yourself something new to focus on.
Start a new hobby. Rebuild relationships with old friends. Take evening classes. Do yoga. Refocusing your attention to a skill or activity that will benefit you will help you through the changes in your relationship.
Your goal isn’t to replace your son but to give him space while focusing on you.
Key Takeaways
The mother/son relationship is a beautiful thing. Feeling forgotten is not.
Remind yourself that your son may not stay in touch with you as much as you wish, but he will never forget you.
Do you have any experience with this? Leave your story in the comments!
Why do I always have to be there for him if he contacts me only when he needs something? If he wants distance and doesn’t call because he doesn’t need me, why do I have to respond? Shouldn’t there be mutual caring?
Hi Riri,
Thank you for commenting and sharing your thoughts and concerns.
It’s understandable that you feel hurt by your son’s behavior. It’s natural to expect a mutual and caring relationship with your loved ones. Something to keep in mind is that everyone has different ways of expressing love and care, and sometimes people may not realize how their actions impact others.
It’s important to establish open communication and express your feelings to your son. This can help both of you better understand each other’s needs and expectations.
You might also want to set healthy boundaries, allowing yourself to be there for him while also taking care of your own well-being. Remember, it’s okay to prioritize your emotional needs.
Wishing you the best in your relationship with your son.
All I can do is try and be patient. He’s not usually this bad. He’s just thoughtless.
This article helped. My 2 sons are grown, and both doing so well. They are busy and do not reach out as much as I would like. It is painful, being a mom, and seeing your children grow up, nevertheless.
This has been hard for me but my son does text if I give him space but it could be a month or more before he checks in to say hi. I went to visit him drove 33 hours and for the first two days the visit was great. Day 3 he was asking why I was staying so long and that he had a life. He is single and 25 years old. So I left early. Just had to be thankful he gave me two days.
Hi Heather,
Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s clear you deeply care for your son, and it’s understandable that his response during your visit might have been hurtful.
It’s important to remember that people, especially young adults, might need some time and space to grow and learn how to balance various aspects of their lives, including family relationships.
It’s great that you’re giving your son space, and it’s heartening that he does reach out to you, even if it’s less frequently than you’d like. Try to cherish the positive moments you share, and continue to maintain open communication.
You might also consider discussing your expectations for visits in the future, to ensure that both of you are on the same page and can avoid misunderstandings.
Something else that’s worth mentioning is that as people grow and go through different life stages, such as getting married and having children, their perspectives and priorities often change.
It’s quite possible that as your son matures, has a family of his own, and takes on new responsibilities, he may develop a deeper appreciation for the bond you share.
Wishing you continued strength and patience in your relationship with your son.
No just starting son got his first house and about to have his first child. Which I’m the only one who knows the gender but I am just an emotional mess 😠I keep telling my self everything is gonna be alright new season of life I’m gonna have to get used 😢
Hang in there Crystal. As you said, some of this is the stage of life they’re in, and you’ve done such a good job raising them so that they’re independent and can do some of the things they need to do by themselves.