Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do. He turned out gay. Good luck.

What does his sexuality have to do with anything? Do you think he’s gay because you were close? What an odd detail to include.

NP. It’s not an odd detail to include. I work with MANY gay men in my industry and they’re stereotypically very close to their moms, less so with their fathers.

I doubt a close relationship “causes” gayness. lol. You’re the only one saying that here, PP!

Anonymous wrote:I do. He turned out gay. Good luck.

What does his sexuality have to do with anything? Do you think he’s gay because you were close? What an odd detail to include.

Anonymous wrote:I do. He turned out gay. Good luck.

Interesting as same with mine that I am closest to!

Love other DS just as much but we have nothing in common at all. I try so hard! He is so loving but has attention issues, learning issues, maturity issues so really hard to have a conversation or to connect. Same with him and my DH so not just a mother-son thing in our case.

He’s away at university and we rarely hear from him. Now has a girlfriend. But I will say .... when he wants to talk he calls and we listen. I also know he knows how much we love him and will always be there for him but it’s not like with our other DC who seeks us out to just talk, hang out, try new restaurants, go visit family, travel, share stories.

Love my boys so much! I have come to accept the differences or I would beat myself up wondering if I did something wrong with one. They are just different and want or need different things from me now that they are men. I know I gave/give them ? percent my unconditional love.

I wish some of the pps would stop playing out their mil issues. This thread is about being close with your teen boys.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Such lovely answers. I was asking bc I have one son, an only, and hes so little, only three, but I’m so surprised how hard we laugh together and what a great time we have. I guess in a funny way it’s not something I was expecting about parenting. I know this is so earnest and naive of me, but I just want to do my best to keep this. Your thoughts are wonderful.

My son is 25 and we've always been very close. I think some of that might have to do with the fact that he was an only child until he was 7. Also, DH traveled a lot for work, so DS and I spent a lot of time together. In his teens he pulled away from both DH and me, which was hard on everybody, though normal and necessary, of course. When he entered college, we developed a different kind of closeness. He is certainly more independent -- thank goodness -- and sets his boundaries (in a good-humored -- or at least civil -- way), but we still have fun together and he occasionally asks for advice (and gives it ) We have a similar relationship with our DD who is 18, but, interestingly, she pulled away from DH more than she did from me (it was the reverse with DS). As they've gotten older, we have really focused on letting them make their own decisions with us playing the role of sounding boards when wanted. We feel very fortunate in being able to enjoy positive and loving relationships with both our kids. I wish you the same, OP.

Very close relationship until about 16-17. Pulled away, a lot of battles of weed and curfews. Close again at 20.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two teen boys, 18 & 16. We are close, but I’m still firm with them, otherwise they’d walk all over me.

I think they tell me more than than share with my husband, but that’s mainly because they are so much like their dad. Even though they give me anxiety and we’ve had a lot of bumps in the road, they’re still my boys. They love to have a mom backscratch or for me to play with their heart while they lounge on the couch.

Wut?

Play with their hair! Lol stupid autocorrect.