Are Gay Men "Mama's Boys" or Are We Just Better Sons?

With Mother's Day fast approaching, I was thinking about my relationship with my own Mother.

In retrospect, in my formative years, I was closer to my Mom than to my Dad. My Mom would walk me to my elementary school when I was in first grade. I was fortunate, it was a neighborhood school and we, as kids only had to cross one busy street which was manned by the crossing guard. That school is now a faded memory, long ago torn down.

She always greeted my sister and I after school with a healthy snack since Dad came home from work at 6 oclock. She was there to listen to an account of my school day and helped me with my homework. She taught me to stand up for myself and to overcome my shyness.

But relationships always evolve and for a time, there was a love-hate relationship during college.
But I still loved her.

She was the first to sense that I was gay. And she was very accepting of that.

Together she and my Dad were supportive parents and allowed me to pursue in life what would make me happy. I will always treasure that.

So back to the question, "Are We Just Mama's Boys or Are We Just Better Sons?" I firmly believe we are a little of the former and a lot of the latter.

We are better sons. We treat our Moms, for the most part, with kindness and respect. My Mom after the death of my Dad, went through hell coping with her loneliness. I was there for her, as a long distant emotional care giver of sorts. But she pulled herself through it and is a better mother and women because of it. I was her emotional pillar for a while. I feel being gay helped me to help my Mom better cope with her loss.

What are your feelings about our role as sons? Do we tend to be closer to our Mom's than our Dad's?

Whatever the situation, show your Mom how much you love her this Sunday. Afterall, you mean the world to her.