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From YourTango.com

By Alisha Cornett

Men. We’ll never understand them. And even more confusing, the bond they share with their mothers will forever be a mystery. No man really wants to be labeled “mama’s boy,” but most are. They must be, because they reflect her influence, positive or negative. The relationship a man has with his mother determines what he thinks of himself, and of women in general.

A mother and son’s relationship directly affects yours and your partner’s relationship, too; the way you handle certain situations as a couple, the way you make decisions, the way you manage your household.

I talked to four female friends last week to get their perspective about their partners’ relationships with their mothers. It was enlightening to hear what they had to say. Three ladies are married, and one is engaged. Their ages range from 22 to 50. I’ve always been a fan of Little Women, so let’s just go ahead and call them Jo, Beth, Meg and Amy.

Four big truths came out of my chat with these four women. Let’s talk about them.

1. Mother-son relationships can be strained, and you may not know where you fit in.

“I expected her to be like my parents, but she was just, well, not,” Jo said. “She made no effort to see us or spend time with us. If we saw her, it was because we went to see her.

“My parents were constantly coming to see us and we were going to see them—it was reciprocated. She always used how busy we were as an excuse not to see us.”

Jo’s husband has been getting in contact with his mother more, and they talk now more than ever. However, she says the bond is still distanced, especially her relationship with his mom. They still only see his mother a few times a year, comparatively less than they see her parents. Jo continued to say how different her husband is from his mother. She hopes that their relationship will continue to improve, but what’s next for her and his mom? It’s a mystery.

If he’s not close at all with his mother, this may be a sign that he has intimacy issues, which you should watch out for. However, if he at least makes an effort, like in Jo’s case, but the effort isn’t reciprocated on the mother’s part, then you can commend your mate for trying to close that gap. Understanding the difference between him and his mother can better help you know how to understand their relationship—and hopefully maintain something of a relationship with her yourself.

Check out the other 3 truths Alisha learned from her chat on YourTango.com.

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