Boundaries

• Boundary issues can develop between a mother and a son if the pair is either too close or too distant from one another. A mother needs to take care to give her son the space that he needs to grow into a man. This means allowing him to solve problems for himself and not being overly critical or judgmental of his actions. A son can interfere with his mother's boundaries if he does not give her the space she needs to live her own life.
  
  

Communication

• Issues with communication arise if a mother and son are unable to be open with one another to discuss important situations and concerns. Sons can be more closed off emotionally than daughters due to cultural and psychological norms, so a mother needs to make an effort to talk to her son when he is open to it. Serious conversations regarding sex, relationships, school, peer pressure and friends need to be a regular part of a mother and son relationship.
  
  

Trust

• Another issue that can arise in a mother and son relationship surrounds the area of trust. A mother and son must be able to trust one another to have a healthy relationship. If the mother is not present in her son's life in a supportive way, he may develop the feeling that he cannot trust his mother. Similarly, if the son is not open about things going on with him internally, the mother may become suspicious and feel that she cannot trust him.
  
  

Other Issues

• Issues can develop when a mother is overly emotional and dramatic when speaking with her son. As a male, he has a different, more succinct and less dramatic way of communicating with people in his life. A mother needs to try to be understanding of issues that her son is experiencing while growing up that are different from issues she experienced. If a mother does not spend enough time with her son, or provide enough affection and comfort during his early years, he may develop an insecure attachment bond with her. This can lead to behavioral problems in school and in later years.