He’s Already 35, Still Single and Childless: How a Mother’s Overprotective Love Shaped Her Son’s Life Last week I visited my mother-in-law with my son. One of her childhood friends was there. This lady spent the whole day playing with my son. “It’s such a shame I don’t have any grandchildren,” she said sadly. My mother-in-law’s friend had her son well into her thirties. She doted on her long-awaited child and let him do as he pleased. Her husband died when their boy was still very young, so she raised him alone while working two jobs. When her son turned 35, she finally asked when she might expect grandchildren. He calmly replied, “Never.” He blamed his upbringing, saying his mother had, let’s say, infantilised him. “I’m used to a simple life. No woman wants to be a second mother to me,” he said. He added that “it suits me well enough, and I’m not going to change for anyone else.” “I don’t need anyone but you,” the son affirmed. “I failed to teach him what’s most important: how to be a man!” she admitted. Do you think that a mother’s love can sometimes protect a child so much that it holds them back from becoming independent? I’m keen to hear your thoughts in the comments.

He was already 35 years old, yet had neither wife nor children.

It must have been some years past when I visited my mother-in-laws house with my son. At that time, an old friend of hers was also there. The lady spent the entire day in the company of my boy.

Its such a pity I have no grandchildren, she remarked with a gentle sadness.

This companion of my mother-in-law had become a mother herself rather later in life, bearing a son after the age of thirty. She cherished her long-awaited child dearly, granting him every possible affection. Her husband passed away while the boy was still quite young, and she raised her son alone, working two jobs to keep their household together.

When her son turned thirty-five, she finally asked him when, at last, she could expect to hear the laughter of grandchildren in her home.

He answered her quite calmly, Never.

He explained that it was her way of raising him that was to blame, saying she had cosseted him too much and made him rather childlike.

Im accustomed to a simple existence, the man said. No woman will wish to play the role of a second mother for me.

He added that, in truth, he was content with things as they were, and saw no reason to change for anyone else.

I need no one but you, he murmured.

Ive failed to teach him the most important lesson: how to become a man! the woman confessed, her voice tinged with regret.

Do you believe, too, that a mothers love can shield a child, yet at the same time stand in the way of him becoming his own person?

I look forward to reading your thoughts on this, should you wish to share them.