A mommy’s boy is a boy or a man who has a very close relationship with his mother. As an adult, the man may talk to his mother on a daily basis and spend more time with her than some consider normal. Often, he will turn to his mother when he needs advice and may respect her opinion above that of other family members and friends. In some cases, he may continue to live at home with his mother far longer than most adults. Such a man willingly does things for his mother whenever she needs help and vice versa.
Usually, the term carries negative connotations, and these men are seen as overprotected, smothered, and incapable of doing things for themselves. Interestingly, however, daddy’s girls are not viewed as negatively. As such, it may be concluded that many view a close and protective relationship between a father and daughter as healthy, yet consider a man’s close relationship with his mother wrong and unnatural.
Often, the person who has the strongest feelings of displeasure concerning a man’s relationship with is mother is his wife or girlfriend. Frequently, a woman in this position feels insecure about the attention the mommy’s boy gives his mother, and she may believe his attention should be centered on her. The wife or girlfriend may be angered when her partner seeks his mother’s advice or shares intimate details about their relationship with her. Women in this situation often become extremely resentful of the mother/son relationships.
In all fairness, the mother of a mommy’s boy may feel jealous and resentful as well. She may believe her son’s significant other isn’t good enough for him, for example, or that no woman is really good enough for her son. In some cases, the mother may actually interfere with her son’s romantic relationship, attempting to cause problems and remain the center of his attention. The man may be unaware or unwilling to face up to the negative emotions or behavior of either woman in his life.
Though being a mommy’s boy is often viewed negatively, it is interesting to note that many people think a man’s treatment of his mother is indicative of the way he will treat his wife or girlfriend. If that is true and the man can love both women, a man who has a good relationship with his mother may actually be a good partner in a close, romantic relationship. That is, of course, if the new woman can find a way to embrace his mother and gain her acceptance as well.