be happy to help!    Ashley ... View more

Hello:) reading your post struck a cord with me as well. I also have a 17 yr old son who I have raised alone. I am remarried however, I have raised my son with no help from his biological father and my husband of 17 yrs or my current husband. Like you my son and I were closer than most mothers and sons and we were inseparable. I began to notice and expect some show of Independence around 15-16 and as I expected it appeared! It has been difficult as the only thing I have done for the past 17 yrs is make all decisions for him and protect him and love him and now it seems as though someone flipped a switch. I'm supposed to just stop hovering... lol well.... it seemed to happen overnight for him but it's taking me a bit longer to let go of my little boy. I keep reminding myself that he needs to be a man and self sufficient and responsible one day and it's my job to help him accomplish this. Like you everything has become a negotiation and sometimes I don't feel the love and it makes me sad. VERY sad... lol my mother tells me that he will come around once his friends all go there ways and he realizes that the only true thing is ME! So with that in mind.... I choose to pick my battles, remind him how much I love him, keep an open line of communication (on his terms:)) and support him in every way I can. As long as he is doing the right things with regard to school and his job and enjoying himself I just love him and wait with open arms every day. It the hardest thing in the world it seems but we will get through this and one day they will be young men and have their own lives. We can only learn how we fit into this new chapter.❤ ... View more