I REMEMBER when my first born son was in high school, he would be very upset every time his dad and I dropped by to pick him up after school, or – whenever I made unannounced visits to talk to his teachers or the principal to see how he was doing in his studies. I would also feel upset over his being upset, because I wondered – why on earth would he not like us to come by his school? Besides, I thought, I used to do that when he was in grade school, and he was okay with it – and in fact even wanted me to be around him most times especially during school activities.
Then I found out the reason – he was being tagged by his classmates as a “MAMA’S BOY”! 
Perhaps I got carried away by my being a doting mom. I forgot – my boy was already an adolescent, and being seen by his peers with his parents – particularly his mother – was like a “death sentence”. He was in that awkward stage when he was just starting to grow up and assert himself as a man though not yet one.
After learning about his predicament, I tried to put a distance between him and me and I avoided going to his school except only during card days and other occasions when parents were needed.
At first, I felt sad that my eldest child did not seem to need me anymore. But I was awakened to the reality that parents – no matter how much they want to hold their kids in their arms longer – will eventually wind up being by themselves again – when the children, one by one shall have moved on to start lives of their own.
I am consoled however that despite my boy’s apparent independence, he doesn’t veer away from his family. He may have lived away from us since he was in first year college, but I trust his heart will always be with us back home. Well, it felt good that he came rushing home one day when he was feeling sick to seek comfort…. He called me for advice when he needed to decide between two job offers….
And – I believe that now, at 26, he doesn’t mind anymore if he is called Mama’s boy. I do hope though that the Mama in his mind is still me and not his ‘Mama’-girlfriend. LOL!