Your son is your son until he finds a wife

[OhLaurie]

How apt is this for modern day life?

I remember my MIL used to say this many years ago. Not in a mean way as she was lovely, we got on well and I would always include my in-laws in many family events etc but I suppose my dh did spend more time at my family home when we were younger, rather than at his family home (we have been together since the age of 17).

My mum’s best friend (who has two grown ds) says a similar thing. My parents have two daughters and we are all close still. My mum’s other bf has a son and daughter and is much closer to her daughter than her son and I notice, in the lives of most of my couple friends, the women are more closer to their parents (or at least spend more time with them) than the males.

My ds is almost 19 and has had a girlfriend. Slowly he is spending more and more time round her family home than ours. It sadness me a little as we’ve always had a good family relationship but she is a nice girl and I’m happy that he is happy, as parents that’s all we can wish for I suppose.

If you have teen or grown sons with partners, what has been your experience? Does the saying ‘Your son is your son until he finds a wife’ apply to your life?

Saw a little gem of a film last night, Effie Gray.
Certainly didn’t apply to John Ruskin!

I tend to see it's true.

A lot if men I know don't particularly organise things to see friends. They'll happily go for a beer last minute if people are around.

The women are happy to arrange meet up with friends, sorting out a date a few weeks in advance, thinking oh haven't seen x for ages. So make it happen.

We see my parents every 2-3 months. We see his once a year. He just doesn't suggest events or make plans. (No kids). It's expensive on trains /hotels so nothing is last minute with either set. Just I organise plans to see mine and he is happy to come along.