What a Difference a Mom Makes

September 3, 2012
Leman (Have a New Kid by Friday) brings his distinctive voice and winning persona to his newest appreciation and explanation of the singular relationship between mothers and sons, a relationship that has been differently understood by cultures over time, especially post-Freud. The psychologist and humorist brings a lighten-up sensibility to the subject of the mother-son relationship, understanding the testosterone-driven necessities of maleness, the hormonal imperatives of motherhood, and the sociocultural demands made on both mother and son. Leman has a gift for describing in sprightly, original, and disarming ways the common stages of psychological development of male children; he has listened well to both his clients and to research. Moms, and dads, would do well to heed his laid-back and authoritative observations, which are firm yet flexible.