I think that mothers want to maintain control of their boys and consciously or unconsciously hobble them. Especially when you have a mother who is doing the sole parenting. it is a shame because there is an opportunity there to nurture the independent and protective manly nature in their boy as they get older. But many mothers feel they are losing their "little boy" and stifle that growth.
I'm looking at my relationship with my mother( who was raised by a mother who was widowed when mom was young). Looking back I see times where she belittled me to make me look bad in front of other women. It wasn't until I called her on it in front of those women that she dialed back her criticism.
Funny story...I was at an awards dinner 10 or 15 years ago where my father was getting recognized and I'd struck up a conversation with two sisters whose father was receiving a similar award. I think my wife and children were at home because my introverted wife couldn't bear to be out in public. We get to talking and these girls are just enamored with me and I'm being charming as all hell. My mother interrupts one of the girls with puppy dog eyes and snaps something about "you know he has a wife and children at home!"
I'm watching my sister emasculate my 4 yo nephew and helicopter parent her older daughter. My Ex wife might have been a cold introverted bitch but she sure helped my daughters be confident independent tough girls. I'm going to take some credit there too...
I think if you are a son of a single mother, this is a good read :
https://www.artofmanliness.com/2011/01/ ... ant-to-be/
That's the truth society tries to conceal from man but the world is crumbling. This will appear one way or another.