<p>For a parent with a child (permanently?) away from home, nothing is enough. However, it is the natural order of things for children to leave home and make their own lives. Parents need to be able to let that happen, and it’s really, really hard to do. That being said, children should respect that and contact parents fairly regularly. Technology these days is great, and contact is pretty easy. It’s up to the families to decide what regularly means. Usually, it’s up to the children to decide to contact their families. Transitions are hard on all sides. Your mom will get there. It takes time and patience.</p>
<p>Sounds to me like mom is sad that she’s losing her baby boy to his new gf. She seems jealous. </p>
<p>That seems like more than enough to me. But then again, my parents aren’t clingy. As long as you make the effort, there’s nothing else you can do. It seems like your mom just has to come to grips with the fact that her child is growing up. Some parents can’t do that.</p>
<p>I have to agree with franglish - speaking as a mom whose daughter is now permanently out of the nest, nothing is enough. Sorry!</p>
<p>To the OP:</p>
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<p>You can talk about all kinds of stuff besides your GF: Movies. Music. Current events. The weather. Your mother’s opinions about movies, music, current events, and the weather. Something you saw/heard on the way to work/school. Something crazy your friends said. Something interesting you learned in class. Anything. </p>
<p>And if your mother is like me, she might enjoy more calls that are shorter, rather than one long call. I love the phone calls I get when D is just walking home from the bus and chatting about her day. </p>
<p>We mothers can be unreasonable, but we love you!</p>
<p>I don’t think kids need to talk that much, let your mom do the talking, that’s what I do when I call my mom. She’ll tell me what they had for dinner, and how my dad was being rediculous, and how many deers came into her garden and ate her vege. At some point, she’ll ask me what’s going with me.</p>
<p>I agree with those who have said your mom is likely jealous of your relationship with your gf, and she’s feeling “replaced.” However, it also sounds like your parents are divorced - which could also play a major role in her need to have you near.</p>
<p>My parents divorced when my brother and I were teenagers, and he especially (I was off to college) was on the receiving end of many guilt trips over not coming over to my mother’s house often enough. This continued on well into and past the college years for both of us, almost to the point where were didn’t want to spend ANY time with her because the topic of conversation usually turned to how awful my father was or how lonely she was. It was actually a very unhealthy relationship for me, since I became more of a counselor/friend than a daughter. I even eventually got a job in the same city in which she lived in order to be closer to her, and she wanted to spend every waking minute with me (thankfully I drew the line at moving in with her!). Finally, she met her fiance, got involved in flipping houses, and suddenly, my brother and I no longer existed. </p>
<p>What I’m saying is that your mom may be depressed or lonely since the divorce, and she’s using her relationship with you as a crutch. Encourage her to get involved in other activities - volunteering, a book club, scrapbooking, whatever. Once my mom was happy in her personal life, she stopped being so clingy - in fact, she went to the other extreme!I don’t think the amount of time you’re spending at home as a college senior is in any way not enough - a two hour phone call once a week plus extended visits three times a year is a LOT, IMO. How often do you see your dad, and is he upset about your “lack” of visits/phone calls?</p>
<p>There is match dot com, submit a profile for your mom.</p>
<p>Sounds like you’re doing it about right. Calling is great but Skype or facetime is more satisfying though (at least to me). A regular time to call during the week helps.</p>