“Working outward in concentric circles from the single mother’s situation, we can easily draw a picture of what a ‘good’ mother-son relationship needs in order to flourish. In its ideal form, mom would be experiencing physical, material, social, and emotional support from four interdependent sources: an intimate partner who is also attached to the child; a select group of close friends and family; a wider community that supports mom’s values and goals; and a maternity-flexible workplace.”
