Only son syndrome?

I'm wondering what the OP's original Gransnet name was ... I'm sure I've seen this type of post recently. That long thread about apologies anyone? Just saying ... and wondering what responses the OP is hoping to get and why.

On the first evening back from our honeymoon my exH placed his shoes outside our bedroom door, on enquiring why he had done this he said that his mother always cleaned them ready for the next day. I told him where he could stick his shoe brushes and tin of Kiwi polish.
Shortly afterwards I was pressing his trousers and was told that I didn't do them like his mother did. I screwed them up and threw them back in the ironing pile and told him that next time his mum came round she could have the honour of pressing them.

When my brand new DH did the same with his shoes, I pointed out that my father counted shoe cleaning as one of his jobs. It was a purely academic argument anyway as no one had given us shoe cleaning kit for a wedding present and we had none.

Is there any explanation for this claimed "son preference" by mothers? I see it referred to in a lot of places, amd was told growing up that it was a fact of life. But I was being raised by a bunch of fruitloops, so I was never sure that it was generally true. Any insight from your life experiences, ladies?

My reaction is a couple of posts above yours gummybear and I think it is just that some people get on and others don't.

OurKid1, my original name was judypark and I changed it because I was too identifiable, especially with posts now appearing on FB.
This is only the second time I've initiated a post on GN, the last being for advice on a terminally ill friend.
On the back of a currently active thread I was genuinely interested in the experiences of others.
My hope is to read of the honest opinions of other GNs.
I do not have any ulterior motive nor wish advice or condonement.
I thought this would open up an interesting thread and considering the varied and many responses it has.

I am so grateful to my DIL, at one time I thought my DS would be at home for ever.
Lovely though he is, we did look forward to 'our own time'.

M0nica I think that my MIL felt the same about me - thank goodness she's taking him off our hands at last

I married an elder (not only) son and learned what it was never to be considered good enough - as did the wife of his younger brother. This taught me that if my own son liked a girl well enough to engage in an LTR it was up to me to find out her good points and make an effort!

There is not one serious girlfriend of my now thirty seven year old only son (with whom I believe I have a very good but not stifling relationship) who I would not have welcomed as a DIL. But I have to admit that the latest one, who looks as though she may stay the course, is probably the best of all. Fingers crossed I may get lucky and become her MIL. I hope she will be prepared to put up with me....

I was very lucky with my mother in law. Se had two sons and said I was the daughter she wish she had had. I loved and admired her tremendously and now I have a daughter in law myself I try to treat her with love and respect for loving my boy as much as me. I am not so sure she feels the same about me as I did my mother in law yet but maybe one day!

I married an only son and had a hell of a life with my mother in law till she realsied she needed me in old age. Subsequent she ailienated herself from her grandsons who just about put up with her. She died in Feb and she is a miss from our lives but also a release.

My lovely MIL only had boys - it was a very male-atmosphere household. By the time she acquired a DiL or two I think she was just so pleased to have anyone who'd take the slightest interest in new kitchen curtains, etc.

My 2 DGMs were both antagonistic to their respective DiL and SiL, i.e. my parents. My paternal GM once said to my mum, after receiving a homemade cake from her 'oh thank you. It's NEARLY as good as the ones you can buy in the shops" It became a family catchphrase!. My maternal GM often accused dad of trying to poison her, even though he cared for her in our home after mum had died aged 48. We have 3 married children and love all the young-in-laws dearly. We also get on really well with the "other" parents. It's very good for the DGCs to feel this harmony in the family

Sparkly100 I apologise for being suspicious.

Folks might jeer and think about an only son being a mummy's boy. My mummy's boy met and bred with an absolute bunny boiler. Even her best friend tried to warn him off! Her previous conquest had a similar experience but managed to escape. I tried to "be nice" to her but everything was her terms - her way or absolutely no way, so we now just put up with the fall out from this corrosive last 10 years.

Sheila x

No problems OurKid and no offence taken.