I had a conversation yesterday with my young adult son. I said to him that I sensed a distance between us. He said that he did not care.

I don't feel that I can relay all of the conversation here, but he asked me who I was currently closer to - my mother or him? I said that I didn't know, but he pressed me, and I ended up saying that it was my mother. He then said - so be happy with that relationship.

He was completely self-controlled and seemed cold when he was speaking. I, in contrast, got emotional a couple of times and when I did he said that I was misinterpreting what he was saying.

I'm really regretting saying that I was closer to my mum, because there have been times when we've been very distant and I've been very angry with her. But he was quite insistent that I think about directly answering his question and I was trying to be honest.

Somehow I know I've screwed up big time and wish in a way that I hadn't tried to speak to him and just accepted that he was distant and thought that it could be an age thing.

I wasn't sure where to post this, but as it was about communicating and emotional distance I posted it here.