My mom is from a big family, she grew up with certain old fashioned beliefs about women, for example, they don't move out from parents house until they marry, etc. I didn't follow any of those beliefs and as I said I'm an only child. I think me not "following her ways" was a huge issue for her from the get go. However, I graduated college, got a job, got married, had kids, all good things as well. You may be right there's too much at the moment for her to talk to me. Maybe after he's released from hospital and back home I may be a bit more successful in doing that.