From what you have shared about your mother, her life was constant problems. Her requests seem to be that of a request that others get along somehow to reduce her stress. Sounds like your mother never had a man that took care of her, not her father or a husband or now not even her son. He is her favorite? Well, he is the only male around her and the only male she could love too. It's sad that he lets her down, he probably doesn't even know if he did help her it would mean a great deal to her. Sad!