A woman can only do but so much as she hears the silence of the loud dismissive cries from a young man raised without his father. Can you imagine how much easier it would be on the mother and the son if we STOP SAYING that "Women cannot raise boys into productive men" or "Only a Man can raise a Man"? What message are we sending young men who are growing up in a single parent household when they hear that?
It sounds like our mothers and boys are trying to fight a losing battle. This could be the very negative seed planted that is telling them both that they are not enough (and they will never be enough), which contributes to low self-esteem and an inability to perform at their greatest potential.
I can only imag