My son is 17 and lives with his dad. I made him leave over a year ago now as I couldn't take the verbal abuse from him. I know reading many of your stories that he doesn't have the problems many have. However I just couldn't take his extreme aggression towards me anymore. I felt I'm sure like women in abussive relationships feel, he never hit me but I'm sure it was a matter of time. Since he has moved away our relationship is strained but he doesn't cause me any hassle. He works, is learning to drive and is in a happy realationship himself. If I text him he answers although short answers. He never texts me, calls me or visits. It was his birthday a month ago so I deceided to try and bridge the gap. I gave him money for driving lessons and took him and girlfriend out for dinner. It was a nice evening no drama. It was my birthday a couple of weeks later and all I got was a text. No visit, no card. It was my mums birthday a couple of weeks later and she got the same, just a text, he rarely visits her and they have always had a great realationship. My question to you all is do I keep texting him? I feel that he only gets in touch when it's his birthday and Christmas so he can get presents and then I between there is nothing, no care, no love nothing. Do I keep going, do I still buy him Christmas and birthday presents when he just doesn't bother I between. My partner feels I shouldn't and that I'm rewarding bad behaviour and I should just leave it until he makes more of an effort. It breaks my heart.