bubblyrat wrote: "but it seems to me that the "punishment" is a bit severe.I mean,why punish the mother,and,therefore,by extension,the son,who may well be now rendered even more vulnerable and confused after Mummy's sudden departure ??"

Even more vulnerable and confused? The person that was 13-year-old at the time is now 17 or 18. I doubt very much that he's stood at the window with hot tears streaming down his face wondering where "Mummy" is and when she's coming home. You're making it sound like he'd be a little kid. I think, if anything, "Mummy" is probably lucky this young man hasn't turned around and given "Mummy" a good hiding for what she's done now that he's not so little.