Father-son relationships have often been touted as being both necessary and important in a young man's development. But many scholars say the interaction between mother and son is just as influential.

You've probably heard about the importance of boys having a strong relationship with their fathers.

In fact, the presence of a positive male role model in a young boy's life is practically indispensable. But equally important to any young boy's success in life is the quality of his relationship with his mother.

Traditionally, the mother and son relationship has faced some unique challenges, based in large part on cultural stereotypes. Expected to mother under the definitions of a male-dominated society, mothers of sons are often in a quandary.

"Mothers face the perception that if they get too close to their sons, their sons will become soft, weak or dependent as adult men," says Dr. James Longhurst, vice president of clinical and psychological services at Starr Commonwealth's Montcalm School for Boys.

But according to Longhurst, nothing could be further from the truth.

"Boys who grow up with close, positive relationships with their mothers actually grow up to be very successful men. Often, they do very well in whatever careers they pursue, even those that are highly competitive. They do not feel the need to be manipulative and overly aggressive, and they do not pursue society's 'macho' stereotypes," Longhurst says. "They grow up to be both successful and sensitive men."

At Montcalm School for Boys, a private residential treatment program for boys ages 12 to 18, a key part of turning a troubled boy's life around is strengthening his relationships with both parents.

"When helping any of the boys at Montcalm get their lives on the right track, we place a huge amount of emphasis on helping them reestablish strong relationships with their mothers and their fathers," says John Weed, director of Montcalm School for Boys. "We recognize that true and lasting change in any boy's life involves the support and work of the entire family unit.

"If a mother and son are struggling in their relationship, we take the time to make that a part of what we deal with in the son's treatment," Weed said. "While family involvement in the treatment process can too easily be overlooked, it's critical. A strong bond with his mother, his father, his siblings, and so on, is key to any troubled boy's success."

Montcalm School for Boys is part of Starr Commonwealth, a children's organization which has been a leader in strength-based treatment for children for more than 90 years. The school, which has programs for girls and boys (in Ohio and Michigan, respectively), uses the positive peer culture developed at Starr Commonwealth to help children turn their lives around by building on their abilities and turning crises into opportunities.

Starr Commonwealth is a nationally and internationally recognized private, nonprofit organization serving more than 5,000 children, families and professionals each year from locations in Columbus and Van Wert, Ohio and Albion, Battle Creek and Detroit, Mich. Services range from foster care to residential treatment and from in-home counseling to programs that help young adults learn to live independently.

For more information on Montcalm School for Boys, call 866-244-4321. For information on Montcalm School for Girls, call 866-289-9201, or you can log on to www.montcalmschool.org.