Rossco it sounds to me that you and the lad are pretty good mates and you have shared a lot of time and love to gether .You sound like a well balanced bloke so why wouldn't the lad with a role model like yourself have a bag full coping statergy's to use in times of need. You'll both be fine he'll try things his way fall over pick himself up dust himself off and think now I know what the old bugger was getting too so dont fret he's away just look after mum because that nesting gene is in their DNA and they have a hard time as well .Time for you two to get out of town have a walk and a sandwhich watching the sun going down. Be happy life is always about experiences .