Do all children go through it or what? The Oedipus complex, I mean.

You know the story in Greek mythology where Oedipus killed his father and married his mother? I must confess I never really believed the story, but there's an element of truth in everything.

My son has just gone through this phase in his development. He recently saw my boyfriend giving me a kiss (I'm a single parent, in case you misunderstand). I took no notice until he later commented on the kiss.

"Mummy, you let Andy kiss you. Do you like him?"

"Yes, I answered. "Do you?" - anxious that they should get on.

"I suppose he's okay, but you didn't have to let him kiss you."

"A kiss is a way of showing you like someone."

He pondered this, but said no more.

A couple of nights later he was going to bed. He always gives me a big hug and a kiss goodnight and I tell him he's my "best pal". This night he asked me if I were going to marry Andy.

I told him I wasn't planning to at the moment.

He then said to me: "Mummy, when I grow up you can marry me." I explained he was my son and couldn't be my husband.

"Why?" was obviously his next question (as it is with all children - why this? Why that?

I simply told him I'd be too old when he was big enough to get married.

I also said he'd probably meet and fall in love with a nice girl and marry her.

"Yuck, no way," he said. "I hate girls."'

I suppose mothers are not girls in the eyes of their sons.