Mothers and sons: the timeless tie

THEIR sons grew up to be strong men--smart, solid, successful. But before they completed the journey from boyhood to adulthood, their mothers laid the foundation upon which they built their definition of success, of right and wrong and, most important, of what it means to be a man.

"My mother taught all of us to live our life according to the principles in the Bible," says award-winning singer/songwriter/producer Gerald LeVert. "To this day, her example is what helps me keep my feet on the ground."

Kenny (Babyface) Edmonds knows that feeling well. When he was a little boy growing up in suburban Indianapolis, his mother had a memorable way of teaching him the meaning of responsibility. "To this day," says Edmonds, "I can still see that piece of paper she taped to the door with a list of chores for me to do before I could even think about going outside: wash the dishes, clean the garage, do the windows and mop the floor."

Not that Edmonds is complaining. On the contrary, it is that crucial combination of discipline and love that Edmonds and other sons featured here say made them the men they are today. Because of their mothers, these men agree, they stayed up when they could have gone down, chose right when they could have chosen wrong, held on when they could have let go.

With gratitude and love, seven special sons show off their one-in-a-million mom.