[The thought makes his stomach sink--seeing...seeing whatever-it-was they created every time he looks at his own mom...

This. This is tough. Not only to hear, but to know the right thing to say.]

At least...I mean, she's still your mom, right? So she'll love you and take care of you and can help you move past that. [Because that's what a mom would do, right? He's a bit out of his element here experience-wise.]