This is from The Washington Post about how much Sondheim hated his mother b
As an adult, he acknowledged a gift from his friend Mary Rodgers by writing back: “Thanks for the plate, but where was my mother’s head? Love, Steve.”
He was, as an adult, terrified of her. I had gone over to his house one day, and when I went upstairs to the office, I noticed him crouched under the stairs with his hands over his ears while Patricia spoke to a lady onthe phone . . . No, dear, he's out . . . Yes, i'll have him call you . . . Yes, yes . . .
During this, Patricia motioned for me to sit. I never asked who it was, but when Steve came into the office, Patricia said, Your mother wants you to call.