In the pilot, Henry and Shawn discuss Shawn's absence and Henry's return to Santa Barbara. Shawn says something to the effect of "I'm sorry, I was helping my mother through her divorce." In which, Henry responds with "Nice to see you too."

In the episode where Henry and Lassie go fishing...The Tennis Player episode...Henry makes a comment to Lassie about Shawn..."Try living with him for 18 years."

And then in From The Earth To Starbucks...When Shawn gets upset that Henry had a woman over Gus says "You must have thought your dad dated it's been 15 years."

This last line makes it seem like Shawn's mother died...especially being in response to Shawn's attitude about his father dating.

Now, if we go by the flashbacks Shawn and Gus are around 29-30 in the first season...

Which would mean the "15 years" puts his mother leaving around age 14 or 15...

I'm just saying if he was "helping his mom with her divorce" he would have had to leave Santa Barbara at age 15. Yet we know from other references he stayed till at least 18. He finished HS.

Does anyone know what really happened? It seems the writers threw out the divorce and made it that she died or ran off.

There are other comments that make this confusing too.

I'm not totally sure, but from the comments, it seems that Shawn's parents got divoriced when he was about 15. He probably wanted to be with his mom, but his dad had custody over him. When he turned 18, he may have moved in with his mom. This conclusion would fit most of the comments. But there may be an actual story for his mom that I don't know of.

Or maybe they didn't expect people to actually calculate all those numbers together, LOL!!!! I too have noticed it though, Marvin. Some people catch it and some don't. I would think that they would make sure that when they mention numbers like that in different episodes that they would make sure everything matches up. I think that what PJP said above makes sense. Maybe they split, he stayed with Henry til he was done with school because his Mom moved away, not his dad. Then out of school he went to either live with his mom or be closer to her and really didn't see Henry much at all for 10 years(give or take). We'll see I'm sure.

That's funny that you mentioned this very topic Marvin because I too have been wanting to know the deal with Shawn's mom. I mean I think it's great that there is a storyline surrounding Shawn's relationship with his father but at some point you do become curious about the woman who birth a fake psychic.

Why do I get the sneaking feeling that she will turn up in a future episode?

OH, it's definitely going to happen; Steve Franks and the Writers said so!

Really? Ooooooo I can't wait to see that episode.

Yeah, they mentioned it in an interview. They are just trying to find a good way to bring her in, I'd say we have to wait a season or so, they may surprise us though, you never know.

I read that too. I can't wait for the ep!!!

Who do you think should play Shawns mother? Ill be honest for the life of me I am drawing a blank.