Boston, a New Brunswick native, believes he has found the perfect solution for adults who feel guilty about not spending enough time with their mothers: Set appointments in advance — and keep them.

"It kind of rids you of some of the guilt," the 37-year-old explains. "(Your mother says) "Oh, I haven't seen you in so long.' This is a standing appointment. It's there, you work around it."

And Boston speaks from experience. The Jones New York spokesman and regular "Today" show contributor meets his mother, Lynell Kollar, 56, for lunch once a month at The Frog and The Peach in New Brunswick. It's a tradition they began in January.

"The end of last year, I was thinking about my New Year's resolution for this year," says Boston. "I had gone through all the ones that usually fail — like no fried foods, more exercise, stuff like that. I figured, let's do something fun. I want to spend more time with my mom . . . I just didn't want to look up — and God forbid she leaves me — and then I'd say, "We should have spent more time together.' "

His mother wholeheartedly agrees. Over the last few years, Kollar says, "We had to schedule a lunch six weeks in advance. At some point I said, "This is ridiculous. I've got to wait six weeks to have lunch or dinner with him?' "

The new arrangement is working out well, and Boston and Kollar, a North Brunswick resident, see one another much more frequently than in years past.

"I don't think we could have counted 12 (lunches) last year," Boston remarks. "(Now) it feels like we're here every two weeks. So if I don't see her over the course of the month, I'm cool with that because I know that a date is coming."

The decision to make The Frog and The Peach "their" place was a no-brainer.

"I grew up eating here" (on special occasions), Boston says. "It's also one less thing to think about. It's almost like eating at home."

Not only do the appointments give Boston the opportunity to visit his mother, but they also allow him to reconnect with his hometown and catch up on neighborhood news.

"She usually gives me the "Family Gazette,' " he says. "She tells me about all of our cousins . . . who's having a baby, who's looking for a job."

The relaxing sit-downs also give them a chance to talk shop. Kollar asks Boston for advice about her New Brunswick-based real-estate transaction business, the Lynell Group.

"I think I'm always asking her, "Did you follow up with this? Did you try that?' " Boston says.

Kollar says their relationship is "unique." She describes it as "a bond that's a mixture, with a very thin line . . . between respect and authority versus love and friendship. That's the way I see it, from a mother's point of view."

"Oh," Boston chimes in. "I thought that was from an aunt's point of view."

"Stop it!" Kollar admonishes. "You see? He's so fresh."

Boston turns more serious. "I would agree with that," he says. "She's one of my closest friends. (Although) it feels strange mentoring up."

As odd as it may seem for Boston to be offering his mother business advice, Kollar says she is happy to receive it.

"It helps me an awful lot," she admits. "His young experience and energy . . . is just overwhelming to me."

They believe their bond is strong, in part, because they are so close in age.

"Being a young mom and a single mom for most of his life makes a difference, too, in the bond," Kollar points out, looking at her son. "Because it was me and you and you and me."

"It was cool because my mom was one of the young moms," Boston says. "Which was weird at the time, because everyone else's mom was kind of older . . . So I wasn't always the proudest one to have a young mom . . . When you're young, all you notice is that your mom doesn't fit in with the other moms. But it's cool now because I can still bring her a snappy trenchcoat. I'm not worried about assisted living just yet."

Being in the fashion industry, Boston finds having an attractive, younger mother has its benefits.

"She's become my No. 1 . . . test mannequin," he says. "Because she represents the typical American body. She's got curves, she's not a size 2 (and) she's "top heavenly.' "

Boston also finds inspiration in seeing how his mother dresses.

"It helps me to understand women better when I watch what she chooses to wear," Boston says. "Because she's very much a tomboy at heart. She's not a girly girl. (And) although she's blessed with all of the features — great hair and a great figure — she will choose jeans and flats before she chooses a skirt."

Despite Boston's experience in the fashion industry, Kollar didn't instantly believe — or follow — her son's advice. Boston recalls that the first time he used his mother as a model on the "Today" show, she balked when he told her that he would be the one selecting her outfit.

" "If they trust me with 8 million women, why can't you trust me with one outfit?' " Boston remembers asking her. "I think she had a problem digesting the fact that her only son knew more about lipstick and lace than she did."

And, like any mother, Kollar has moments where she is nervous and protective of her only child — even now that he is an adult. Take the first time Boston appeared on "Oprah," for instance.

"My mother was sitting in the front row looking at me (during rehearsal)," he explains. "(She) was anticipating my answers, so as she was staring at me she was finishing my sentences on mute. It was almost like a spelling bee and she was feeding me the right spelling.

"I was like, you can't sit there . . . You have to be where I can't see you or else you're going to mess me up."

These days, the pair likes to keep Mothers Day simple.

"I prefer to spend the whole day with him, I don't care what it is," Kollar says of the holiday. "But I'm enjoying the last couple of years, just going to his house and hanging out. He cooks, we relax, we chat, we listen to music. I get presents."

Although Kollar can always count on her son giving her the niftiest, most fashionable gifts — a swimsuit cover-up, floppy sun hat and big "Jackie O." sunglasses commemorates but one such occasion — she treasures the cards he gives her the most.

"He always makes (them) by hand," she says. "The cards are always just fabulous. He's a great artist."

Whatever they ultimately wind up doing today, Kollar and Boston look forward to their monthly luncheon dates.

"It keeps your bond fresh and exciting," Kollar says. "Almost like any relationship."