Kate Hudson Says Son Ryder, 20, Has Seen Her Through Good and Bad Times: ‘He’s Very Protective of Me’ (Exclusive)

Kate Hudson's son is her biggest protector.

Speaking with PEOPLE for this week's cover story, the Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery actress, 45, opened up about her relationship with her son Ryder, 20, whom she shares with ex-husband Chris Robinson. Noting that now that her son is older the two have a real friendship, Hudson says she will always be his mom.

"But because I guess I was young when I had him, it's a different relationship than with my other kids. So he's seen me through all of my good times, my bad times, this boyfriend, not that boyfriend," Hudson, who is releasing her debut album, Glorious, on Friday, May 17, says.

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"He's seen me through it all. And that's very different because I never had an adult life really without him," she notes of Ryder, who inspired the track "Live Forever" from Hudson's album. "So it's a little, I think more protective, meaning I think he's very protective of me. And then I think my other kids will be, because we've been through so much together."

"I mean, he really was my partner in crime, and I never went anywhere without him," the mom of three tells PEOPLE. "So it's very, very close. And I think, yeah, he does get protective."

Alongside Ryder, Hudson is mom to son Bingham, 12, whom she shares with ex Matt Bellamy, 45, and daughter Rani, 5, whom she shares with fiancé Danny Fujikawa.

Elsewhere in the interview, Hudson spoke about her "patchwork family," noting that all of her kids are very close.

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“We are very connected, and we are very close,” Hudson shares. “Love can change form. It’s interesting when you have that modern family; there’s so much love for all the kids.” 

“I think the thing that's so unique about my life is that in this very patchwork family, we all have figured it out … The kids feel like they have this huge family,” continues Hudson, adding that her exes' daughters and Rani “are like sisters … There is something that has been able to be nurtured in our family that is personally what I think is, it's very rare.”

The star took a minute to celebrate her close-knit family on Mother's Day, sharing a Reel on her Instagram in honor of the spring holiday. The video flipped through photos of all three of Hudson's kids as they grew up and included snaps of the actress from when she was pregnant.

"What do I love the most? Well…that’s easy 🦋 Happy Mama’s day to all the Mama’s out there!" Hudson wrote in her caption. "To my beautiful children, thank you for making our life insane, fun, wild, cozy, loving and really really loud! I love being your mama. You are my everything’s ❤️❤️❤️."