TLC’s I Love A Mama’s Boy dives into the awkwardly clingy bonds between mothers and sons. The first episode alone was already quite cringeworthy!
TLC is never short on dramatic reality series that take everyday life to the next level whether it’s 90 Day Fiance or Toddlers & Tiaras. I Love A Mama’s Boy takes a page from the success of sMothered, a series that explored the uncomfortably close friendships between mothers and daughters.
Delving into the awkwardly clingy bonds between mothers and sons, this show emphasizes the importance of family while letting the audience draw the line at how close is too close. Asking questions like “is it okay for a mother to shave her son’s backside?” I Love A Mama’s Boy is full of moments that make viewers cringe.
Shekeb’s Breakfast Routine
It’s sweet for a mother to make breakfast for her child, but Laila takes her doting affection to the next level. “I love to feed Shekeb, and always I’m going to do it. It’s a very beautiful feeling.”
Not only does she physically feed her son, but it’s not just the occasional bite. Laila regularly feeds Shekeb forkfuls of his food whenever they share meals together, and even tells him to “open” as parents might with a toddler.
Matt’s “Dates” With His Mom
Matt and Kim may be the ones in the relationship, but instead of planning date nights for them as a couple, Matt prefers to stay in and cuddle on the couch with sleepy-time tea and movies with his mom. “He’s living his best life under this roof. He’s so happy. […] But on the other side, it’s frustrating. We don’t have that intimacy anymore”.
There is nothing wrong with spending time with mom, but on top of their “date nights in”, they live together, work together, go to Happy Hour, get monthly pedicures, and don’t go on vacation without each other.
Hiding Food From Liz
Mike’s mother, Liz, is obsessed with clean eating, and not only for herself. She carefully monitors what types of foods her son – who works as a model – eats and what he and Stephanie keep in their home.
Stephanie thinks “the momager” goes too far. “She wants us to have no sugar, no snacks. We have to clear out the cabinets so she has nothing to complain about.” Liz goes so far as to grocery shop for them, and even teaches Stephanie how to make “Liz-Approved Meals”.
Shekeb’s First Marriage
It is not abnormal in many cultures for parents to be involved in the choice of a spouse, but it does go a bit far when the children do not share the cultural beliefs of their parents. Laila set him up with a woman she believed to be perfect for him, and Shekeb married her solely to please his mother.
Kelly’s Intimacy Advice
Matt’s mother not only intrudes on Matt’s relationship but also gives him advice on their sex life. Mentioning that they need to “spice it up”, she goes on to comment casually that sometimes she walks by their bedroom at night and she doesn’t hear anything.
If that’s not strange enough, instead of protesting, Matt actually agrees with his mother and basically calls Kim out mid-pedicure for them not having a more active sex life. That couldn’t possibly have anything to do with his mother creeping around their door at night, could it?
The Jewelry Store
Claiming that he needs her input, Mike brings his mother along on a trip to buy a birthday present for Stephanie. Liz is quick to shut things down when Stephanie longingly looks at the rings, then pulls her son aside and lets him know that she “would be thrilled” if he only spent $300.
Liz’s control issues regarding her son’s spending are obvious. They even shared a bank account while he was in college. Mike caves to his mother’s suggestion, but immediately offers to buy Liz something as well because apparently saving money wasn’t the real issue here.
Valentine’s Day Plans
It’s no secret that Laila openly dislikes Emily and doesn’t mind saying it to her face. It’s no wonder that Emily is upset when Shekeb announces that not only did he not get her a Valentine’s Day gift (which she points out is her love language), but instead, he planned for them to go indoor rock climbing with his mother.
Laila is unhappy to hear that Emily is intruding on their Valentine’s Day outing. Emily is concerned that Laila will be rude to her the whole day and she isn’t wrong. Laila spends the whole time making petty comments about their relationship.
Lingerie Shopping
If the comments on their lack of intimacy weren’t enough, Kelly and Matt actually go lingerie shopping together to buy something sexy for Kim to spice up their sex life.
The saleswoman is utterly stunned that Matt is asking his mother’s opinion on lacy, skimpy things to buy for his girlfriend, but does her best to help them shop. After picking out a lingerie set for Kim, he buys two of the same robe – one for Kim and one for Kelly.
Constant Phone Calls
Mike and Stephanie met at work and have been head over heels for each other since. They love everything about spending time with each other, except for one thing. Stephanie makes sure to mention that Liz calls so much it disturbs her sleep schedule and intimate time with Mike.
“I get to go to sleep every night to the sound of Mike talking to his mom.” Mike playfully argues that family values are important, but Stephanie is unfazed as she goes on to say that the first part of her morning is the sound of Liz calling.
Shaving Shekeb’s Back
If feeding him breakfast wasn’t enough. Shekeb admits that his mother helped bathe him until the 6th grade, to which she replies “I miss those days”. Laila and Shekeb also share another strangely intimate act – she shaves his back for him once a month.
He even jokes about how she used to shave his back and buttocks for bodybuilding years ago. Neither mother nor son seem to think anything about this is weird.