Apron strings never die

One of the most striking things that I quickly came to realize was the power of the family, and by family I mean mom, and by powerful I mean the mothers apron strings. Seems that Italian men, (and I do mean to specify men), cant seem to break the ties with Mama. It is apparent everwhere you look. For me, who I could barely wait to flee the family household and become independent, this was quite the shock. Italian men, on average (actually higher then average, reports say the 80%) stay living with their mothers until the age of 35. Yes, 35! And even when they do move out, more than 60% move to live within one kilometer of their mother's house. (http://www.time.com/time/europe/html/060410/story_2.html)

The proximity allows for the apron strings to be maintained. Thus (and I have seen this first hand), the Italian man can continue to visit Mama for daily lunches or dinners (or both), drop by to have his clothes ironed and washed, and basically continue for all pratical reasons to live at home while sleep in his new place. Mothers claim that their 50 year old sons dont know how to use the washing machine or iron, and really, whats the big deal if they pass by for lunch (every day!), they were going to cook anyways so whats another dinner plate?

But can you imagine what societal impact this has? Men are their mother's babies way into adulthood and cant fend for themselves. I can hardly think of anything less attractive. And its everywhere. Claims that this has to do with high unemployment are valid until a point (why is it that Italian women are not staking the same claims). Seems men love the pampering of their moms and cant let go of it.

Yesterday I tried to convince one such male to strike it on his own. I went on about how great it feels to take care of yourself. How liberating it felt to eat Ramen noodles and worry about the rent and not pick up the phone to ask for money from your parents.

I think I lost him on Ramen noodles. Italians are more obssessed about food than anything. They LOVE their food, and will talk endlessly about a plate of pasta or some sidedish they ate for lunch. And, yes you can guess, no one makes that plate of pasta or loved sidedish like mama.

Maybe its not apron strings after all, maybe its the pasta noodles tying son to mama.