Mammone

An Italian term that describes mollycoddled mommy’s boys.

Italy’s mammoni have long been the source of gentle amusement to outside observers; however, a recent report in The Independent highlighted a serious consequence of maternal overprotection. Michael Day wrote:

An Italian mother has appeared in court charged with maltreatment after mollycoddling her 12-year-old son to such a degree that his physical and social development were threatened. Even in Italy, the land of the mammone – or mommy’s boy – the boy’s sheltered life has alarmed authorities.

Social services in the north-east town of Ferrara say the pampered child, known only as Luca, has very few friends, is not allowed to play sport and “never has any fun.”

Andrea Marzola, the lawyer representing the boy revealed: “He didn’t know how to run. He had the motor skills of a three-year-old child.”