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One notable example is a mother preparing her son for prom, obsessively detailing every aspect of her “mother-son matching” outfit, including fake flowers, spray tans, and matching dresses. It’s obsessive, creepy, and a clear sign of an unhealthy attachment. Critics call this behavior “emotional incest”—a serious form of boundary violation—and accuse such women of projecting their own unmet needs onto their children.
Other instances include social media moms announcing “date nights” with their 12-year-old sons or publicly hugging their sons in ways that resemble romantic or parental boundary violations. Such behaviors are increasingly normalized online but are widely condemned by mental health professionals and critics as dysfunctional.