As an Italian, i hate when people laugh at Italian guys for being mama's boy, mammonis and such. While this is actually true most of the times, it is not something you should laugh about.

Two friends of mine, 26 years, TWENTYSIX YEARS OLD, went to the river with two girls. Their mothers, knowing this beforehand, secretly met up in the morning and followed them with their car, waited all day in the parking lot where the guys left their cars and then followed them back home. Just to see what they were doing.

I remember my mother trying her best to avoid me having dates or hanging out with girls during high school. Even in university, if i said i spent the night at a girl's place my mother would go crazy. If i had some student job, i had to keep it secret or she would get anxious. Even when i had to do a short stage because it was compulsory for uni she tried her best to make me change my mind and chose to attend some seminar/lecture instead.

I could go on with tons of examples from my friends. People should understand that this is not something funny, this is like living your youth with your brakes on. Also, it is not something you can solve by being assertive, not letting her treat you like this and similar stuff: this would only make the situation worse.

The worst thing is, if you live in a similar environment you'll end up thinking this is normal and that you have to accept. Only after i met people from other European countries i understood this. They would tell me about the backpacking trips they made in high school, about their summer job experience abroad, about trying their best to get out of their parents house and such. Most of my friends in the meantime would have trouble with their mother just wanting to go the cinema if it was raining.

End note: NOT ALL Italian mothers are like these. Yet, these situations are common, but boys try to hide it from you because they feel ashamed.