The gradual or ongoing detachment from the emotional or behavioral responsibilities of motherhood, often seen in young mothers who had children during their teenage years and never fully transitioned into a maternal role.
Can involve a lifestyle that mirrors someone in their twenties, with parenting taking a backseat.
Can involve a lifestyle that mirrors someone in their twenties, with parenting taking a backseat.
“She had her son at 16, but it’s like she never grew into being a mom—still out every weekend. Classic case of maternal drift.”
“Maternal drift hit hard after she realized she missed out on her youth and tried to reclaim it.”
“Don’t confuse maternal drift with bad parenting—it’s deeper, like being emotionally stuck between two lives.”
Maternal Drift
“Maternal drift hit hard after she realized she missed out on her youth and tried to reclaim it.”
“Don’t confuse maternal drift with bad parenting—it’s deeper, like being emotionally stuck between two lives.”
Maternal Drift
by PosthumouslyObscure June 03, 2025
A type of toxic behaviour most commonly exhibited by middle aged women which seeks to control or discredit a person through a sustained campaign of infantilisation, gaslighting and intense focus on the target's perceived flaws or disabilities.
Through this the perpetrator sets themselves up as a protective mother figure of an otherwise capable adult to whom they are usually not related.
This tactic is often used in the defence of bigotry or conspiracy theories such as the anti-vax movement, the goal being to portray the target as too immature to have their arguments taken seriously.
Through this the perpetrator sets themselves up as a protective mother figure of an otherwise capable adult to whom they are usually not related.
This tactic is often used in the defence of bigotry or conspiracy theories such as the anti-vax movement, the goal being to portray the target as too immature to have their arguments taken seriously.
by sonderland June 11, 2020
by Wither24 July 20, 2022