Mari look up to her mama, look at this amazing woman. She could do no wrong in her eyes! It goes downhill for them in step 2 because she isolates herself a lot that step. (Opposite for Kel for first 2 steps, all my Mcs love their mama in the end)
Elias was always a mama's boy but doesn't want to admit it because he thinks people will make fun of him for it ;-;