Mamma Mia!

Even a stern Teutonic heart softens at the mention of "Mutti." Whether it's to seek counsel or just shoot the breeze, every third German dutifully calls their mother each day, a survey carried out by research institute Emnid found. And even if they don't manage a daily chat, a full 72 percent of Germans said they still talk to their mothers once a week.

Mothering is, after all, a full time job -- and as the survey reveals, it's a job that doesn't let up once the kids are grown and out of the house. But is it the moms who can't seem to let go of their youngsters, or the grown-up kids who continue to seek comfort in their mother's embrace?

It's both, the survey said. As a rule, moms initiate the phone calls until their offspring reach the age of 40, and then there's a role reversal. After age 40, it's the children who regularly reach for the phone.