My mind is made up that The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul’s mom is the biggest problem in her life 

Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives isn’t short on drama, but the real tension this season might not be between exes or influencers; it’s between Taylor Frankie Paul and her mom, Liann May.

Taylor, who kickstarted the show’s buzz with her infamous soft-swinging confession and kept the chaos going with her rocky relationship with Dakota Mortensen, is now facing a different kind of pressure: her own mother. Liann has been a near-constant source of judgment and backhanded wisdom, offering just enough unsolicited advice to make family dinners feel like therapy sessions gone wrong.

While Taylor juggles pregnancy, betrayal, and trying to stitch her life back together post-divorce on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Liann seems to specialize in emotional tough love—with a heavy emphasis on “tough.” As this season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives unfolded, it became quite clear that Taylor’s biggest challenge might not be navigating Utah’s influencer circles; it’s navigating her mother’s emotional landmines.

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor’s mom sides with Dakota, and other reasons why she may not be the best influence

Taylor's relationship with Dakota Mortensen showcased Liann's troubling approach to her daughter's life choices.

Despite mounting evidence of Dakota's dishonesty, Liann consistently pushed Taylor to make their relationship work. When rumors surfaced about Dakota's infidelity early in their relationship, Taylor's trust understandably crumbled. Rather than supporting her daughter's instincts, Liann repeatedly emphasized Taylor's flaws while minimizing Dakota's transgressions.

The pressure became particularly concerning during Taylor's pregnancy, as seen on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Instead of acknowledging her daughter's valid trust issues, Liann focused on the baby as a reason to maintain a clearly broken relationship. This misguided guidance placed Taylor in an impossible position – stay with someone she couldn't trust or face her mother's disappointment.

Liann's approach to Taylor's mistakes reveals a disturbing lack of empathy.

While no parent needs to endorse every decision their adult child makes, Liann's comments frequently cross from constructive criticism into something more damaging. She seems intent on highlighting Taylor's missteps without offering meaningful support for improvement or healing.

This pattern becomes especially apparent when Taylor attempts to explain her past traumas and how they affect her current choices. Instead of listening with compassion, Liann often dismisses these explanations as excuses, preventing any real understanding between them.

The result is a visibly deflated Taylor, whose attempts at vulnerability are repeatedly rebuffed by the person who should be her strongest ally.

Perhaps most damaging is Liann's consistent lack of faith in her daughter's judgment.

Throughout The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season two, Taylor demonstrates genuine attempts at growth and self-reflection. She articulates her needs, recognizes patterns that no longer serve her, and tries to make healthier choices. Yet Liann seems unable or unwilling to acknowledge this evolution.

This trust deficit creates a painful cycle: Taylor seeks approval by explaining her reasoning, Liann dismisses it, and Taylor's confidence in her own decisions weakens. For a young woman already navigating public scrutiny through both her TikTok fame and reality TV exposure, this maternal doubt becomes an additional burden.

The cameras capture moments where Taylor visibly withdraws after these exchanges, suggesting the emotional toll of constantly defending herself to her own mother.

Relatable patterns to look out for and the path forward

While reality television thrives on conflict, the tension between Taylor and Liann transcends typical TV drama as seen on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

The uncomfortable dynamics between them reflect a recognizable pattern that many The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives viewers might see in their own family relationships. This makes their interactions particularly compelling and concerning to watch unfold.

What sets this apart from manufactured reality TV friction is the genuine pain visible in Taylor's reactions. When Liann criticizes her choices or pushes unwanted advice, Taylor's responses appear authentic rather than performative.

As season two progresses, the question becomes whether Liann will recognize her impact on Taylor's well-being.

The unique opportunity that reality television provides is the chance to watch oneself in interaction with others, something most parents never experience. If Liann can view these episodes with an open mind, she might gain invaluable insight into how her approaches affect her daughter.

For Taylor's sake, viewers can only hope that seeing these dynamics play out on screen might inspire reflection and change. Until then, it appears that Taylor's biggest challenge isn't her ex-husband, her complicated relationship history, or even public opinion – it's navigating the criticism from the person whose support she most desperately needs.

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You can watch The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives streaming on Hulu or catch it live on ABC every Monday at 10:00 p.m. EST.

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