When My Submissiveness Felt Like More Than Just A Game

I’ve been in a DDLG relationship for over two years now. I’m the Mommy and my sub is twenty-one, almost three years younger than me. Our dynamic has always involved elements of playfulness, knots on a belt as punishments, bedtime stories that are both naughty and fun. We’ve enjoyed our roles deeply, laughing about how silly they can be while also feeling incredibly intimate. But recently, something shifted. Over the past month, I started having these strange moments where it felt like my sub wasn’t just playing along anymore; there were times when he seemed to expect me to act as his Mommy in ways that felt more...serious? For instance, last week after a long day at work, he texted me saying he had too much homework and couldn't focus. He asked if I could maybe 'help him study' before bed. That request threw me off completely. ‘Helping with homework’ wasn’t part of our dynamic; it was the kind of thing you do for your own child or someone still in school, not a consenting adult submissively asking his Domme for help like he's ten years old again. But as I wrote back to him, my heart felt tight, and suddenly, I wanted nothing more than to take care of him just that way, like the mom I wish I could have been when I was young. The next day, we talked about it openly during our call. He admitted he’s felt a similar shift, a longing for real support in his life beyond just sex and play. We agreed it was okay to explore this side of things together but with clear boundaries. I still don’t know if what we’re doing is entirely healthy, though. Is wanting to take on more responsibility outside our usual script something normal in DDLG dynamics? How do you draw the line between playful age-play and potentially unhealthy behavior when both parties seem okay with it? I'm torn between embracing this new dynamic that feels incredibly intimate and stepping back because it’s so far from what I thought my role as Mommy would entail. Any thoughts or experiences out there to share?