Monday, August 30, 2010

Just Don't Call Me Dude

After giving birth to my first child, I started referring to myself as "Mama" whenever I cooed at my baby. I don't know where Mama came from, since I'm not Southern, I never called my own mother that, and I'm not married to one of those husbands who's nicknamed me Big Mama, lucky for him. I guess I just liked the sound of it. Mama loves her little girl, I'd whisper as I held her in my arms.

As the years have passed and I've added more chicks to my nest, each has settled on her own favorite name for me. My eldest daughter prefers a simple Mom. My 10-year-old and one of the twins have chosen Mommy. My other 4-year old calls me Mother. Can you believe that? MOTHER! Like she's the little English child I've sent off to Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies.

The nerve! Calling me "Mother"!
I'm nothing of the sort.


Dinner last night: fair food


10 comments:

Unknown said...

Too Funny! My niece and nephew refer to my mom and dad as "The Grandparents." Don't know where that came from?!?!? Could be worse though. Have a great day!

Mother Mayhem said...

Sweetums refers to me and Hubs as Mama and Papa. :o)

Quadmama said...

My MIL encouraged my daughters to call me Mama, which I can't stand. Oh well. It alternates between Mama and Mommy, so I guess I can't complain.

Michele said...

Mom. Mother. Mommy. Mama. Parental Unit. I get everything imaginable, including "El Madre." I mean, really. That's not even gramatically correct, and he won't correct it. OH well, just wait until I make him start Spanish. I'll get him.

Helene said...

That's hilarious! A 4-yr old calling her mom "mother". Totally reminds me of Becky on Roseanne...remember she used to say "Mother" anytime Roseanne would say something remotely funny or embarrassing!!

My kids sometimes call me Mama too and I never thought much about it. I'm not Southern either. It does sound sweet, though.

Katherine said...

At least you get called mom. Half the time, I'm called dad.

Liz Mays said...

I always think of mother as being a matronly word too!

Karen M. Peterson said...

That is TOO cute! She must have picked that up from a book or something.

After 32 years of talking, I recently started calling my mom "Mama." Why? I don't have the foggiest idea. It just came out of nowhere and stuck.

Joey Lynn Resciniti said...

It's very sweet that she went with such a proper name. I think anything (except dude) sounds pretty good.

Unknown said...

Just be thankful it isn't mommy dearest!