I just realized that the beloved name of “Mommy” has departed from my house, most likely forever. As I was lying in bed this morning, listening to my 4-year-old yelling my name over and over again in an attempt to get me to carry him down the stairs, it occurred to me that he was yelling, “Mom!”, his siblings’ name for me. I’ve tried to encourage him to stick with “Mommy” because I cherish the name and I know it’s usually a short-lived one; however, I suppose listening to his three older siblings call me “Mom” constantly has put an untimely end to it, an end that I didn’t even notice until now.
This realization actually makes me very sad in a way, because it means that my kids are all past that point of sweet, unquestioned trusting affection that comes with the name, “Mommy.” Although I’m happy to have kids who are all sleeping through the night, can dress themselves and are relatively independent, it’s still the end of an era.
Do your kids still call you those endearing childhood names?
You’re lucky–I don’t think Nathan ever called me mommy. He took after his big brother’s “MOM!” right away.
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My 3&1/2 y/o is starting to call me “Mom” sometimes. Mixed feelings. Sounds too grown-up. And, like you said, not the trusting all-knowing “Mommy.” And he’s sometimes calling my husband “Dad” instead of “Daddy” — but he even more frequently calls him by his first name!
We’re working on correcting that. I know it’s because I call my husband by his given name, and only refer to him as “Daddy” when saying things like, “go ask Daddy.” Not sure where he came up with just plain “Dad”.
Every so often I hear a “Mom” sneak in. I don’t complain, but I don’t like it. I’m pretty sure it’s a losing battle. And I am absolutely sure I will miss being “Mommy”.
How ironic I stumbled across this article tonight. Just this week I noticed with sadness my soon to be 4 year old calls me “Mom” now. Its bittersweet to watch your baby grow into a little boy and he has to rub it in by calling me Mom! I’ve even tried to correct him by saying “I’m Mommy”. But he’s growing up, and thankfully, he’s turning into such a wonderful little boy and I am proud to be his “MOM”!