After months of waiting for your baby to call you mama, replacing that title with something new comes way too soon for Katie…

“Katie!” my husband calls.

“Kayee!” my toddler calls.

Then all day while my husband is at work, my son continues to call me by my first name.

It was cute at first, even funny. Seeing a kid, not even 2, remembering his mommy’s first name.

But after about the 20th time a day that he forgets that I’m “Mommy” and calls “Kayeeeee!”, it starts to hurt my feelings.

I thought this might be something that we would deal with in the teenage years. Maybe. But in toddlerhood? I’m sure it’s not out of disrespect, but there’s something necessary about hearing your son call you by that special name.

Mommy.
Mama.
Mom.
Ma.

It doesn’t matter which one. They’re all the same to me. Son, this is a special name set aside especially for YOU to call me.

Before motherhood, I expected to hear, “Mama! Mama! Mama! Mama! Mama!” so many times that it would drive me crazy, but I’d secretly savor the sound.

I’m sure that he’ll come around.

In the meantime, if you see me with my son, make sure to call me, “Mommy”. Thank you very much!

– Katie, Counting Joys