A long time ago, my first Girl Scout troop attended a neighborhood campout. I think Lyssa was maybe seven or so.
We were all gathering in the morning at campfire area when Lyssa ran up to me to tell me something. She was shouting, "Mom!! Mom!!" as she ran toward me. And one of the veteran leaders, who'd been at it since 1900 or so, stopped her. In a pedantic tone, she said to my daughter, "There are no moms in Girl Scouts. There are only leaders. You need to call your mom by her first name." Lyssa offered no comment, just... looked at her. And told me whatever it was that she came to tell me.
Rather than make a scene and argue, I just let it go.
Until about three minutes later when I gathered my troop around me and notified them (and the various moms who'd accompanied us for the weeekend) that they were ALL supposed to call me Mom.
And for the rest of that weekend, all the moms in my troop and all my girls called me mom. Some of the girls from other troops started calling me mom, too.
I never did address the original person who'd told my daughter that I couldn't be her mom at campout, but I'm pretty sure she got the message. I caught her looking at me more than once with a pissy expression on her face. And for the next eight years or so that I was a Girl Scout leader, she never said a word when my daughter called me mom.
Probably a good idea.
This afternoon, I was signing kids in and making sure they had the stuff they asked for from the back room. Ariana came over to ask me something and started by saying, "Mom?"
I caught it but didn't say anything. Looked up at her. "Yes?"
And she was blushing madly.
"Oh I'm so sorry! I called you Mom!! I am so embarrassed!!"
"Why, hon? I've been called Mom by lots of kids. Don't worry about it at all."
She still felt funny, I could tell. So I invited her to sit down with me and I told her the story of our neighborhood campout and how most of the kids and their moms were calling me mom by the end of the weekend.
She (and Jennifer, who joined us early in the conversation) thought that it was really hilarious that everyone was calling me mom. They decided they were going to call me mom, too, but then promptly forgot about it when they went off to play together.
Eric has said on more than one occasion that I should wear a t shirt that says Everyone's Mom on it. Maybe this will be the year that I get one. :)
It was good to be back to work today. I actually slept through the night (mostly, I did have to get up and pee once) for the first time since I got sick on the 19th.
I'm tired, but I feel really good.
Last year it took weeks for me to come back from this, but I don't think it's going to be quite as bad this time.
Thank goodness.
If I ever come across a nice t-shirt that would suit you, I'll let you know (i.e. I'll be asking you for your postal address so I can send it to you). My children (especially my son) could so use some of your mothering, I'd send him along if it was a possibility (but only for a little while!).
ReplyDeleteI like my gig of mothering other people's kids because it's predictable... I know I'll be done by 6 every weekday evening. :)
DeleteGood luck with the t shirt!! :)
I can think of much worse things to be called! The nurses at the hospital called me mom. Probably easier than remembering my name and, after all, I am Michael's mom. Worked for me!
ReplyDeleteI answer to many things. Mom is my favorite. :-D
DeleteI love the camping story. What a great way to put Ariana at ease, too, by telling her the story.
ReplyDeleteMy sister has dozens of people calling her "Mom." She collects strays, it seems.
ReplyDeleteWhen my youngest son married, her children asked me what they should call me. I told them they could call me anything they wanted. They said, "Can we call you grandpa?" When I said they could, I have been Grandpa every since, and they are my grandkids.
That is so lovely. Families are made by heart, not by biology. So many people fail to see that and as a result deprive themselves of a lot of love and a lot of caring. I bet you're a wonderful grandpa. :)
DeleteMy boys, the ones that "go to school", say they've called their teachers "Mom" before, on accident. I could tell they were embarrassed and thought I would be upset.
ReplyDeleteOn the contrary, I was pleased as it tells me they are comfortable enough with their teachers to treat them like family! ( :
I always thought that, too.
DeleteAnother thing that always makes me smile is that kids in my care sometimes drag a beanbag off to a corner and take a nap. They feel comfortable enough in my care that they are able to sleep. Sounds silly, but that means a lot to me.