Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Nails on a Chalkboard
My kids call me Mama or Mom, and occasionally a term that makes me cringe; Mother. Sometimes a question like Did you clean your room? or Did you wash your hands? elicits the response Yes, Mother. And every time it grates me. I have never referred to myself as "Mother" so I don't even know where they got it. Hearing the phrase "Yes, Mother" brings two things to mind. The first is the 50's. The era of perfectly behaved kids (at least on television) and moms that vacuumed in heels. Except instead of freshly laundered and ironed khakis and button up shirts, my kids are in mismatched shorts and t-shirts with chocolate sauce spilled liberally over all. The second, and more unsettling thought, is of horror movies. Don't children who are possessed in some terrible way look at their parents with evil gleams in their eyes and utter "Yes, Mother" slowly and creepily right before they kill them? The weird thing is, they have never said Yes, Father so Cody doesn't understand what it feels like. Meanwhile, I am looking over my shoulder to make sure they aren't sneaking up on me with chainsaws.
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4 comments:
I don't think your kids are quite strong enough to lug around a chainsaw, but you might want to lock up your knives! I think it's interesting that they only say it in response to a question that's basically about whether they have obeyed you or not. Like they know you don't like to be called that, and it's some sort of rebellion in the face of obedience. They did what you asked, but they want to get their dig in so you'll know they didn't like it!
After reading your post, I started thinking about it, and I have done the same thing to my mother over the years. I sometimes still do it when I am making fun of her over something. And I always said it to get my dig in on something too.
I guess everyone has their preferences. My mother gets upset if I call her mom she says her name is Mother. I do have a sister that calls her Mommie Dearest. And she lets me call her MaMa, but her title of preference is Mother.
It's funny that you mention this... just recently Sammy told me that it bothered him when I tell the kids, "Listen to your Father" or "Obey your Father". He thinks it sounds so formal & stuffy. He said when I used the word "father" like that, it seems like I'm making him out to be this mean, strict dictator or something. I had never thought of it that way, but began to see his point the more I said it. I guess "mother" is the same in your eyes.
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