08/15/2006 (8:25 am)
What’s in a name?
The last couple of days, I’ve noticed that Decker has called me ‘Mom’ and my mom ‘Pam’ (instead of his usual Mommy and Pammy). I’m not ready to be ‘Mom’ yet (it took so long to get to Mommy!), and ‘Pam’ instead of Pammy just sounds odd. So I’ve been trying to gently correct him without making a big deal out of it. Here’s how a conversation went in the car today:
Decker: Mom, I look at stickers!
Me: MomMY, I look at stickers!
Decker: Mom (giggle), I look at stickers!
Me: MomMY, Decker, MomMY - Decker, what’s my name? What does Decker call me?
Decker: Frith! Frith! Frith! Decker calls Frith!
Me: (amazed he remembers that’s my real name) - Well, that’s right sweetie - Mommy’s real name is Frith, but what does DECKER call me?
Decker: Frith!
Me: MomMY! My name is MomMY!
Decker: Frith!
Me: MomMY!
Decker: Frith! Frith!
Me: I give up! Decker, look - there’s where the fishies live!
So…so much for not making a big deal out of it! I swear, preschoolers know exactly what will push their parents’ buttons! (Although I know he just thinks it a fun game). Still, hope I’m not heading into a phase where I get addressed by my own son by my first name! That’s annoying enough when teenagers do it!