10/29/2007

A few days ago I witnessed the beginnings of a rather unusual trend. Join me in my apartment at about 8:30AM (Nathan's waking-up time). I am rocking Nia in the living room as she finishes up a bottle. I listen as Nathan starts to stir...rolling over in bed...talking quietly to his stuffed animals. Then, he proceeds to call for me.

"Mama?" Long pause. My strategy is to remain silent and hope he'll be content for the remainder of Nia's feeding. "Mom?" Nathan doesn't give up easily. "Maaaaaaama??" I almost throw strategy to the wind and head in to kiss my little boy. But, a rather long period of silence ensues, and I decide he has gone into 'snooze' mode for a few minutes. I settle back into my rocking/feeding/kissing routine with little Nia when I once again hear Nathan's voice:

"RACHEL!"

Say what? Pardon me? If he was just looking for a reaction, he got one.

"No!" I said, "Mommy!"

He was probably thinking, "I already tried that, silly, and it didn't work."

Nathan has heard Nick and all the neighborhood children refer to me as 'Rachel.' I never thought of the possibility that this might cause confusion. Nick usually isn't around when the neighborhood kids are over, and I would suspect many of them don't know his name. I am in the habit of referring to Nick as 'Daddy'. So, I guess it makes sense that this has happened to me and not to Nick, but I don't know how I feel about having a son that calls me by my first name.

"Mommy" is a term of endearment, at least that is how it falls on my ears (although, it doesn't always seem endearing as the word is often spoken during temper tantrums, diaper changes, high-speed chases, and bouts of tears). But Rachel--well, anyone can call me Rachel. Eventually sweet Nathan will learn what he already 'knows': I am 'Mommy', not because there is nothing else I could be called, but because he is my son.

Rachel loves you, Nathan!