close
SM-Stamp-Join-1
  • Selfish Mother is the most brilliant blogging platform. Join here for free & you can post a blog within minutes. We don't edit or approve your words before they go live - it's up to you. And, with our cool new 'squares' design - you can share your blog to Instagram, too. What are you waiting for? Come join in! We can't wait to read what YOU have to say...

  • Your basic information

  • Your account information

View as: GRID LIST

The M Word

1
Whilst I can’t say, hand on heart, that I was ever someone for whom motherhood was my life ambition, having a family certainly featured whenever I took time out to ponder my future.  It wasn’t so much that my daydreams focussed on me having kids, rather, they were simply there – present when I thought about what I might be doing as my future self.  And of course, if I thought about having children, I thought about being called Mummy, and (let’s face it) how utterly lovely that would be.

Fast forward a few years, and here I am, sat here as my

SelfishMother.com
2
future self.  The children that were once part of my future are now part of my present. And whilst the baby has yet to formulate anything but smiles and the occasional raspberry to greet me, to my toddler, I am now, very definitely, ”Mummy”.

Granted, It was a while coming.  Slightly unfortunately, the time in his development that saw him look to identify me with a name coincided with pregnancy number two.  Our efforts to prepare him for the arrival of his little companion (pointing to my tummy and talking about ”the baby”) simply resulted

SelfishMother.com
3
(quite understandably) in him coming to the conclusion that I was one with the baby (quite deep for a toddler, really).  For several months, I was referred to as ”Bebe”.  To his credit, when the baby actually arrived he did a sterling job of concealing any of the (inevitable) confusion – without missing a beat simply referred to us both as ”Bebe” so confidently that he was rarely questioned, even by strangers.  But then, in a relatively speedy and seamless change of approach (perhaps he had a word with one of his mates.  Perhaps he Wikipedia’d
SelfishMother.com
4
it), he gained a little more clarity on all things familial and almost overnight I became Mummy*.

However, what I didn’t ponder during those times spent thinking ahead, was how, exactly, that word would be used and (often) abused.  How it would so often be used, not just by my children, but but by others as a term of address.  How its use would sometimes blur the lines between identifying a role I have in my family, and my identity within society.  Currently (but only just) still on maternity leave, I spend a great deal of my time these days as

SelfishMother.com
5
either ”Finn’s Mummy” or Beth’s Mummy”.  At nursery.  At the classes and groups we attend.  At their health checks.

At home, ”Mummy” is yelled and screeched by the toddler for a variety of reasons, not all of them tangible.  If he can’t see me.  If he can see me but I’m not looking at him.  If he can see me and I am looking at him but I am not reading his thoughts.  All of these are reasons to take the M word in vain.  Sometimes, it is just repetition of the word with no follow up.  Sometimes the inflection suggests a question is

SelfishMother.com
6
coming, but despite harnessing all the patience I have within my soul, that question doesn’t materialise despite a hundred utterances of ”Muuuuummy….?”.

But then… sometimes, it is hollered in a wave of actual delight and love – when I collect him from nursery.  When I am tickling him into a frenzy on the sofa.  When he has found YET ANOTHER stone for his collection that he wants to show me – his Mummy.  And you know what?  Suddenly, having multiple identities ain’t so bad.

*Though it has to be said that Beth is

SelfishMother.com
7
still largely referred to simply ”Bebe”.  Only on very rare occasions (mainly when he is trying to ram home a point relating to something she has done that he thinks she shouldn’t have) she is ”Beeeebeeee BETH”
SelfishMother.com

By

This blog was originally posted on SelfishMother.com - why not sign up & share what's on your mind, too?

Why not write for Selfish Mother, too? You can sign up for free and post immediately.


We regularly share posts on @SelfishMother Instagram and Facebook :)

- 6 Oct 16

Whilst I can’t say, hand on heart, that I was ever someone for whom motherhood was my life ambition, having a family certainly featured whenever I took time out to ponder my future.  It wasn’t so much that my daydreams focussed on me having kids, rather, they were simply there – present when I thought about what I might be doing as my future self.  And of course, if I thought about having children, I thought about being called Mummy, and (let’s face it) how utterly lovely that would be.

Fast forward a few years, and here I am, sat here as my future self.  The children that were once part of my future are now part of my present. And whilst the baby has yet to formulate anything but smiles and the occasional raspberry to greet me, to my toddler, I am now, very definitely, “Mummy”.

Granted, It was a while coming.  Slightly unfortunately, the time in his development that saw him look to identify me with a name coincided with pregnancy number two.  Our efforts to prepare him for the arrival of his little companion (pointing to my tummy and talking about “the baby”) simply resulted (quite understandably) in him coming to the conclusion that I was one with the baby (quite deep for a toddler, really).  For several months, I was referred to as “Bebe”.  To his credit, when the baby actually arrived he did a sterling job of concealing any of the (inevitable) confusion – without missing a beat simply referred to us both as “Bebe” so confidently that he was rarely questioned, even by strangers.  But then, in a relatively speedy and seamless change of approach (perhaps he had a word with one of his mates.  Perhaps he Wikipedia’d it), he gained a little more clarity on all things familial and almost overnight I became Mummy*.

However, what I didn’t ponder during those times spent thinking ahead, was how, exactly, that word would be used and (often) abused.  How it would so often be used, not just by my children, but but by others as a term of address.  How its use would sometimes blur the lines between identifying a role I have in my family, and my identity within society.  Currently (but only just) still on maternity leave, I spend a great deal of my time these days as either “Finn’s Mummy” or Beth’s Mummy”.  At nursery.  At the classes and groups we attend.  At their health checks.

At home, “Mummy” is yelled and screeched by the toddler for a variety of reasons, not all of them tangible.  If he can’t see me.  If he can see me but I’m not looking at him.  If he can see me and I am looking at him but I am not reading his thoughts.  All of these are reasons to take the M word in vain.  Sometimes, it is just repetition of the word with no follow up.  Sometimes the inflection suggests a question is coming, but despite harnessing all the patience I have within my soul, that question doesn’t materialise despite a hundred utterances of “Muuuuummy….?”.

But then… sometimes, it is hollered in a wave of actual delight and love – when I collect him from nursery.  When I am tickling him into a frenzy on the sofa.  When he has found YET ANOTHER stone for his collection that he wants to show me – his Mummy.  And you know what?  Suddenly, having multiple identities ain’t so bad.

*Though it has to be said that Beth is still largely referred to simply “Bebe”.  Only on very rare occasions (mainly when he is trying to ram home a point relating to something she has done that he thinks she shouldn’t have) she is “Beeeebeeee BETH”

Did you enjoy this post? If so please support the writer: like, share and comment!


Why not join the SM CLUB, too? You can share posts & events immediately. It's free!

for a long time it was just the two of us. We worked hard, ate out and had nice holidays. Then we got a cat. We still did all of those things, but we had to remember to put the cat in a cattery when we went on those nice long holidays. Then we acquired a small person... and the holidays dwindled in number. As did the opportunities to enjoy long lingering meals out. Now we're anticipating the arrival of another small person and something's gotta give. The house is too small, the garden is non existent and the green space is a drive away. Work is tough, especially when we're both commuting to the big smoke. And juggle nursery pick up. AND keep a semblance of a grip on things like laundry and washing up. So what do you do? Embark on a bit of a lifestyle change. In the country. In the North. Probably not eating that many peaches...

Post Tags


Keep up to date with Selfish Mother — Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media