Other mummy

“Want other mummy, not you!” said the two-year-old, pushing me away when I tried to hug him after work this evening. Oh. Not what I was expecting. Maybe I’d misheard. I tried again – reached out for a hug.

“No, you stay there. Want other mummy, not you!” Right so, I hadn’t misheard.

I tried explaining.

“I’m your mummy, you don’t have another mummy!” But he just kept repeating his mantra.

I started to feel uneasy. I thought I was big enough to deal with this if it ever happened – actually, scratch that, I pretty much knew I wouldn’t be able to deal with it, but I aspire to be the kind of parent who can handle it.

He had called our previous childminder “mama” a few times, but he was less than a year old at the time, and though my heart broke a tiny bit, I got over it – he didn’t really know what “mama” meant at the time.

But this was different – he’s two now, and knows exactly who mummy is. Well at least that’s what I thought until tonight.

Working mother guilt kicked in – this was happening because I work, maybe I shouldn’t work; is this a sign that it’s time to hand in my notice? My child not only thinking he has two mothers, but choosing the other one over me?

My resignation letter thoughts were interrupted as a small hand reached up to pull my hair bobbin out and undo my pony-tail. Surveying the familiar hair-down style, he smiled a big smile.

“Now you my mummy!”

Ah. Right so. Back to work as usual tomorrow.

Office Mum photo of me and Sam
Still best buddies

 

 

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
The social media bits:Share on FacebookTweet about this on TwitterShare on Google+Share on LinkedInPin on Pinterest

29 thoughts on “Other mummy”

    1. Just thinking now, maybe he saw my concern and did the ponytail thing to give me an out 😉

    1. That reminds me of going out clothes too – it’s amazing how from a really young age they can tell if you’re heading out for the night after they go to bed!

  1. Oh the relief at the end of your post…. every mother’s nightmare, glad it was just a preference of hairstyle. My oldest once told me I was not her real mummy but she was really a fairy princess put in my belly to escape a wicked witch and one day she would have to leave me and return to her fairy family. Even though she was young and I knew it was fictitious my heart literally broke every time she mentioned it!
    Naomi Lavelle recently posted…Mystery Creature revealed _ the Drinker MothMy Profile

    1. That must have really freaked you out Naomi! Kids have brilliant imaginations but sometimes to our detriment! 🙂

    1. I’m thinking it would have been a much longer and over-thought-out post if the happy ending bit hadn’t happened !

  2. How clever is your child, brilliant! Brilliant because there is a happy ending, aw! My first was in the habit of shouting “Daddy” at random men in supermarkets over a period of a few months and my second has asked me, “are you my mummy?” at checkouts I don`t know how many times! Of course every time they got berated for those things it only egged them on …….be warned it may happen in public to you!!!!!

    1. that’s hilarious that she says “are you mummy?” at supermarket checkouts – she’ll have you arrested 😉

  3. How clever is your child, brilliant! Brilliant because there is a happy ending, aw! My first was in the habit of shouting “Daddy” at random men in supermarkets over a period of a few months and my second has asked me, “are you my mummy?” at checkouts I don`t know how many times! Of course every time they got berated for those things it only egged them on …….be warned it may happen in public to you!!!!!

  4. Hehehe. The fact we all thought we knew where this great little anecdote was going speaks volumes for mummy guilt. I love the wee man’s crazy logic. And don’t for one second think he doesn’t know EXACTLY who his mama is xx

    1. Skipped a few beats alright! Also made me realise I would/ will be even worse at handling it than I thought, if it ever happens for real…

  5. Good ending, wish I could say the same for my own, I’m a SAHM but that didn’t stop my Ella trying to get a complete and other stranger to bring her home, the girl was young with perfect make up and hair and Ella says to her will you be my mommy please and took her hand!! She roared crying when I took her away!!
    Sara recently posted…Our Weekly WanderMy Profile

    1. Oh Sara!! Kids are feckin’ hilarious and break your heart all in one go 🙂 And remember, you are both young and fabulous 🙂

  6. Oh! How cute. How sad at the beginning and then a big “a-ha” at the end. Kid’s keep you on your toes. Keep that letter just in case. I don’t think he was giving you an out. You were in work mama mode and he wanted the “other” one. My kids give me a funny look when I wear my hair down and have it straightened. About twice a year! They tell me I look funny!
    Wonderful Wagon recently posted…A Week in Dinners.My Profile

    1. You wouldn’t want to be too sensitive around kids! I love when they say things like “em, I don’t love that on you mum” (and by love, I mean, not really love)

  7. Working mother’s guilt, always around the corner, ready to jump at you! 🙁

    Yesterday I was watching videos of when my son was little and realized in most of them is just him and his daddy, because I was working 🙁 breaks my heart, to have missed so much.

    1. Or maybe it was also because you were behind the camera sometimes 🙂 I think we should all focus on the lovely times we have with them at weekends and in the evenings, and make that time count as best we can. You are a great mum!

Comments are closed.