Thursday, July 16, 2009

Mama vs. Mom vs. Mommy vs. "Yo!"



Max calls me "Ohmmy." Whatever he calls me, I'll take it! It's just plain amazing that he is able to speak my name.

Sabrina has recently started calling me "Mama," which is weird because I'm not a "Mama" type of person—"Mom" is more my style. She must have picked it up from another kid. Mostly, she uses it when she wants something. As in, "Mama, can I get a new doll?" or "Mama, can I have an ice pop?" Last night she said "Good night, sweetieheart!" when I put her to sleep.

I call my own mother "Mom," and "Mommy" when I'm feeling sentimental.

What do your kids call you—or what do you hope they'll call you?

19 comments:

  1. That's so great that Max is calling you by name!

    I am and always have been "Momma" (it's a southern thing) to my neurotypical kids. Kath is nonverbal, but if she ever learns to talk, I'll gladly answer to whatever she chooses to call me!

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  2. Ellen,
    Faith started signing "Mom" about 8 months ago, before that she didn't have any "words" for me. Now in the past few months she has started vocalizing more and she calls me "AHHHNA", but it does kind of sound like "Mama". I don't care if she called me "Dookie", I would be estatic!!!! I want to cry every time I hear it!

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  3. I've always been Momma or Mom, but last week my youngest started calling me by my full name (first and last). It's kind of odd, but he is so proud of himself so I'm not gonna fuss.

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  4. I'm definitely "Mom", but let me say this...when Gavin and/or Brian give me a shout out from the stage after winning their first Grammy (after thanking Jesus first like a proper rock star) they can call me anything they want. I'll be so proud sitting in the mansion they provide for me.

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  5. Connor calls me "Ahhhh," or when he's really worked up about something, "AHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Of course he also uses that for everything else.

    Actually, he has a sign for me, which while we use it for "Mom" or "Mommy," actually translates literally as "Mother." The other signs for Mom or Mommy were past his motor skill level though, so we're stuck with the extremely formal version.

    I'll take whatever I can get.

    ~Jess

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  6. I visited over the weekend and noticed that Sabrina now calls Ellen "mama", as opposed to her former names of "marmy" and "mahmay". It's all adorable.

    Max calls me "aunt Judy" and I love it!!!

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  7. Emmett calls me "Ma" (or rather, he shouts, "MMMMA!"). If this came from anyone but him, would make me cringe. But like so many other voices here, I'm just happy that he calls me anything at all!

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  8. I think I'll put a request in for Mommy but who knows what will happen!

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  9. When Daniel was 6 months old, I was "Umma."
    At 7/8 months, I was "mamamamama." He later shortened it to "mama"
    Beginning at about 16 months old, I became "Mommy." He still uses that to this day. However, at his ripe old age of almost 5, he's been occasionally calling me Mom. I have to say that it makes me a bit sad. Of course he'll always be my baby in my eyes, so I wouldn't mind one bit if he calls me Mommy when he's 40 years old.

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  10. I am a MOMMA to my oldest and MUMMAH to my youngest!

    And I'm BABY to my parents (a big, fat old baby who needs more moisturizer than ever these days!). Ha, ha!!!

    And my Momma and Daddy are still Momma and Daddy to me!

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  11. Well I got moooooooom out of Jude 2x which made me so happy. I think that was a cross between mom and mooo for cow, maybe it's the whole milk thing? I hope he can say my name. Em generally calls me mom, or mama. The other day she called me mother, and I said "mother????" I mean gees. lol!

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  12. Kasia FINALLY calls me Mama! For the longest time before she could say her M's it was Baba, and on the worst days it sounded a lot like Bubba!

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  13. mom that is what I call my mom

    ps love the pic of max he is getting cuter by the day

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  14. Emma doesn't call me anything yet, but I'm a sucker for Mommy out of little kids mouths.

    Julia calls me Mommy, Mama, Sweetheart, Momsie, Mamarama, basically whatever she feels like at the moment. I discourage Mother, though, as it sounds so formal and - believe it or not - my father in law and husband call my mother in law Mother so that's just her name and I'm not looking to take it over!

    I call my mom Ma, not sure why. When I talk to her, it's Ma, when I talk about her to my sister I refer to her as mom.

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  15. My daughter is nonverbal so she can call me whatever she wants. If I had to choose, I would pick Mama - not really sure why I would chose that over Mom, but I just do.

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  16. Wow, what I would give to hear those words, any words. Before River was born we decided on Mummy and Mama (we are a 2 mommy family). It's amazing how much things have changed. I have dreams about him talking all the time. I hope they will come true.

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  17. My aunt told my cousins to call her by her name when they were in public, or in large groups, because she got tired responding to children that weren't hers.

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  18. I am Mama. I don't know why Elizabeth does it but she calls 'mama' I say yes and she calls 'mama' and I say yes and it repeats a couple of times until she finally tells me what she is thinking about.
    Very cool about the blogher conference, I didn't know they exist. Have nice relaxing time.

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  19. My daughter doesnt call me anything as she is nonverbal. I call my mom Mama it sounds better than Mom. I'm pregnant- 11 weeks and I hope my 2nd child will be able to talk- I really do.

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Thanks for sharing!