HOME is where you are called "Mommy"......

I have three children.  They are 20, 15 and 15...

They all have different names for me...my daughter calls me "Mother" or "Madre" , one son uses "Mama" and the other uses "Mom"..

But.....when they really want my attention....when the going gets tough....when they have something special to share....it is "Mommy" they call.

I don't know about you, but "Mommy" melts me.  Mommy causes my heart to perk up and listen...it sends waves of tenderness flowing through me which crashes over my soul.

Just last night I had the "privilege" of reviewing one of my son's address books on his phone....right there, in black and white at the top of his phone call list was "Mommy"....so each time I call him or he calls me, it is to Mommy.

I smiled for a long time when I read my name on his address book....I'm still smiling.

I won't name the child for fear he might be teased by friends who might read this :) but suffice it to say it might surprise his friends ....but, then again, no, it wouldn't...

They wouldn't be surprised because his friends have heard him call me Mommy....frequently...and, even some of them call me that as well.

I like being my children's mommy....its not a word they use in a childish, immature way.  They use the name in a way one who is confident would...boldly...as if..."this is MY Mommy and I am proud of it".  I am her child. She is my mother.

I like that.

I like it that my children know I am their number one supporter.  That I will be there for them when everyone else leaves.  That I will stand in front of them in danger.  That I will cheer for them when they do well and will encourage them when they struggle.  I like that they know that I will help them to the best of my ability to achieve their dreams.  That I will encourage them to do the work...even when it is hard.  I will force them to finish what they start, to give their best effort.  I will accept nothing less than their best effort.

I like it that they know they cannot "fool" me, that just because I don't say something doesn't mean I don't know what is going on.  That I can be quiet and just listen when they need to talk.

I like it that they have each told me what they like best about me is that I am Real to them.  I count this a humble honor...that  my children see me as real...feel me as real.  like me even though they are able to see my real flaws.

We have a rule at our house...no topic is off limits as long as one is respectful and truthful.  Thus, we have discussed many, many, many things...at times, we discuss things as a group and at other times, on a one-on-one basis, but discuss things we do.

I like it that we do this...it is what my own Mommy did with my siblings and I as well.

It is what makes the difference between being "Mom" and "Mommy"....

Being able to accept my children right where they are, guiding but not judging, leading but not forcing, praying but not challenging is my favorite part of being their Mommy.

And, I know...without a shadow of a doubt, that there is no other word which flows so sweetly off their lips as "Mommy"....

Privileged I am to be called such a name...

My challenge to you....do you live in appreciation of your own Mommy?  do you tell her?  does she know how grateful you are to be her child?  If not, I pray you stop what you are doing and go tell her...now..for I can promise you this, there is no greater sound than your voice calling her name....

Blessings,
Lesa