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There is An Important Reason I Say Please Do Not Call Me Mom

I briefly lost my son when he was younger inside of Dutch Wonderland. Even though it happened about 8 years ago (he is turning 14 next week), it is a parenting moment in time I often replay in my head. Ever since that incident there is an important reason I say please do not call me mom.

Dont Call me Mom

 

The weather finally cooperated recently and warmed up enough for us to get outside. I decided to take my daughter and some friends to a playground, which due to the weather was crowded. Luckily I found a spot in the shade under a pavilion area where I could watch the kids from. I sat down and prepared myself for making conversation with the other parents while the kids ran off to play.

Not long after I opened up my computer to try to get some work done while the kids played did I hear my name.

Not mom, but my actual name.

I immediately looked up and spotted my daughter waving and smiling at me from high atop the heart-shaped slide.

There is An Important Reason I Say Please Do Not Call Me Mom

A few minutes later she shouted my actual name again, this time from the swings, and my head swiveled around to exactly where she was.

After the kids were done playing they sat down to eat lunch under the pavilion with me. I caught one of the parents quickly glance over at us when they heard my daughter call me mom. The woman candidly asked me which of the kids were mine and I pointed at my daughter. She admitted she was curious because she heard my daughter call me by my first name multiple times. I responded by telling her there is an important reason I say please do not call me mom to my kids.

There is An Important Reason I Say Please Do Not Call Me Mom

Why don’t I let my kids call me Mom? Well, the reason has to do with safety. Let me explain.

When kids yell mom in a crowded place I can’t tell if that means me or another parent. But if I hear my first name being called in a crowded place, I know that means me.

This is a simple trick to help locate my kids a lot faster and with less stress. Over the years this has been a lifesaver.

I wouldn’t have panicked and would have found my son a lot faster when he was lost in the amusement park if I would have known this back then.

When people ask if it bothers me that my kids call me by my first name, my reply is always to tell them not if it keeps them safe and preserves my parental sanity.

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Monday 11th of June 2018

[…] There is An Important Reason I Say Please Do Not Call Me Mom […]

Biola 'Leye

Monday 11th of June 2018

I enjoyed reading this and it got me pondering on the diversity of our different cultures.

In this part of the world, calling your parents or anyone older than you by their first names is akin to taboo, it is not allowed because it's seen / perceived as a mark of disrespect. You know, if I have to choose between 'respect' and 'sanity' from the assurance of my kids' safety, anytime, I'll definitely choose the latter.

Stopping over from #MMBH.

Abiola www.biolaleye.com

Biola 'Leye

Monday 11th of June 2018

I enjoyed reading this and it got me pondering on the diversity of our cultures. In this part of the world, calling your parent(s) by their name(s) is NOT allowed because it is seen / perceived as a sign of acute disrespect. But if I have to choose between 'respect' and 'sanity' coming from a firm assurance of my kids' safety at any time, I'll definitely choose the later.

Stopping over from #MMBH

Abiola. www.biolaleye.com

Clarissa

Tuesday 12th of June 2018

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to read and comment.

Larisha

Thursday 7th of June 2018

This is genius!! So smart.

Clarissa

Sunday 10th of June 2018

Thanks friend!

Houseful Of Nicholes

Thursday 7th of June 2018

That's quite interesting! My siblings and I actually implemented that for my mom and dad when we were younger. They NEVER heard us (although my voice is quite unique) when we just said mom or dad, but when we called them by their first names? Those heads would whip around and we'd get their attention. My kids can do this when I'm REALLY needed, but most often they just yell MRS NICHOLES and laugh gleefully. We do what we gotta do.

Clarissa

Sunday 10th of June 2018

That's exactly how it is now with my kids. They say my actual name and I seem to be able to locate them anywhere.

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