My daughter is funny. She's a mini version of me in so many ways it is scary. She is constantly catching me off guard with her quick wit and sarcastic comebacks.. and she's four.
I'd say I'm pretty relaxed with my child rearing techniques. I grew up in a cold pizza for breakfast family and I don't see a problem with it. As long as it is actually food she is putting into her mouth as we run out the door most mornings I feel like I am a success and breakfast was served.
So I don't know why earlier this week I was so bothered by her very simple request.
My darling daughter wanted cheese and crackers for the car ride to daycare. I'm thinking "great, that's easy". I dug into the cheese drawer in the fridge and pulled out a few slices of Kraft, folded them in fourths and then grabbed a sleeve of Saltines. It was about the time I was stuffing this all into a Ziploc bag that my daughter started to have a meltdown. She didn't want THAT CHEESE. She wanted THE SPRAY KIND. Seriously? I don't buy spray cheese. In fact, it's a joke between my husband and myself. My husband's family thinks spray cheese is an hor d'ourve during the holidays. It makes me laugh every year.
I'm not truly against spray cheese, I just don't want to admit that I would feed it to my child for breakfast.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
They Call Me Jenny
For most women having your children call you by your first name on a regular basis would be an insult. Most women are quick to correct the child with "I am your Mommy". I'm not one of those women.
I would say my family situation is unusual, but unfortunately with the way society is today my family make up is probably more on the side of normal. I have a stepson who has called me Jenny since the day I met him. He was 16 months old. From day one I've insisted he call me Jenny. I didn't want to be Mom, Mommy, or Momma. Not because I didn't instantly love him, but because I watched my husband's heart break every time this little child called another man "Daddy". Every boyfriend, one night stand, old friend, or husband was "Daddy (insert name here)" to my stepson. It was done on the insistance of his biological mother. It was done on purpose to hurt my husband. And it worked.
Over the years I've added a biological child and now two foster children to my family. Each one of them call me Jenny to my face. It doesn't phase me. It's not what they call me face to face that counts.. it's what they call me when I'm not around.
When my stepson talks about "his Mom".. he's talking about me. In fact, many of his friends don't know that I'm not his biological mom. I didn't force that situation or even ask for it. It has grown into a love that is just as strong as if I birthed him. My brain knows I didn't, but my heart has no clue.
I would say my family situation is unusual, but unfortunately with the way society is today my family make up is probably more on the side of normal. I have a stepson who has called me Jenny since the day I met him. He was 16 months old. From day one I've insisted he call me Jenny. I didn't want to be Mom, Mommy, or Momma. Not because I didn't instantly love him, but because I watched my husband's heart break every time this little child called another man "Daddy". Every boyfriend, one night stand, old friend, or husband was "Daddy (insert name here)" to my stepson. It was done on the insistance of his biological mother. It was done on purpose to hurt my husband. And it worked.
Over the years I've added a biological child and now two foster children to my family. Each one of them call me Jenny to my face. It doesn't phase me. It's not what they call me face to face that counts.. it's what they call me when I'm not around.
When my stepson talks about "his Mom".. he's talking about me. In fact, many of his friends don't know that I'm not his biological mom. I didn't force that situation or even ask for it. It has grown into a love that is just as strong as if I birthed him. My brain knows I didn't, but my heart has no clue.
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