Things I Can't Say

Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom

Blog Friend Feature: In These Small Moments

This week’s Blog Friend Feature has a way of looking at things that really makes me stop and think. Because I tend to whine and complain over the little things, while Nichole of In These Small Moments sees the bigger picture and finds the joy in the every day.

Meet the lovely Nichole:

Sid the Science Kid Has Corrupted My Daughter

Before I tell you how PBS has turned my life upside down, I want to thank Shell for having me here.

I’ve watched this amazing BFF space for so long, dreaming of the day when it would be my turn. I envisioned sharing a small moment with you, as that’s kind of my thing.

But, when I sat down to write, I couldn’t get this current problem out of my head, so I’m going to share it here.

Thanks for indulging me, Shell. Much love to you!

I’m hoping one of you has some pull with PBS and can help me out with this problem I’m having…

One would think that PBS programming is pretty safe for children, right?

That they could take comfort in knowing that their children are in good hands while watching PBS?

Well, that’s not the case.

PBS simply cannot be trusted.

More specifically, Sid the Science Kid cannot be trusted.

Oh sure, he looks harmless enough, but don’t be fooled by his goofy grin and floppy purple hair.

This boy is trouble.

PBS describes him as a preschooler who, “does two things that make him the perfect scientist…he observes the world around him, and he asks LOTS of questions. And like a budding comedian, Sid’s observations and questions are FUNNY (in a preschool kind of way).”

They make him sound harmless and endearing, right?

Wrong!

Sid taught my four-year-old daughter something that she did not need to know.

The word Mom.

Until Katie began watching Sid, I was Mommy.

But now, a few times each day, she calls me Mom.

I’m just not ready to be Mom.

She’s only four.

Perhaps it was because she was a delayed talker, or maybe because I hold on too tightly, but I’m just not ready for this change.

Following on the heels of Mom is Mother.

Sigh.

When I call her for dinner, she often replies, “Coming, Mom.” And when she enters the kitchen, I catch a glimpse of her at eight, twelve, and sixteen years old.

These years are so fleeting. It seems like it was just last year that she was born and I held her close, taking in her sweet baby smell, and dreamed of hearing her say my name.

I want to keep her small for just a bit longer. I want to soak up the sound of her voice when she does call me Mommy.

I know that I will blink and she will be grown and I will most often hear my name over the telephone from college or wherever her dreams may take her.

But for now, I’m going to fight the good fight…I’m holding onto Mommy.  

Think I can convince her to start watching Sesame Street again? As annoying as he is, Elmo is trustworthy.

And if any of you have any pull with PBS, can you please speak with someone about getting Sid to call his mother Mommy?

Oh, I remember that first “mom.” Broke my heart! Please leave Nichole some comment love here and then go follow In These Small Moments.

Comments

  1. Oh I feel your pain. I have always been Mamma. Even before I moved south, I was Mamma. Now I'm Mom (okay, my kids are 7 and 8). I don't like being Mom… that's MY mother, not me!

  2. I love being Mama! My husband still call his mom Mama. I hope JDaniel always will.

  3. I get lots of Mama and Mommy, but I know the Mom will come 🙁 I am dreading it as well.

    No Sid the Science guy until they are nineteen! (The Cat in the Hat kids call their moms "Mom", too. Maybe I need to stop that show in its tracks as well!)

  4. I hate being called Mom. Thankfully even though my children are 11,9, and 5 I still get 50% Momma- which I love.

    Maybe we should start a Twitter campaign with PBS kids to get Sid to call his mom, momma or Mommy!

    So happy you are the BFF today I have been meaning to stop over and follow and now this forces me!

  5. Oh Nic! Wow, mine are only three and they have started "Mom" or more specifically "aaaah mom!"
    Our little babies are growing up…*sigh*
    Hugs to u my friend xoxox

  6. I can't imagine that day…my Will calls me momma and mommy when he's tired or not feeling well.

    I could live with him calling me momma forever, but mom…not sure about that one.

    Congrats on this great honor!

  7. great bff friend and what a cute little post! I love it. I can't wait to be called mommy!

  8. What a sweet post! My two year old has been calling me "Mom" lately… I am ignoring it. Great BFF!

  9. I baby (now 4) never called me Mommy, he has to use the terms his siblings used, and since they are all 3.5-10 years older than him, Mom is my name.

    Funny things is, that is what my 2 year old nephew calls me. ANd yesterday, he started calling his mom Auntie Dawn (what he hears my kids call her).

  10. Losing the mama/mommy title is so heartbreaking.

    With my oldest, I'm rarely mommy anymore. But when it slips out, I can't help but smile.

  11. Just spent some time with my grands. It was one of the things I noticed..they are now calling their mother…mom. It made me think wow, they are growing up so fast. Now I have to investigate…I wonder if Sid is involved here??? Hmmm…

  12. Wait until they start watching those sassy 'tween shows on Disney Channel and the first "Yo Mamma" escapes their lips.

    Yeah, that happened. ONCE. Never again.

  13. I'll admit, my first thought was "What's wrong with Sid?" Now I understand. I'm glad my 4 year old daughter didn't start this kind of thing with us. But you're right about being called "mom." I remember the first time I answered my phone when my mom called and I said "Hi, ma." She was really sad about it. It wasn't something I understood until I had my own kids.

  14. Love Nichole, she always writes so beautifully.

    My toddler hasn't even called me Mama yet – I cannot wait! But Mom? Oh they do grow so quick. Sigh.

  15. I adore Nicole – though I have to disagree with her about Sid. I mean, I've never even heard of him. But purple floppy hair? That's a statement I can get behind.

  16. I love Nichole! She really does have a way of making me stop and look at the bigger picture.

    It broke my heart when my youngest started saying "Mom".

  17. Aww! We've had a few "Mom" occurrences, too. 🙁 Thankfully Baby R still calls me Mama. Love Sid, but I can see your point. 🙂

  18. We are always letting go as moms or mamas. Parenting is inexplicable joy mixed with uncontrollable, ongoing, losses as kids grow and change. We get the new, wonderful model, but have to relinquish things we love to their places in our memory. I hear you.

  19. I hate Sid. HATE. LOATHE. For so many reasons…this is one I never even thought of. Although Eddie hears lots lots of kids call their mom's "mom" at daycare, but he still calls me Mama because that is his name for me.

    But down with Sid anyway. I could write a whole post about him too…but it would be scathingly inappropriate how much I despise him.

  20. OMG Dying here- Nichole!

    I mean, mostly I'm swooning at the two of you in one place.

    But also? Dying.

    Fantastic post!

    {Congrats on the BFF thang!}

    XO

  21. Squee! Two of my favorite bloggers in one place 😉 I picked a good day to try to get some blog reading in!

    Ethan calls me mom most of the time now as well. It's like a little stab in the heart, isn't it?

  22. Sawyer started calling us mom and dad a couple months ago. It makes me SO sad, but luckily I have two younger ones to keep me Mommy for a few more years. 😉

  23. Oh, the "Moms" are kind of heartbreaking. The eye-rolling, followed by, "Mother," is going to kill me, though.

    I wish this was my biggest beef with Sid. He just creeps me out. I like the CONCEPT of the show, but cannot take the show.

    PS – Great BFF, Shell!

  24. Ack!!! Mom is like a bad word around here! I am with you! I am holding on to mommy as long as i can!!!

  25. Ohhh…I remember when Mommy faded away.

    Don't let it! Ground her! Make her do chores! Each "mom" = one room to vacuum! Or one bathroom to re-caulk!

    FIGHT THE MOM!

  26. Oh, the dreaded "Mom". It shocked me the first time it was used to address me.

    Luckily I have yet to pass over to the "Mother" side, because that right there might send me to the Old Folks Home.

    I loved this! And Sid's mommy needs to remind him he's only little for a short time.

  27. Ah solution is simple! Now is the time to start teaching that girl of yours Russian, in Russian you are MAMA from the start to the end 😉

  28. Oh, I'm not looking forward to being called "Mom." My daughter just switched from "Momma" to "Mommy," which I think is the sweetest word in the world. Well, except when she says it in whiny frustration as an apparent alternative to "No."

  29. It's funny — my girls called me Mom befroe they ever called me Mommy, completely skipping the beloved "Mama" stage. Now they occasionally call me Mom, and sometimes even Mama (but more like MawMaw, so I feel like a grandma), but I will ALWAYS prefer the sweet sounds of Mommy.

  30. When my daughter starts calling me "mom" this works with her. Instead of calling her Ainsley, I call her Ains. And she says "That's not my name!" And I reply "Well 'mom' is not my name." It always gets her to revert back to "mommy."

    As annoying as Sid is, I don't think it's all his fault. My daughter doesn't watch that show and she still has managed to come up with 'mom' on occasion.

    Good luck!

  31. Awwww, what an incredibly sweet post this is. Also this line totally cracked me up: "As annoying as he is, Elmo is trustworthy."

  32. Oh Nichole, I have been feeling the same way.
    I used to be mumma and recently my daughter, who is 15months, has started calling me mommy. It's clear and perfect and I know she means me but I am so scared that she will start calling me mom and I miss the mumma.
    I am hanging on tight right along with you.

  33. They grow up way too fast. I'm struggling with that right now. And as cute as Sid is I find him rather annoying. 😉

  34. Kaylee is nine and still calls me "Mama".

    Although recently she is branching out to "Mom".

    I asked her not too long ago if she would call me mama forever.

    And she said yes.

    And she probably will but only when she wants to butter me up for something. . .

    Because I do that. I still call my mom "Mommy" when the occasion is right.

    You are never too old to do that.

  35. Oh, Shell ~ I always LOVE this BFF feature and to find Nichole here today was just perfect…

    Two of the most lovely, supportive people in the blogosphere in one post.

    Hooray!

    As for being called "Mom":

    Can you hear my sigh of commiseration here?

    I will say it's not as painful now that my son is 14. In fact, if he called me Mommy, it would be odd.

    And my 12-year-old daughter still mostly calls me Mama…

    But so much of what comes out of their mouths betrays their age (and therefore mine).

    I'm not talking profanity.

    I'm talking about wit and sarcasm and insight and loveliness.

    Being called Mom (and getting old!) is a steep price to pay for the beauty that comes with your children becoming PEOPLE.

    This is so much more difficult and also wonderful than I could have ever imagined.

    p.s. Sorry for the long comment. Just feeling your post. Deeply.

  36. That is funny, sad, and true. They do grow up fast.
    My 15 year old made up his own name for me, Maja. It don't know where it came from, but it is cute.

  37. The first mom was hard. Even now at 6 when she says mom it hurts a little. And what was worse is that my little one picked up "Mom" from the big one and didn't hang on to Momma as long. 🙁

  38. My oldest calls me Mom yet the youngest still calls me mama or mommy. Oh How I love those two words.

  39. "Mom" is just the beginning. Shame on SID for being so grown up. Great post from Nicole.

  40. I didn't realize that is where it comes from!!!!! My three-year-old daughter has started calling me mom recently and it bothers me sooooo much. I've even told her I am Mommy. This all started for us around the time our cable started pixulating sprout and the real PBS was the alternative! OMG! I had no idea Sid the Science Kid was the culprit. I never put the two together!!

  42. So glad to see Nichole here! I love her writing!

    When my oldest first called me "mom" I cringed. It's heartbreaking. But now with my younger two? I'm planning on brainwashing them to call me mommy forever. Ahem. 😉

  43. I was so ready for you to bash on Sid for being in the same exact show every single time (I know, I know, kids like repetition or whatever. blah). But this made me think…you know…my almost-five-year-old has started calling me "Mom" occasionally too. Except, I kind of like it. I was never a fan of "Mommy".

  44. Kind of had to laugh at this today as it is kind of humorous (shame on you Sid) but the day I read it is the same day my dress arrived for my son's wedding next month. Talk about not being ready! And I don't even have Sesame Street to blame it on. (LoL)

    Hugs.

  45. OH, I am with you! Elmo is much safer. He only loves his m-o-m-m-y. Sadly, my name has also evolved. It is now mostly "MAAAW-UM!"

  46. B typically calls me Mama, unless hes hurt then its Mommy. I dread the day I get called Mom and hoep it stays at least Mama for a while longer.

    I dont have any pull with PBS–but Ill put the word out. 🙂

  47. Awww so sad! Maybe she'll switch back on accident. I mean you could probably always bribe her to call you mommy LOL!

  48. I'm not a Sid fan, my kid likes the cat in the hat and super why oh and sesame street but we avoid curious george and sid…something about that kid lol

  51. Don't worry. You'll be "Mommy" again. Although now it will be along with a request for something outrageous and some eyelash batting 🙂

  52. Thank you to everyone who left a comment for me here. I loved hearing your "Mom" stories!

    And Shell, I can't thank you enough for hosting me here. I loved seeing some familiar faces and so many new ones!

    Being here was such an honor, my lovely friend.

  53. Oh! That would just break my heart as well. I've got a 6 yr old that has reverted back to Mama after a few years of Mommy – I'm SO fine with that. I know the day that he doesn't request a few lullaby songs at bedtime are just around the corner…

    I think you need to set your little darling up with a few episodes of caillou! The main character is four and not only does he call his mother Mommy, he's so obedient! 🙂

    Enjoyed your post!
    -h

  54. How did I miss that Nichole was your BFF yesterday??!?! Yay! Love Nichole!

    Sadie called me Mom yesterday….I almost cried.

  55. The girl used to call me Mumma, sounding like Elvis. It was beyond adorable.

    Now, it's just mom. I miss that. I'll blame PBS, too.

  56. My oldest calls me Mother. It is not fun. Hold onto mommy and mom for as long as you can.

  57. This is so funny. I love Nichole and love that she is here with you, Shell. But, for once, can;t relate at all about the "Mom" thing. I never even noticed when "Mommy" became "Mom." Really. Maybe it's because with the autism Jake's initial Mommy was so late (3, maybe 3 and a half) that whatever he calls me is fine, as long as it's a variation on Mom.

    Maybe it's because for at least 2 years now Ethan periodically tries to push the envelope and call me "Varda" which I quash fast and hard and so "Mom" is such a better alternative to that it's fine with me.

    Anyway, love to see you here & hugs all around!

  58. Im ok with mommy or mom. But when my 10 yr old says "mommy" I know he wants something.

  59. great BFF this week Shell!!!

    And girl, I feel ya….Sid is a danger…..but that Adventure Time is crazy dangerous!!!! Ya gotta watch out for PBS 😉

  61. I remember the first time I was called "mom" too. Heartbreaking. Don't worry though – you'll still get "mommy" sometimes for quite some time. Congrats on your BFF – heading over to follow you now!

  62. We need to start a letter-writing campaign and put a STOP to this! It's unacceptable!

  63. I remember when my oldest stopped calling me Momma and went straight to Mom. When she really wants something she'll bring out Momma or Mommy. I'm trying so hard with my youngest to bring back Momma!!

  64. Aw! I can totally understand your problem. I'm called "mama" and that better not change!

  65. "I love my mom (Uh huh) My mom is cool (Uh huh)" LOL

    Yea… I totally get how the going from Mama or Mommy to Mom stinks. But I relish the time I was mama and mommy… My sisters baby called her MOM from the time he started talking. It was never mama or mommy – so it could always be worse, right?

    Great post!

  66. Hahaahaha!! I feel your pain! I am TOTALLY dreading the day that either of my boys starts calling me mom. No more Sid the Science Kid for us! That boy is dangerous.

  67. The transition from Mommy to Mom broke my heart, too. Indicators they are growing up really freak me out if I think about it too much. So I console myself with denial.