"Momma..."

Have you ever been at a loss for the right words to start a conversation? The next time that happens to you, try "Momma." At the end of the day, it often feels like my kids say that one single word at least a million times during a given day. "Momma....I need something to drink." "MOOOMMMMAAA...Will is trying to jump off the top bunk." "MMMooooommmmaaaa!"---the shrieking cry that comes from Maggie after her brothers don't give her her way. "Moooomma!"---the "stop talking about that" way they say it or the "Mmmm--huhuhu-ooo--huhuhu--mmmhhhaa" that comes after a fall and a boo-boo needs kissing. No matter the delivery, they start every conversation that way for every single need, hurt, tattle, desire that needs filling. Even when their Dad is sitting in the same room right next to me and is more than capable of fulfilling the task at hand, I am certain that he is invisible because the first word that falls off their lips is "Momma."

And to be honest, as much as I love being at home with them during the day, I get tired, no, exhausted by the sheer number of times they call my name during the day. Today, I decided to count how many times they actually said it. That's right, I starting counting as soon as their feet hit the floor this morning. And guess what? That was the first word all three of them said when they got out of bed. Ian: Momma, what's for breakfast? Maggie: Momma...milk. Will (at 9:30 when he decided to roll out of bed): Momma, I am about to pee myself. Fabulous.

At the end of my day with them (which was 6:15pm bc I had a meeting), they had collectively said "Momma" 650 times. Maggie was by far the worst offender. Granted, she has a limited vocabulary, but she said my name 387 times today---not counting the times that she sing-songs it while she is walking around the house "Mom-Mom-Mom, Mom-Mom-Mom, Mom-Mom-Mom!" Will said it 207, Ian a mere 56. So it wasn't a million but on average it was 65 times an hour. Wow!

One thing that my little non-scientific study showcased was that the older they get, the less they say it. Which means that the older they get, the less they need me. Which for Ian, is true. He can fix himself a snack and a drink, go to the bathroom, etc. When he does call me, its for one of three things: he is excited to tell me something, hurt, or he is telling on Will. So in the end, I guess that it also means that even if it drives me to the brink, I should enjoy these days when they say my name "a million times" because as they get older, they will need me less and "Momma" probably won't be the one person they go to for everything.

One time I answered to "Momma," I discovered they had created a fort in their bedroom!

And honestly, how could you ever get tired of these sweet faces saying your name?