Mommy

During this Christmas break, I had the chance to spend a good deal of time with my children, which was wonderful. Children have a way of making you feel so loved and so needed. This is a wonderful thing, but at times this is also overwhelming. All weekend I heard three crying voices
"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!"
"I need you, Mommy!"
"Look, Mommy!"
"Mommy, What's That?"
"Mommy, it's a cow."

I was feeling like I didn't want to be needed, like I just wanted some time to myself. I didn't want to hear "Mommy." But then, I heard something I hadn't before. "Mom, I need a drink of water, Mom."

Since when did my soon-to-be-4-year-old make a switch from "Mommy" to "Mom". Not only did he use it this once, but he seemd to be intentionally making the switch. "Mommy, I'm... MOM, I'm all done."

I was surprised at how I reacted. I felt heartbroken. This represented some kind of a milestone in his life, his growing independence. I was expecting this from a teenager, maybe a 10-year-old - not a 4-year-old!

Now I will cherish every time he slips up and lets out a "Mommy, I need you."