I will never forget the moment when my oldest son, who was 10 at the time, dropped a bombshell that left me momentarily speechless. As he casually strolled away, he called me something that stopped me in my tracks: “Mom.”
I had always imagined he would refer to my husband and me as “Daddy” and “Mommy” forever. I mean, why wouldn’t he? We were perfectly fine with that arrangement! While my other kids had gone back and forth between “Mommy” and “Mom”—with my youngest almost exclusively calling me “Mom”—my firstborn had steadfastly remained in the “Mommy” camp. So, to hear him say “Thanks, Mom” in a voice that was already showing signs of adolescence felt like a slap in the face. My baby was growing up!
As he prepared to enter middle school, his body was changing—longer limbs, knobby knees, and that awkward gangly look reminiscent of a newborn colt. He still enjoyed playing with his brothers, but I could see his interests shifting, and his social circle expanding beyond family. And every so often, I caught glimpses of the classic preteen eye rolls and dramatic sighs that hinted at the teenage years ahead, which I knew would be a wild ride.
It’s funny how, despite a decade of parenting experience with four kids, I had never anticipated this particular transition. I could handle diaper changes and toddler tantrums like a pro, predicting the onset of vomit long before it splattered on the carpet. But watching my son morph into a “Mom” rather than a “Mommy” was a new challenge altogether.
Honestly, there were days when I felt overwhelmed by the constant “Mommy” calls, each one a reminder of the needy, clingy phase that accompanied that title. I’d roll my eyes and sigh when I heard it for the umpteenth time. But now, with my son casually dropping “Mom,” it felt like a light switch had turned off a whole chapter of our relationship. I never realized how much that small change in title could stir such a whirlwind of emotions. It marked a shift: he no longer needed the “Mommying” I had been accustomed to.
As I stood there, grappling with this new reality, I understood that life often pushes you to cross new thresholds, whether you feel prepared or not. You can’t see what’s coming, but you keep moving forward—that’s just how it goes.
I was only beginning this preteen roller coaster, but this jolt of change was a clear indication that I was on it. One simple utterance of “Mom” triggered a cascade of feelings: surprise, uncertainty, and a bittersweet nostalgia for the fleeting years, mixed with the heartache of letting go.
If you want to read more about navigating these transitions, check out other posts on our blog, including helpful resources about pregnancy and home insemination at Women’s Health and insights from Make a Mom on the process.
Summary
The transition from “Mommy” to “Mom” can be a surprising and emotional milestone in parenting. As kids grow, relationships evolve, and parents must adapt to these changes, often reflecting on the bittersweet nature of letting go of childhood.