There is a phenomenon that exists. It spans generations and remains the same no matter how the times change. This phenomenon is called, “Mom On Call”.
Just this morning, my mom proved yet again, that no matter how old your children get, you don’t escape the assignment of being Mom on Call or as I will lovingly refer to it, MOC. At ten after seven this morning Mom came rushing to her daughter and grandson’s rescue. Redden and I had both forgotten to take his backpack into school that had his towel and change of clothes for water day. She saved me from the chiding phone call I would have inevitably received from Redden’s teacher, who just happens to be a few years younger and has no children. She drove to my office, picked up the backpack, and delivered it to Redden’s school before anyone could toss accusatory glances in my general direction. (THANK YOU SO MUCH MOM!!)
So this phenomenon, we as new mothers accept this as a right of passage. We accept that just as soon as we sit down to do something purely for ourselves, we are going to hear, “Momma, I need ____.” or “Momma, can you please _______” or even the simple yet highly effective, “WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!” If you are like me, you sigh deeply and get right back up to answer the call of duty. There is some satisfaction in being MOCed. You are filled with the pride (and smugness) of knowing that your child doesn’t trust this request to anyone else. At least, this is how I have viewed it for the past five and three-quarter years. However, last night, Redden showed me that I may be looking at it all wrong.
As most of you know, we have a darling (well, most of the time) doggie named Cookie. When he obeys a command we reward him with doting words such as, “Good boy, Cookie!” and sometimes even a treat. Last night, as Neil and sat down to watch a few episodes of the Sopranos Season 6, Part 2, Redden came down stairs and said, “Momma, I’m hungry. Will you fix me something to eat?” I let out my sigh and said, “Yes, just give me a few minutes.” Neil and I paused the DVD and I went upstairs to fix Redden some dinner.
Just as the microwave timer went off, I heard Redden coming up the stairs. As he climbed up the last two steps he said, “Good Momma!” My jaw hit the floor right about the time he rounded the corner. Then what did he do? He “rewarded” me with a big squeeze. Neil just stood back and laughed.
So I guess that getting MOCed can also include getting mocked. But there is a piece of satisfaction that they can’ take away – the fact that they are going to have to deal with it when they are blessed with children of their own.
