New Name

 We spent the weekend out of town visiting family.  Monkey did something he was not suppose to do and had to go to time-out. The entire time he was in time-out he was screaming my favorite name "Mama".  In the middle of this fit, I was asked if I wanted to change my name.  My answer came without thinking, "NO!"  Before I even met Jason, an email going around would have all these questions about yourself that you answer and then send to your friends.  One of the questions was "What is your biggest fear?".  I would always answer that my biggest fear was never being called "Mama".  Being blessed with two children who call me "Mama" is an answer to many prayers so NO I don't want my name changed.

 This past week and especially this weekend my thoughts and mind has been with my friend, her husband, and their family because their sweet 16 week old baby died.  This past Saturday, they had to do what no parent should ever have to do and that is bury their child.  He died before he was able to wrap his sweet arms around her neck, kiss her, and say "I love you mama."  She will never hear that sweet baby call her "mama" so NO I don't want my name changed.

 Being the adoptive parent of an older foster child who remembers her biological mother, I longed for her to acknowledge me as her Mama.  It wasn't until last Christmas that she started calling me "Mama" and Jason "Daddy".  At first, it didn't bother me but after her adoption when she was still calling me Judi and her bio mom "my real mom", I must admit it hurt. The first time she called me "Mama" without hesitation, I cried so NO I don't want my name changed!

 We are surrounded by people, including ourselves, with infertility issues who have longed, dreamed, prayed, and cried for a baby but for whatever reason can't have one or can't have a baby survive the pregnancy and would give anything to be called "Mama" so NO I don't want my name changed!

 I don't care if my children call for "Mama" a 1,000 times a day because every time they say "Mama", it is my prayers being answered.  When they say "Mama", it is my fears being overcome with God's blessings.  When they say "Mama", my heart swells, my face smiles, my ears dance.  I will never grow tired of "Mama" and will NEVER want my name changed!!  I love my children and the name they have given me!