Dictionary

I once wrote that every time I hear Jackson say the word "Mama" I hear an endearment, an "I love you." That remains true. Every time I hear it, the sound makes me happy to know that he can trust me, can call me for comfort, help or anything.
But these days the word itself has snowballed into entire paragraphs. Gathering meaning like a broom gathers dust bunnies, this word has become complete sentences, grand emotions, bossy orders and lengthy complaints.
So I thought I might jot down a few interpretations of the word "Mama" as currently used by a Mr. Jackie T.

Mama! MEANING: You have returned home! I am so happy to see you!
Mama? MEANING: Where is my (insert any item here)
Mama! MEANING: I have dropped my (item). I need you to promptly pick it up.
Mama! MEANING: I have officially completed my meal. Please dispose of this plate and leftover food.
Mama! MEANING: Let us commence with the reading of this text - ASAP
Mama! MEANING: This incredibly, teensy, tiny, practically invisible piece of trash is disturbing me. Please dispose of it immediately.
Mama! MEANING: Daddy is home.
Mama! MEANING: Did you see that crazy dog running around our living room? Oh it is so hilarious!
Mama! MEANING: I have drained this ridiculous sippy cup and no longer have a need for it.
Please, away with it.
Mama! MEANING: Hold my (pacifier, book, etc. ) while I take a moment to quench my thirst.
Mama! MEANING: Sit here.

Comments

Kathleen said…
I love the way you write!!
March 10, 2009 at 3:27 PM
Anonymous said…
This is hilarious! And so true! xo
March 11, 2009 at 7:21 AM
Anonymous said…
P. S. I guess you know that Anonymous is your diminished capacity old cousin Sylvie. I've tried every way I could think of to get an identity on here and it just keeps spitting me out. Sorry.
March 11, 2009 at 7:23 AM
Anonymous said…
And then there is "MAma" said quietly but firmly to verify possesion and confirm proximity. That's my favorite.
March 15, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Grace

The boys say the best graces before dinner.  Yes, the boys. We have multiple graces at our mealtimes. Everyone wants a turn. Sometimes they are sing song, sometimes they are short and silly and sometimes they will melt your heart. The other day, Jackson was mid-grace and thankful for food and family and force fields. Yes, he ended his grace by asking if God could put a force field around our loved ones. I'm hope God is a Star Wars fan.
Read more

Eli Fletcher Copley

Things can change in an instant. Our baby boy was born Nov 9 at 10:35. He weighed 7 pounds and 13 ounces. He arrived three weeks early. But appeared to have enough poundage for a safe delivery. He arrived with quite a healthy cry. His healthy cry gave everyone a sigh of relief. We were thrilled to hear those healthy sounds. Eric stayed with him while the doctor finished my surgery. We would all meet up in the recovery room. When I was wheeled in to the recovery room, no one was there. I was told Eli had to be taken to the special care nursery because he had started grunting to get the fluid out of his lungs. Everyone remained positive. After an hour the nurses came back to explain he was not absorbing the oxygen he was receiving and they bumped his intake. Eventually they would put him on a cpap. He was taken to the NICU. By the end of the night he was put on a ventilator. Things can change in an instant. That night he was monitored and it appeared he was going to be able to be weaned
Read more

Saturday

Eli's numbers, machines, blood gases, pulse ox and oxygen rate have had no change. We have been told this is a good thing. While there have been no major improvements...there have been no further deteriorations. This is how we get closer to stable. The long term goal is to get him stable and then eventually wean him off his numerous medications and machines. But for now, we focus on the fact that his information stayed the same throughout the night. It is difficult to see him like this. Every time we visit him we want to scoop him up into our arms. It is impossible to believe that I have yet to hold my baby. But I know he is where he needs to be. Those machines are tiny miracles. The nitric oxide is our miracle. We have even heard the NICU nurses refer to Eli as The Nitric Baby. So far it appears as though the nitric is working to relax his artery. Our happiest moment came early this morning when we learned they had decided to start giving him small feeds of breast milk. We would
Read more