The Transition from Mummy to Mum

So exciting, those first times they call out "Mummy". I was so proud to wear the badge of "Mummy". To be loved and needed by a child is a privilege and a challenge. Looking back I can't tell you quite how I progressed from Mummy to Mum. I guess it was a natural progression somewhere towards the end of their infant school years. There wasn't a day when my children suddenly decided my name was changing; it was more of a case of the odd "Mum" slipping into conversation, particularly in the presence of friends which then lapsed back to Mummy when we were alone. I understood this need to feel like the "cool dude" amongst friends and made nothing of it, cringing at the memories of battles with my own Mum over the name.

Learning to let go

Mummy is a safe, caring, loving and all protecting person. Mum is no less caring and loving but provides more freedom and scope within carefully agreed guidelines. There is so much bound up and implied in the two names to both child and mother. Moving from one to the other I do feel is a part of growing up and a transition from young child to pre teen years.  I have chosen not to hold my children back but to move into my "Mum" role and embrace a new relationship with my children.

My youngest children are triplets age 8, for them I still swing between Mummy and Mum and I relish these Mummy moments knowing they will disappear in time. 

Moving from Mum to Friend

I like to think I am a friend to all my children, we share a laugh and a joke, respect one another and enjoy each other's company; however that friendship does evolve as they grow up. My eldest has just turned 14 and while I have no ambition to be like or replace his school friends, I now see we have a lovely adult bond developing. I am still "Mum", I still have the last say over what is and is not permitted, but his scope is growing and his relationship with me and his Dad maturing.

Keeping on their Wavelength

For me, staying in touch with their life stage is important, embracing their music and enjoying their activities really helps us to build our developing adult friendship. My eldest children are all boys and they can be a bit of a closed book, but I still like to spend a little time with them individually, ask them about school and friends and do a few things together like a bike ride, a walk or just some time surfing in the sea together on a family beach trip. My eldest may be taller and stronger than me, and the oldest 3 out run me, but I still like to join in with them and not watch from the sidelines. 

Time stands still for no one, I plan to enjoy every stage of motherhood and embrace the next. None of us know what is round the corner in life, but having my children mature into my adult friends of choice is a great place to be heading.

Happy Mother’s Day

The Award

I have been awarded with the Liebster Blog award and am very honoured.  This is an award bestowed upon bloggers with less than 200 followers and the idea is to foster new connections between bloggers.  Apparently the word Leibster is German and means dearest, so this is a great award to have been given by the lovely More_than_a Mum.

The rules

The rules for the award are fairly straightforward, to thank the person who nominated you and nominate 5 other bloggers with less than 200 followers. 

More Than a Mum

To me More_than_a  is a cheerful and approachable fellow twitter friend.  I find her upbeat and enthusiastic about life, full of ideas and ambition so please follow if you are not already doing so. She has a lovely parenting blog at http://morethanamumblog.wordpress.com which is well worth a visit for all things parenting. A great writing style and interesting posts that keep you coming back. I must also give special thanks as she is a big supporter of our Country Kids linky http://www.coombemill.com/blog/post/2011/10/10/Country-Kids-from-Coombe-Mill.aspx with some awesome outdoor play features. Thank you. 

My 5 Recommended Bloggers

Here is my list of 5 bloggers I am following who appear to have less than 200 followers. Sincere apologies if I have misjudged this and you have more but the Liebster award comes to you with best intentions and congratulations from Coombe Mill!

Pippa who hosts http://redrosemummy.blogspot.com/

A truly lovely lady tweeting at RedRoseMummy with a parenting blog about her son Bud, together with reviews. Well worth a follow

Rachel who hosts http://www.confessionofsahm.com/ 

Rachel is a self confessed twitter and blog addict and keeps her blog lively and up to the minute. Catch her on twitter at rachelgully to follow.

Sharon who hosts http://i-heart-motherhood.blogspot.com/ 

Read all about the fun and games with her 2 youngsters as they make their way through the joys of childhood together well as reviews on parenting products. Follow on twitter at iheartmuthahood 

Clare who hosts http://www.emmysmummy.com/ 

A truly bubbly lady with a delightful toddler called Emily who is the center of her lovely blog, not to mention parenting product reviews and some great competitions. Catch Clare on twitter too at emmys_mummy 

Amanda who hosts http://mummymisfit.blogspot.com/

I love Amanda's writing style. She has a book out called Diary of a Mummy Misfit and her parenting posts on the blog are so well written I often find myself laughing out loud. Well worth a read. Mummy_Misfit will find Amanda on twitter

Go girls and share your recommendations

Looking so Vulnerable

I have a poorly soldier upstairs today. 7 years old but when feeling unwell he looks so much younger.

Doing the right thing

It is hard as parents to get it right when children are unwell. Last night Guy was running a temperature of 103 degrees and finding it hard to breath. I was torn between Googling symptoms, checking for meningitis rashes wondering whether to call the out of hours doctor or just dosing him up and going to bed! In the end I did all the above except call the doctor and rationalised that it was just the nasty cough making his chest hurt! This morning he climbed out of bed and collapsed in a heap as his legs had given way. I would have been most alarmed by this but my other children have had this 'dead leg' syndrome with a temperature and virus before now, so I just calmly helped him to the loo and back to bed to sleep it off.   

Did I get it Right?

To see him now tucking into his toast and hot chocolate on the sofa with his Care Bear I  am happy, that on this occasion, I did the right thing. It is not easy though, even though I have 6 children and the experience of many poorly soldiers through bugs, viruses and infections over the years I still worry with each one if I should be taking them to the doctor. I don't want to waste the doctor's time or infect the rest of the surgery, but at the same time they are a tad too precious to take chances. Parenting is no easy business and really does require us to have our wits about us and be a bit of a 'Jack of all Trades'!

What do you do when faced with a poorly child?