Kingsley: Mumma

I made the decision early on as to how I wanted baby Kingsley to know me, and call me: Mumma – with the inflection on the ‘a’  – just like how I called  – and still call – my own mum.

Friday afternoon out in Dubai, after a three hour nap for the boy

Friday afternoon out in Dubai, after a three hour nap for the boy

The day I indeed became Mumma to Kingsley, a great many resolutions were set and their plans put to action. Some were vague, if heartfelt: I’ll love, protect and nurture you; I will keep you safe. Some were specific: I’ll breastfeed you for at least six months; I’ll never hit you; I’ll educate you and ensure you are well travelled; only healthy foods on the table, etc.

GITEX 014

Friday afternoon out in Dubai, after a three hour nap for the boy

All of a sudden on 7th December 2013 at precisely 10.05PM I had become a mum and to the most glorious of God’s creatures no less, and my role in society changed. No longer was I a Dubai ex-pat brat party girl…

GITEX 013

Friday afternoon out in Dubai, after a three hour nap for the boy

Instantly and instinctively, something good happened to me. My child was going to have me as his teacher and this role I was going to take the Oscar for. You see children learn what they live. Dorothy Law Nolte in her poem Children Learn What They Live wrote:

“If children live with sharing, they learn generosity. If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness. If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.”

 Farewell podium dancing. And hallo nursery rhymes! Mumma Alice has arrived.

 

 

 

 

 

1 Response to Kingsley: Mumma

Leave a Reply