According to an article floating around the internet, today’s coolest moms are not cool with being called “mom.” They would rather their offspring call them by their first name because implying that one of you is the parent is just so lame. Or something. I thought this was some kind of satire piece for entirely too long before I realized this is apparently A THING now.

What fresh nonsense is this, Cool Moms? You don’t even want to be moms anymore? I mean, you’re good with being a mom as long as your kids don’t dare to CALL you that? I want to be irritated about this, but as per usual, I think we all know who is to blame here. 

The Cool Moms of today’s Cool Moms.

I bet you ladies called your mom right away when you found out you were pregnant and said, “You’re going to be a grandma!” Yeah. Grandma wasn’t having that. So she came up with something catchy and hip to be called because obviously there are grandmas in the world, but SHE is not one of them. So what are we to do when it’s our turn to be made to feel matronly and authoritative because someone in this world thinks we’re their mom? We decide we’re too cool for that. Just call me by my first name, Baby. I mean, unless the term “Baby” makes you feel like we aren’t equals and friends, in which case I will just refer to you as “Smaller Version of Adult.”

Honestly, it doesn’t matter to me what you want your kids to call you. I guess I just don’t understand why there’s any negative connotation with being called “Mom.” I sat in far too many infertility clinic appointments and social worker offices and filled out far too much adoption paperwork to be anything other than overwhelmingly grateful that somebody wants to identify me as their mother. Hearing that first “Mama” come from my child’s mouth was a sound I dreamed about and waited for for years. Ten years into this parenting gig and we have now reached the stage where my husband frequently refers to me as “Mom” and I’ve got to admit, I like it. Who’s your mommy? It’s me. 

Our kids will have a thousand friends over the course of their lives. You get to be their mother. Mom. Mommy. Mama. Ma. Whatever beautiful form it takes, that’s YOU. Being distinguished from the other people in their life with that sacred title isn’t some insult or a way to always remind your child about the balance of power. It’s a title of intimacy. It is a constant reminder of the influential position you have in your child’s life to nurture them and provide them with much-needed structure. It’s a precious word loaded with meaning, symbolism and beauty. When your kids introduce you to their friends, they say, “This is my mom.” Do you hear that? MY mom. And he is YOUR son. You belong to each other. You aren’t roommates or buddies or Michelle and Aidan, you are mother and son. Call it whatever you want, this relationship is meant to be unique. 

And someday, we’ll be gone. If we are blessed to have our kids outlive us, then a time will come when our children will no longer have a mom. And they will grieve that because that word is meaningful beyond our ability to inhabit it. It’s like being president—there’s a power to the office itself beyond whoever occupies the role. Being a mom, having a mom, these are important elements of being connected to family in a way that lets you know you aren’t alone in the world. That title matters even after we’re gone. Friend, advocate, confidant, nurturer—“mother” says it all in just one word.

I’m proud to have my kids call me “Mom” (except when I’m in the bathroom because CAN’T I JUST HAVE A MINUTE WHERE SOMEONE ISN’T SCREAMING FOR ME?) and I wear that title with joy. And maybe when my daughter or daughter-in-law calls to tell me she’s expecting my first grandchild, I’m just going to own being Grandma, too. Let’s start a revolution and stop chasing endless youth. Let’s stop acting like getting old or being in charge is a bad thing. Let’s let kids be the kids and let’s own what we are. We are the brave, the strong, the fruit-snack openers, the fingernail clippers, the band-aid appliars, the sandwich makers, the diaper changers and the homework helpers. Call us whatever you want, but around here, I mostly answer to, “MOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!” 

So God Made a Mother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Order Now

Check out our new Keepsake Companion Journal that pairs with our So God Made a Mother book!

Order Now
So God Made a Mother's Story Keepsake Journal

Maralee Bradley

Maralee is a mom of six pretty incredible kids. Four were adopted (one internationally, three through foster care) and two were biological surprises. Prior to becoming parents, Maralee and her husband were houseparents at a children’s home and had the privilege of helping to raise 17 boys during their five year tenure. Maralee is passionate about caring for kids, foster parenting and adoption, making her family a fairly decent dinner every night, staying on top of the laundry, watching ridiculous documentaries and doing it all for God’s glory. Maralee can be heard on My Bridge Radio talking about motherhood and what won't fit in a 90 second radio segment ends up at www.amusingmaralee.com.

This Time In the Passenger Seat is Precious

In: Kids, Motherhood, Teen
Teen driver with parent in passenger seat

When you’re parenting preteens and teens, it sometimes feels like you are an unpaid Uber driver. It can be a thankless job. During busy seasons, I spend 80 percent of my evenings driving, parking, dropping off, picking up, sitting in traffic, running errands, waiting in drive-thru lines. I say things like buckle your seat belt, turn that music down a little bit, take your trash inside, stop yelling—we are in the car, keep your hands to yourself, don’t make me turn this car around, get your feet off the back of the seat, this car is not a trash can,...

Keep Reading

So God Made My Daughter a Wrestler

In: Kids, Motherhood
Young female wrestler wearing mouth guard and wrestling singlet

God made my girl a wrestler. Gosh, those are words I would never have thought I would say or be so insanely proud to share with you. But I am. I know with 100 percent certainty and overwhelming pride that God made my girl a wrestler. But it’s been a journey. Probably one that started in the spring of 2010 when I was pregnant with my first baby and having the 20-week anatomy ultrasound. I remember hearing the word “girl” and squealing. I was over the moon excited—all I could think about were hair bows and cute outfits. And so...

Keep Reading

A Big Family Can Mean Big Feelings

In: Faith, Kids, Motherhood
Family with many kids holding hands on beach

I’m a mother of six. Some are biological, and some are adopted. I homeschool most of them. I’m a “trauma momma” with my own mental health struggles. My husband and I together are raising children who have their own mental illnesses and special needs. Not all of them, but many of them. I battle thoughts of anxiety and OCD daily. I exercise, eat decently, take meds and supplements, yet I still have to go to battle. The new year has started slow and steady. Our younger kids who are going to public school are doing great in their classes and...

Keep Reading

You May Be a Big Brother, but You’ll Always Be My Baby

In: Kids, Motherhood
Mother with young son, color photo

It seems like yesterday we were bringing you home from the hospital. Back then, we were new parents, clueless but full of love—a love that words can hardly explain. I can vividly recall holding you in my arms, rocking you in the cutest nursery, and singing sweet lullabies, just like yesterday. I can picture those times when you were teeny-tiny, doing tummy time, and how proud I was of you for lifting your head. And oh, the happiness on your face when “Baby Shark” played over and over—that song always made you smile! We made sure to capture your growth...

Keep Reading

“It Looks and Tastes Like Candy.” Mom Shares Warning about THC Gummies All Parents Need to Hear

In: Kids, Living, Teen
Hand holding bottle of THC gummies

What Aimee Larsen first thought was a stomach bug turned out to be something much more terrifying for her young son. Her 9-year-old woke up one day last week seeming “lethargic, barely able to stand or speak,” his mom shared in a Facebook post. At first, she assumed he had a virus, but something about his behavior just didn’t seem right. She called an ambulance and asked her older sons if their brother might have gotten into something, like cough syrup or another over-the-counter medicine. Their answer? “Yeah, THC gummies.” THC gummies are an edible form of cannabis that contain...

Keep Reading

Dear Daughter as You Grow into Yourself

In: Kids, Motherhood, Tween
Girl in hat and dress-up clothes, color photo

My daughter, I watched you stand in front of the mirror, turning your body left and right. Your skirt was too big and your top on backward. Your bright blue eyeshadow reached your eyebrows and bold red blush went up to your ears. You didn’t care. I watched you marvel at your body, feeling completely at ease in your skin. You turned and admired yourself with pride. You don’t see imperfections. You don’t see things you are lacking. You see goodness. You see strength. RELATED: Daughter, When You Look in the Mirror, This is What I Hope You See I’m...

Keep Reading

My Child with Special Needs Made His Own Way in His Own Time

In: Kids, Motherhood
Mother holding child's hand walking across street

I want to tell you the story of a little boy who came to live with me when he was three years old. Some of you may find this story familiar in your own life. Your little boy or girl may have grown inside you and shares your DNA or maybe they came into your life much older than three. This little boy, this special child, my precious gift has special needs. Just five short years ago, he was a bit mean and angry, he said few understandable words, and there was a lot about this world he didn’t understand. Unless...

Keep Reading

Organized Sports Aren’t Everything

In: Kids, Motherhood
Young girl with Alpaca, color photo

Today I watched my little girl walk an alpaca. His name is Captain. Captain is her favorite. He’s my favorite too. I met his owner on Instagram of all places. She thought I was in college; I thought she was a middle-aged woman. Turns out, she is in high school, and I am a middle-aged woman. This random meeting led to a blessing. We call it “llama lessons.” We take llama lessons every other week. It’s an hour away on the cutest hobby farm. Our “teacher” is Flora, who boards her llamas at the alpaca farm. She wants to teach...

Keep Reading

I Had to Learn to Say “I’m Sorry” to My Kids

In: Kids, Motherhood, Teen, Tween
Mom hugs tween daughter

My two oldest kiddos are at the front end of their teen years. I remember that time in my own life. I was loud, somewhat dramatic, I let my hormones control me, and I never—ever—apologized. This last part was because no one ever really taught me the value of apology or relationship repair. Now, I could do some parent blaming here but let’s be real, if you were a kid whose formative years were scattered between the late ’80s and early ’90s, did you get apologies from your parents? If so, count that blessing! Most parents were still living with...

Keep Reading

5 Things Your Child’s Kindergarten Teacher Wants You To Know

In: Kids, Motherhood
Child raising hand in kindergarten class

I am a teacher. I have committed my life to teaching children. Of course, before I began this career, I had visions of standing in front of a group of eager-eyed children and elaborating on history, science, and math lessons. I couldn’t wait to see the “lightbulb” moments when students finally understood a reading passage or wrote their first paper. And then I had my first day. Children are not cut out of a textbook (shocking, I know) but as a young 23-year-old, it knocked me right off my feet. I was thrown into the lion’s den, better known as...

Keep Reading