MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Not 100. Not 1,000. Not 100,000. More like 1,000,000. That's how many times a day I have to answer to an insistent, piercing "MAAAAAAAAAAAAA! It starts first thing in the morning. A sweet, soft "Ma" when Benjamin's ready to get out of bed. By breakfast, it's more like a whiny moan - "Maaaaaaa". And when he asks for candy, and I tell him, "No, we don't eat candy for breakfast. How about a waffle?" then, a shrill, full-lunged "MAAAAMAAAAMAAAAA." Followed by an all-out tantrum. Around this time, I'm ready for Benjy to go back to bed. For the day.

It must be so difficult to be 2. To want what you don't need - candy, scissors, cake, TV, And not to be able to communicate these desires to the grown-ups who are perfectly capable of providing them. I believe Benjy is all too aware of the power of his "Ma". He knows he can charm me with his first "ma" of the morning. He knows his screamy "ma" grates on my very last nerve. He also knows that at some point in the day, enough "Ma's" will buy him 30 minutes in front of the TV. Yes, I'm a bad mom.

Still, no matter how many times I hear and even endure Benjy's various forms of "Ma", no matter how many times I answer back with "Benjamin" and we get involved in a never-ending cycle of back and forth, no matter how many times I dream of putting him to bed at 9 a.m., well, I have to admit that just hearing a single solitary "Ma" from Benjy is special. Yes, Benjamin, I am proud and blessed to be your Ma. And, I'll always answer to you. :)