We were at a local playground when another toddler, after hearing O holler down at me from the top of the slide, realized it’s a fun word to say and took her own turns running up and yelling Baa-ba! at me.
Even at this young age children don’t call their friends’ parents “mom” or “dad” but for some reason they love to call me Baba. Maybe because it’s a new word for them or maybe because I’m this strange mom-dad hybrid that feels both safe and adventurous. Whatever the reason, it always strikes me when another child calls me by my “parent name”. Kids who know us realize that my particular breed has an owner and refer to me as “O’s Baba”. Others overhear it on the playground and yell it into the wind like a battle cry. Whatever the reason, it’s pretty amusing and sometimes downright sweet. Even as other children pick it up, I like that I’m “O’s Baba”. He knows he’s got one and I’m his and that’s good enough for me.
The Baba `Hood 
If it’s anything like what how I get addressed, it’ll stick! My kids friends don’t know my name, and when they want to get my attention they say “D’s mom?” That’s what you have to look forward to. “O’s, Baba? Can you open my drink for me?” “O’s Baba? Can I have a play date with O sometime?” Then again, there probably won’t be other Babas around when they talk to you, so they might just stick with “Baba”, which is awesome and so much cooler than “D’s mom”! 😉
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It’s official, you have lost your identity! I’m still referred to as “Thom’s Mom or Ry’s Mom……….of course, now that Thom & Ry’s friends are old I respond with “I have a name you know!!!” lol (but if truth be told, I am very proud to be known as Thom’s Mom or Ry’s Mom) Embrace it Bri, it’s a wonderful thing! Here’s looking at you “O’s Baba”
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Ah, that is very tender and sweet!
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