I’ve been Re-Named

Naming a child is one of the most important tasks that a parent must come to terms with; after all you are, for the most part, stuck with that name for the rest of your life. It becomes your identity and part of who you are.

So for the last 35 years, I have been called “Joyce.” It’s a good name, not popular for people in my generation so I am typically the only one in a crowded room. I went through phases growing up where I wished I had a more popular name, but for the last 25 years or so I have been rally content being called Joyce. My great-aunt who I was named after was an awesome lady and I can only hope to be a cool as she was.

Now I am faced with a change in my name, I was not prepared for this one. It kind of snuck up on me over the last few weeks. I suppose I should look at my new name as an honor. I am very fortunate to be blessed with two healthy, beautiful children so the fact that my two-year old has re-named me, “Mommy-Feed-Little One” really should feel like an honor.

I am so fortunate that the Big One is an active and talking two-year-old. And that she can comprehend that yes in fact, most of the time it does seem that mommy has to feed the Little One. But c’mon how sad is it that every time she looks at me she automatically assumes that I need to feed the baby. I know the benefits of breastfeeding, but as I’ve said before, if I had any idea how difficult (and time consuming) it would be the Little One would be living off of formula. The Big One was a formula baby and (obviously) is just as smart, fun, beautiful and healthy as can be.

So why is it that I continue to breastfeed the Little One? I guess as much as I complain about it, it’s another thing where I know how fortunate that I am to be able to breastfeed her and I don’t want to throw that away. Besides, formula is crazy expensive… losing my name temporarily is a small price to pay in comparison.