R-E-S-P-E-C-T

My son recently joined a new sports team. It is a new league, in a new town, with a new coach. I sent his coach an email last night and shortly thereafter realized that I had addressed the coach by his first name. Not having participated in organized sports myself, I am much less attuned to the etiquette than my husband is, that one calls the coach “Coach”. Before I had much time to fret about my mistake the phone rang.

It was the coach.

Turns out he was calling about logistics of our paperwork. We chatted for a bit. I provided him with the information he needed. Then I took the opportunity to ask him how he would like me to address him. He explained that while he had grown up in a household in which his parents were very strict that he addressed people as Mr. or Mrs. or Coach, etc. in order to convey respect for the position the person held, he was happy with anything outside of school hours (and since we are not only a family from another school but another district, it shouldn’t be an issue).

This got me thinking. When my kids call me Mom are they using the word as a name or a title? Is “mom” a sign of respect for the position I hold? Somehow “Mom!” being bellowed from the next room takes on a whole different feel if they are really shouting the equivalent of “oh great maker of me and all that makes my world work.” I would still want them to come into the room where I am to talk to me but somehow I don’t think their yelling would annoy me quite so much.

From now on I am going to try to approach the day assuming “mom” is used as a sign of respect. Let’s see how this changes my outlook on the day. And then I can make myself a super hero cape.