I met Mitchell over two years ago at the school his son Christian went to. I was Christian's teacher and Mitchell had been introduced to me at a teacher's conference. We talked and decided to meet up later for coffee.....the rest is history.
Mitchell's wife had died about two years prior when his son was only five....poor boy.
Mitchell and I had gotten married a mere year after we'd met and Christian immediately took a liking to me. But he never once called me mom.
I never pressured Christian into calling me mom, nor did I confront him about it. He could grow to call me mom in his own time.
But I remember one day, about five years ago, when Christian was seven, he approached me.
It was after all the wedding business had settled down and I was making dinner.
As he walked in I gave him the kind smile I always did when I saw him.
" Hey Anna?" Christian spoke up as he climbed onto the stool next to me.
" Yeah, Christian?" I asked, not turning to him as I continued peeling the potatoes.
" Since you and Daddy are married now.... What does that make you?" Christian asked after a moment.
" Your daddy's wife....and your new caregiver." I replied cautiously. I knew his mother was still a touchy subject for him so I often tried to avoid talking about her.
Christian was silent for a moment as he thought this over.
" So if you're married to a daddy...and taking care of kids...does that make you a mommy?" Christian kept his gaze on his hands.
" I suppose it does." I nodded a little as I set the peeled potato aside.
" So.... What do I call you, then?" Christian continued after he thought over what I had told him.
" You can call me whatever you want. Whether it be, mom.... Anna, mother, mommy. Whatever you want, Christian." I answered honestly.
Christian went silent in thought again, I could practically see the cogs turning in his head as he thought this over.
The kitchen was silent for the longest time as I continued to cook, silently waiting for him to speak again.
" I'll call you, Anna....." He said after a moment before looking up at me with his big blue eyes.
" Cause mom's die, you know... I think it's safer to call you Anna." He continued quietly.
