But Why “Momchelle”?

I know the burning question you are asking yourself right now, Self, what is up with “Momchelle”? Ok maybe you didn’t ask that questions, but I am going to explain it anyway.

I don’t love being called Mommy. Don’t get me wrong, when my kids were little bitty and they crawled into my lap and said I love you Mommy, my heart melted. Then they got older and taller than me (only 5’2, it’s not hard to be taller than me) and I started to really dislike the name Mommy.

I had a therapist tell me once, as I referenced my dad as Daddy (at the age of 22), “How will he ever start treating you like an adult, if you still talk to him like you are a baby”. It stuck with me. And at the ripe age of 13 and 11, I instructed my kids to stop calling me Mommy. It didn’t go well. They did not like the change, and I get it, who wants to grow up and leave the nest? But it is my job to teach them how to fly and fly they shall!

So, my oldest who has always been my greatest challenge and blessing, decided she would call me Momchelle. I hated it. I begged her to stop, I could not stand the way it sounded. I was also going through a divorce at the time and was struggling with my identity. Maybe not the best time to give up the “Mommy” title. Or maybe it was. Because I will tell you, it changed me. Of course because I hated Momchelle, my daughter clung to it tighter. And thus, I was rebranded — Momchelle. It has become my thing. My new identity when I needed it most.

Almost everyone (that knows me through my daughters) calls me Momchelle. It was loved so much, that we gave the other moms in my circle names too. One is JillBob, one is Mother, one is Melon, one is Momlinda, and one is Barbie. My circle is amazing.

Also, I am not just Momchelle. My youngest daughter, who makes a point to be as opposite of her big sister as often as possible, came up with her own name for me: Jimmy Sprinkles. I love this name. I love this kid.