It’s just semantics, but the term “Mama” should not be used until a first time parent actually has a child in their arms. I don’t feel like a parent to my unborn fetus, we’re both just bumping along doing our own thing right now. I’m not directing him, guiding his every whim, or even holding conversations with him. We’re doing this pregnancy thing symbiotically and with very little effort. The term “Mom” doesn’t make sense to me unless there is an actual human being around who needs mothering.

Therefore, I totally cringe when people say things like “Hey, Mama” (Oh GOD, just shoot me now) or call me “Mommy”, or refer to my prenatal yoga class as “Mom Stuff.” Look, there is no Mom in the room…just a pregnant woman right now. When Baby Schlag shows up, he’s the only one allowed to call me “Mom.” Everyone else needs to call me by my name: “Mara.” It doesn’t seem fair that you’re instantly saddled with the heavy-weight term of matronly honor the second you start showing. I’ll be a parent for the rest of my life, but god-forbid it becomes my sole identity. NO WAY.

And yes, I’m one of those people who hate it when the vet refers to me as my cat’s Mom. I didn’t birth Hobbes! Can you imagine? And she certainly doesn’t look anything like me…