THE ALL ACCESS PASS

I have never directly addressed the issue here. Even though I knew he was capable of it, Kayden has flatly refused to say "Mommy". He says Daddy, Goong Goong (my Dad), Por Por (My Mum), Ye Ye (hubby's Dad) and Gor Gor (big brother). All perfectly. He's cantonese, and he even says it all with that perfect Hong Kong accent.

He says it in that cutsy sing song tone, which makes them all melt and go goo goo ga ga over him. I observe as they all give squeals of delight, and flash their widest grins. Then they pick him up and give him big cuddles and kisses. Then give him a biscuit. Or juice. They eventually surrender their mobiles, bunches of keys, coins, cameras, wallets and bags the moment he says "Goong Goong/Por Por" while giving them that doe eyed puppy look. Watch them cave in when he brings them their shoes and putS it at their feet. "Gai Gai!", "Let's go!". Then watch them from the window, as they walk hand in hand to the playground or for that obligatory neighbourhood walk.

Everyone does that. Except me. (And Daddy. But technically, it doesn't count, because he's not physically around).

Most of the times when I ask for a "Mommy" or 'Mama', he defiantly says "Da Da!" or "Mmmmmmm....". Yup. Just a Mmm. As in, when you're thinking about something, and you go MmmmMm... maybe? The best he said was "Maa?" Question mark intended. I was that desperate, I actually started asking if would say "Kelly". But nope he didn't want to say that either. No can do Mommy.

So..........I resorted to blackmailing. He loves songs from the Australian television programme Playschool. And I go onto youtube to let him watch it when we're here in Singapore. He recognizes the website. And he starts nodding his head vigourously, while bouncing up and down excitedly in his seat. Sometimes he says "YAY!" even before I play it. Before I hit the button, I ask.

Me: "Say Maaaaa Meeeeeee?"

Kayden: "DA DA!"

Me: "No boy. I'm not Daddy. I'm Maaaaa Meeee."

Kayden: " DAAA DAA!!!! Yea yea yea yea YEA!" (while nodding his head at the screen)

Me: "You have to say Mommy, otherwise no 'Watermelon for you'" (title of song).

Kayden: (Shakes head)

Me: "Okay then. No watermelon for you."


At the beginning, after repeating that type of conversation once or twice more I played it for him anyway. I just couldn't bear disappointing him. But I toughed up. Muahahahaha. I can tell when he wants to watch the song clip. So I'd ask him to say Mommy every single time. Most of the times he shakes his head, or struts off! My little man is that stubborn! He would rather give up listening to his favourite song than to say Mommy.

Then one day he said it. That magical word.


Me: "Would you like a biscuit Kayden?"

Kayden: (Nods head)

Me: "Say please?"

Kayden: "Mama?"

Me: "You have to say pl....Huh?! ...WHAT DID YOU SAY?!!!"

Kayden: "MaaaaMaaaa?"

Me: "Awwwww!!!! GoooOOoood boy! You said Mama! Yea yea yea yea YEA!!"

Mama's boy: "Yeaaaa!!!" (hands up in the air. By the way he loves doing that. If u say Yea! He's most likely to follow and then stick his hands high up in the air above his head)

A seemingly somewhat totally unrelated picture. But you see my new kitchen pantry? I think that corner on that top shelf right there, is reserved for the very same biscuits he was asking me for.  Because that day he said Mama, I actually let him finish a whole pack of biscuits. Time to stock up!