Mama Kenya

By Christine

Some people know me as Christine Hohlbaum. Others call me Cri. But there are only two people in the world who call me Mama Kenya.

It was a subtle beginning as Ms. Kenya. First syllables, then words. Then a string of sentences chained together like construction paper rings in a third-grade classroom. Ruby lips framed sound. My husband and I melted at first. Later, we learned to cringe.

“Mama, kenya get my jacket from my room downstairs?”

“Mama, kenya buy me a lollipop, pa-leeeeeease?”

“Mama, kenya take me to my friend’s house?”

“Mama, kenya get me something to drink?”

My kids’ friends have noticed they actually get things when they try this strategy. Lately, my daughter’s best friend has started in on the act.

“Christine, kenya make me a sandwich, too?”

Children are the only people I know who use an African country as a surname. It has to do with the one-way street that parenting is for a good long while. But when I hear, “Mama, kenya give me a kiss?” I melt all over again, just like those first days when my children learned to elicit a reaction through words.

Those sophisticated little mites have me by the heart strings, by golly, and I know the constant giving won’t last forever. I live in the confidence that one day that one-way street will verge into two. Then, there might be moments when I can pass them an African moniker as well.

Christine is an American author and freelance writer living near Munich, Germany, with her husband and two children (Jackson, 4 and Sophia, 6).

Comments

[Darci McGrath]

You make me laugh...

[Robin P]

What a cute post,Christine!!
We must be related since Lillianna calls me that sometimes,too!
I often think my name is "Mama-hug-me" since that's what Lillianna demands several million times a day. She makes it seem like I never hug her....lol. Poor deprived child of mine.