Beta Mum's Blog Beta Mum on 04 Dec 2007 08:38 pm
Beta Mum re-named
Ben was standing over my shoulder the other day, watching me as I caught up with all the postings from fellow bloggers.
He asked why I would want to have anything to do with someone called Potty Mummy, potties being a part of his long-forgotten past, and not a word which can mean two things. No-one says “potty” to mean slightly crazed, not around here anyhow.
So I explained that people use nick-names or made up names when they blog on the internet.
And in the course of explaining this, I mentioned my own blogging handle.
He was silent for a moment, in a deeply confused way.
And then he said,
“I thought you were called Better Mum!”
Sometimes he hits the nail right on the head.
Sometimes, but not always.
Not, for instance, when I turn up to fetch him from school wearing a skirt and jacket, topped off with carefully blow-dried hair, and then have to watch as he walks straight past without recognising me.
When I yell “Ben!” he turns round, stares in disbelief and says,
“I didn’t know it was you. I thought it was one of the other mothers who tries to look nice.”
That’s an example of him saying just the wrong thing.
But sometimes when I’ve just had my hair cut and ask,
“How does it look?”
He says,
“You always look beautiful Mummy.”
And I try to gloss over the fact that he’s been pestering me for a remote control helicopter, and probably sees this comment as a way to take one small step towards his goal.
I push that knowledge to the back of my mind and grab the compliment before it’s snatched away.
“Better Mum” is one of those moments.
on 05 Dec 2007 at 1:50 pm 1.Mother at Large said …
My husband still marvels at the all the wierd and wonderful names of the ‘blogosphere’ - and he’s 39.
on 05 Dec 2007 at 8:14 pm 2.Potty Mummy said …
I KNEW potty mummy was a mistake when I picked it… Oh well, you live and learn. And Ben’s right - I probably wouldn’t read my blog with a name like that, either!
on 05 Dec 2007 at 8:19 pm 3.Beta Mum said …
MatL - there are some weird and wonderful ones out there.
Potty - I think it’s a fine name. Take no notice of an eight-year old critic who’s always convinced of his own rightness!
on 05 Dec 2007 at 11:31 pm 4.Tracey said …
Love the “Better Mum”. Should change your blog title now!! Sorry but I also love the priceless line of “..I thought it was one of the other mothers who tries to look nice.” Love the ‘tries’ bit.
Oops, Potty Mummy… NOW I realise the UK-ness of your name. I confess with embarrassment that I’d seen your name and thought you must have have had a few kids under 3 all going through ‘that’ stage!!!
I do relate to the crazed definition of motherhood though.
on 11 Dec 2007 at 10:32 am 5.Dulwichmum said …
Hi lovely Beta Mum, I have been trying to comment here for days… I hope it works this time.
on 11 Dec 2007 at 10:34 am 6.Dulwichmum said …
Dear Beta Mum,
I don’t know why but this computer at work gets me through your mega security. I must have tried to post over a dozen comments to you since Friday but your security. I wonder if you are losing many comments that way. I wish I could have found an email address for you so that I could have told you my witty reply to this super post, but now I am exhausted and I am going to lie down…
What a lovely compliment from your lovely son.
on 11 Dec 2007 at 12:13 pm 7.beta mum said …
I’ve had some problems with Bad Behaviour (the software) and have temporarily removed it. I couldn’t even get into the blog’s inner workings until then.
I will get my brother onto it pronto.
Sorry to have exhausted you with your attempts to communicate.