Mommy's Boy

Turner and I went to the gym yesterday, like every other Monday. Nothing unusual about it at all. We got up at 5:50, saw Papa for a second before he left for work, had breakfast together, got dressed and headed out the door. I dropped Turner at the gym playroom and did an hour of cardio. The thing that bothered me yesterday happened when I picked Turner up from the playroom.
The daycare ladies were nice, the place was not over crowded, Turner was smiling and ran to give me a hug. When I bent down to kiss him two little boys came running up. One pointed and said "That's the mommy's boy". Now I have no idea what the four year old meant by this, but my heart sank. Lots of slightly older kids think Turner is older because he's their size. My two year old wears a 4T, so he's bigger than the average boys running around here. He's always been big for his age. His height and weight are proportionate so I never worried about it, I like big boys after all. I figure Turner is going to be blessed with his Papa and Uncle's size, which is great. Maybe the little boy just thought Turner was older and not playing like the other big kids.
So why did that little snot make me so sad when he called my baby a mommy's boy? Well, I thought we were a ways off from snide remarks. "Mama's Boy" has always been a put down, one that implies weakness. Daddy's girl just means that a girl is close to her dad, so why is being close to your mom so awful? Boys aren't supposed to be close or loving, they're made of snails and nails and puppy dog tails. Well, Turner is a Mommy's boy. What choice does he have? We're together every minute of everyday, he's my best friend. I want him to be tough, strong, intelligent, but still be kind and and caring. I always thought of mama's boys as sissys, but now it means something completely different.
I am in love with my beautiful little boy. It's what I was made for. I have never felt more at home in any roll I've had in my life than I do just being a mom. I have the theory that boys are a heartbreak waiting to happen. They are close as can be with their mom's until they grow up and find girls. My husband loved his mom when he was little, he still does, but he's not as close to her as he once was. I know Turner will always love me but I also know he's only going to have me as his best friend for just a short while. He'll have a wife, she'll be the one who takes care of him, it's how it's supposed to be. I want to enjoy every minute of being the number one gal in his life, I just don't want him to be called a mama's boy by four year old boys.
I am going to have a really hard time with all the things that my kids will have to go through. I want all the best and happiest for my kids, what parent doesn't? So Turner's is a Mama's boy, but I'm the only one who should be able to call him that. Because when I say it I mean he's mine. I made him, he grew in me, he's one of only two people who'll ever know what my heart sounds like from the inside. So if someone has a problem with it, come talk to me. I won't fight my kid's battles, but I will protect them. When he's old enough he can respond in any fashion he wants to the ignorance of others. But while his only worries in life are what time does Elmo comes on and how can he get Mommy to give me more Coco Crispies I will keep a watchful eye on Mommy's Boy.