Becoming Independent: My Mum is Paranoid

My Maama is so funny. She is now paranoid that I am too independent because I can play by myself, lie down by myself, ask her to put me down and go to bed by myself, all without crying. She's now getting worried that I am too independent.

You know, there is a time I used to cry more and sought my maama's attention and assistance each time I wanted to sleep or to nap or to play. I complained all the time and wanted her to pick me up. I also slept a lot on her lap, and in fact that was my favorite position, especially when she was working. I went to bed in her arms and wanted to wake up in her arms as well. I, as she said, made my sleep time a community affair. I cried to sleep and cried to wake up. I also cried if I didn't see or feel or hear my maama. I wanted her to be there all the time.

But now I am all growing up and I can do well all by myself. Now my maama has to wake up or get me out of bed to feed or take a bath or just play with me. She complains that I am too independent, that I sleep and rest alone too much that I don't need her soothing songs anymore. Oh! maama. She now misses those times when she used to sing those bedtime lullabies to me. She still reads to me before I go to bed. She also sits me on her lap so that I can fall asleep in her arms. She lies down besides me while I converse with her before I sleep or when I wake up. She loves all those memories.

But I don't wake up so much as I used to. Nowadays she checks on me to see if I have woken up or if I am ready for the breast or if I just want to talk. Sometimes she tells me, "Biko, let me know if you want to wake up or if you are hungry. I am here." Not that I am ignoring her, but I am trying to show her that I am all grown up now, she can now concentrate on her work. But mothers! they are never content without their children. they love their babies too much. My maama says I am the love of her life. I am the joy of her life. I am everything she is because I love her.

I love my maama very much. I smile and squirl when I look in her eyes. I enjoy the smell of her. I love to reach out my hand and touch her. I love to set my head near her Bre....I love everything about my maama. She's my daily comforter, consoler. She has given me plenty of love. She does not let me cry for long before she soothes me, and tells me that, "I need to grow strong like a man." The she puts me down to relax. But nowadays, all that is gone: there's no more crying.