Loud voice

At the small park today, there was a Haitian woman sitting on a bench watching over several children playing on the jungle gym. She kept up a loud and sometimes funny disciplinary commentary as the children ran amok, often calling over one or another miscreant for a time-out or a one-on-one talking to, before sending them back into the fray. It was loud and somewhat obnoxious.

Yet I have joined the club of loud voiced women. It must be a right of passage in giving birth. Suddenly, I am yelling a lot and the strangest thing is children listen to me. I must have a 'mummy voice' that stops them in their tracks.

Yesterday, I hollered at some children trespassing on the collective garden. "Hey, hey!" I yelled while waving my finger, and the kids turned, they slowed down, they asked permission and looked somewhat sheepish. I then gave a loud speech about respecting the garden space. I didn't even have my son with me, I must have just glowed mummy power.

Today, an older child knocked over my son in the chaos that was the park in the hour between the end of school and the call to supper. The boy stood there, unsure of what to do. I marched over and said "Qu'est ce qu'on dit? On dit 'excuse-moi'!" Such sanctimoniousness! And the poor little guy whispered "excuse-moi" and then I allowed him to go.

Oh the power. In becoming a mother I have become a queen over the kingdom of children. Or perhaps tyrant is a better word.