I met Mitchell over two years ago at the school his son Christian went to. I was Christian's teacher and Mitchell had been introduced to me at a teacher's conference. We talked and decided to meet up later for coffee.....the rest is history.

Mitchell's wife had died about two years prior when his son was only five....poor boy.

Mitchell and I had gotten married a mere year after we'd met and Christian immediately took a liking to me. But he never once called me mom.

I never pressured Christian into calling me mom, nor did I confront him about it. He could grow to call me mom in his own time.

But I remember one day, about five years ago, when Christian was seven, he approached me.

It was after all the wedding business had settled down and I was making dinner.

As he walked in I gave him the kind smile I always did when I saw him.

" Hey Anna?" Christian spoke up as he climbed onto the stool next to me.

" Yeah, Christian?" I asked, not turning to him as I continued peeling the potatoes.

" Since you and Daddy are married now.... What does that make you?" Christian asked after a moment.

" Your daddy's wife....and your new caregiver." I replied cautiously. I knew his mother was still a touchy subject for him so I often tried to avoid talking about her.

Christian was silent for a moment as he thought this over.

" So if you're married to a daddy...and taking care of kids...does that make you a mommy?" Christian kept his gaze on his hands.

" I suppose it does." I nodded a little as I set the peeled potato aside.

" So.... What do I call you, then?" Christian continued after he thought over what I had told him.

" You can call me whatever you want. Whether it be, mom.... Anna, mother, mommy. Whatever you want, Christian." I answered honestly.

Christian went silent in thought again, I could practically see the cogs turning in his head as he thought this over.

The kitchen was silent for the longest time as I continued to cook, silently waiting for him to speak again.

" I'll call you, Anna....." He said after a moment before looking up at me with his big blue eyes.

" Cause mom's die, you know...  I think it's safer to call you Anna." He continued quietly.