NOT THE MAMA

Some of you might remember the family sit-com that aired in the mid nineties called Dinosaurs. It followed the adventures of a family of Dinosaurs (large anthropomorphic creations developed by Jim Henson's studios). There was a baby dinosaur, creatively named “baby” on the show with the famous phrase....”Not the Mama”. He would yell out “NOT THE MAMA!” and then typically smack his dad with a frying pan. It was definitely high brow comedy.

Well, like that pink motorized muppet in diapers, Zoe definitely suffers from “Not the Mama” syndrome.

It used to be if Melanie (aka. mamamamamamamamamamamama) moved further than arm's length away, Zoe would either follow her like a shadow, or if immobilized (i.e. high chair, crib, etc.), she would call out “Mama. Mama. Mama.” in an endless loop.

Lately, however, if she can see “mamamamamamamamamamamama” she's satisfied. It doesn't matter how far away “mamamamamamamamamamamama” is as long as Zoe can see her. But if she moves out of eyesight, the “mamamamamamamamamamamama” endless loop begins.

So what about Daddy? If you ask Zoe about Dad......
“Dad? Who's that? That ladder over there with a shirt? Oh he's great for getting me out of my car seat, now where's mamamamamamamamamamamama?”

Now,Melanie has been having to go to more evening activities (AA, parental counseling, anger management, parole hearings, drug testing) leaving Zoe alone with Me (Deedah in Zoe speak).

This is how a typical evening goes when mamamamamamamamamamamama leaves:

The first 30 min. involves crying while sitting by the door leading to the garage. Zoe's there too (I kid!) --but tears are shed.

Then Zoe circumvents the house with sniffle shakes and random outcries, just to make sure mamamamamamamamamamamama is really gone.

She finally comes to grips with the fact that mamamamamamamamamamamama has truly abandoned her only daughter.

Meanwhile I tag behind trying to distract Zoe to no avail.
Zoe, are you hungry? “mamamamamamamamamamamama”
Do you want to watch a movie? “mamamamamamamamamamamama “
Zoe, want to read a book? “mamamamamamamamamamamama”
Look Zoe, my hair is on fire! “mamamamamamamamamamamama”

Finally, Zoe will sit by the door to the garage or on the stairs near the door and wait for mamamamamamamamamamamama to return. So typically that's how the night will play out.

We sit by the door or on the stairs, a somewhat comfort zone for Zoe. When mamamamamamamamamamamama returns Zoe does an immediate 180 and is as happy as a clam, acting as if the evening went smooth as buttah.

I wonder if a fake door to the garage placed in the middle of the living room would fake her out? (It works for the coyote in Looney Tunes)...... I just hope Zoe doesn't find where we keep the frying pan.