I've been struggling lately with how to refer to my boys' mother. Calling her my wife was always so easy you know? One syllable done. Wife. Even among monosyllables it has a nice staccato ring to it. Like the slash of a machete. Makes you think of a Peruvian laborer hacking his way through a cane field.
I'm a big fan of the one-syllable reference. Throughout our marriage. I never called her by her full name because it has two syllables and is unabbreviable. It still feels a little weird using it now. It's like having to say "Kentucky Fried Chicken." Or the "Franklin Delano Roosevelt Drive." Instead. I had a shorter nickname an endearment. Like "dear" or "hon," only a little less 1958.
When I refer to her in the third person. I still call her my wife. Because she still is sorta until the paperwork is final. It's nothing to do with pining for the past. It's just easier than "boys' mother," or "." I guess sooner or later I'll go with "ex," because it's simple and descriptive. No need to reinvent the wheel.
"Ex" is too simple for the blog though. The blog offers me a chance to play to use words that sound dopey and inscrutable in conversation. So I was thinking about how to name her here in a singular yet neutral way. "Soon2bX" will expire soon. "Baby mama" is too long and a bit derisive. "BM" is shorter but indicative of poo. I tried eliding "boys' mom" into "zmom," but that was too close to Adrian Zmed who starred on TJ Hooker which she is not. Mombert is OK though it sort of overworks the Bert suffix which. To death.
Other thoughts drifted into biology or scatology or libel. No good on all counts.
So I'm playing around with some more words and I came up with Renta. A nice mixture of parenting schism impermanence and couture all in one go!
That way. I never make a mistake calling her a name that is not appropriate for my daughter to here.
I also have a thing for giving all my ex's titles. (the problem the stalker the bitter...)
If you can think of a good name to call my hetero life partner with whom I have kids but am not married to let me know. I usually go with 'partner' (which connotates same-sex) or son's dad (kinda long). Both seem to diminish his place in my life though. Sometimes I just lie and say husband for ease.
In keeping with Bren's idea--how about "wuzbina" or "wuzbinita?" It has a nice spanish flair to it and who can really complain about that. I ask you?
For a more Asian sounding name you could go with "Mamason" Although that sounds a little like "maSon" which reminds me of Paul Mason. the cheap wine dude.
Related article:
http://laidoffdad.typepad.com/lod/2008/10/troth-and-conse.html
comments | Add comment | Report as Spam
|