A mother is quite remarkable. She often finds herself pulled in different directions and yet can master the art of flexibility. She can quickly shift direction and priorities and see incredible possibilities. I once heard an endearing story of a mother and her son who loved to doodle. He would find ways to express himself and one day drew a bouquet of flowers right on the living room wall. But she took it all in stride.
She bought a frame to place around her son’s masterpiece.
How she tamed yet encouraged his actions from then on is another story. But that’s the beauty of a mother.
Where did “mother” come from?
Interestingly, the word mother is of vast origin. It is from the Old English with Germanic and Dutch origins, Greek and Latin roots. And has been used since around the 16th century. Before this, terms like māter, mōder, mutter (among others) were used.1
It is one of those terms we learn later in life. Our communication development often starts with sweet patterns of one-syllables. For example, many babies copy sounds they hear by six months of age. Followed by endearing “ma” patterns (among others) by the time they reach nine months.
Baby Milestones
Babies are wonderfully unique and can develop and grow at their own pace. But there are options to consider to help your child as he or she grows.
For example, as your baby approaches nine months, you can repeat your baby’s sounds and use those sounds to introduce words. So, if your baby says, “bababa,” you can repeat it then say, “book.”2 It can be a great way to help your baby associate sound with the alphabet.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide additional tips to consider for infants (0-12 months), such as:
- Read to your baby as this will help them develop and understand language and sounds.
- Make sure to always put your baby to sleep on their back to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Never shake your baby because they have very weak neck muscles that cannot yet support their heads.
- Getting down on the floor to move helps your baby become strong, learn, and explore.
- Make sure your child gets the recommended amount of sleep. For infants 4-12 months of age, 12-16 hours per 24 hours (including naps).
- Take care of yourself. Parenting can be hard work, and it is easier to care for your baby when you are feeling good yourself.
- Oxford English Dictionary, “mother (n.1), sense I.1.a,” March 2025, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/1525741166 ↩︎
- CDC, “Child Development,” May 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/child-development/positive-parenting-tips/index.html ↩︎