Why I Call My Kids My Chickadees

      I can’t remember exactly when or why I started calling my kids “chickadees.” It’s one of those nicknames that just became part of our world ~ like a favorite blanket or a well loved book. One day, I said it, and it stuck. Now it feels like it’s always been theirs.

      What started as a cute nickname for my kids eventually turned into them calling me “Mama Chickadee.” Which is why I sign off blog posts as Mama Chickadee, and sometimes leave them notes like, “Please don’t eat all the snacks before I get home. Love, Mama Chickadee.”

      Recently, while I was searching the internet for something completely unrelated (as it often goes), I stumbled across an article on birds and their symbolism. Just for fun, I looked up the meaning behind chickadees… and I was not ready for how perfect it was.

      Chickadees symbolize curiosity, resilience, cheerfulness, and adaptability. They’re small but mighty, loyal to their flock, playful, and able to thrive in all kinds of weather. Honestly, it felt like the universe giving me a high five for picking the right nickname all along… even if it was accidental.

      Now, granted, not all my “chickadees” are small anymore. They range from 8 to 21, so some of them are taller than me, eat like full grown bears, and have jobs, opinions, and facial hair. But no matter how big they get, they’re still my chickadees. Loud, clever, chaotic, loving chickadees.