What's in a Name?

Thadeus Edward Tencza.  It's my son's, husband's and father in law's name.  My father in law has several cousins and nephews named Thadeus also.  It's the Tencza name.  We use it.  A lot.

However, yesterday it really bit me having a son and a hubby with the same name.  Yesterday Teddy took another step away from childhood by being allowed to take a bus home alone.  I took the girls to gymnastics and Teddy was allowed to walk to the station and get himself home.  It's a test for both of us on handling the trimming of the cord so-to-speak.  I have a mobile phone for him only to use when he's on these alone missions with the understanding that he has to call or txt me when he gets there safely.  Being the anal-retentive...I mean organized person that I am I pre-programmed his phone with all the numbers I thought he'd need plus I programmed my phone with his email, phone number, picture and personalized ring tone.  Howard Wolowitz from Big Bang Theory shouting, "I am the Swordmaster!!!"

Anyway, I was counting the seconds waiting to hear from him while I was sitting on the ground outside gymnastics with some of my friends and Connor and her friends while Tessi was inside.  "Iam the Swordmaster!!!" belted out and Teddy's voice come out saying, "Mom?  Can you...."  click.  I try calling him back but no answer.  I then lost reception. THANK YOU OPTUS!  Reconnected and started going through my address book to find him and call him back.  I hit what I thought was Teddy and ended up calling Ted.  At work, I'm sure in a meeting.  Crap.  Now I've interrupted Ted and I STILL don't know if Teddy was ok or not.  Now I am panicking because I know that Teddy only called me because he was being attacked by a pack of rabid wolves or 12 year old girls.  Both savagely vicious.  By the way, in case you haven't guessed, I'm not doing too well with this cutting the cord crap.

Phone rings again and it was Teddy, all was ok.  Somehow he put the phone in Airplaine mode...I don't know, it's a damn Droid...I can't use those damn things.  Anyway all is good.  I hang up relieved and decide I should let Ted know.  So I type up a quick text lamenting the woes of being scared shitless and send it off...to TEDDY.  Damnit.  I yell and swear which of course brings Connor and her friends over to laugh at the stupid parent who can't operate a mobile phone.  Shut up Girls before I hit you with my cane.

So I send message off again.  Once again it's to freakin Teddy.  Son.of.a.bitch.  Now not only did I do it again my swearing is REALLY peaking the interest of those around me.  Great.

I stop, take a deep breath and type, "Ignore that last damn message!" and send and then Teddy responds ok.  Good man, he's learning to deal with woman ala his father..very wise.  Less is more.

So in the end I did the only thing I felt I could.  I changed Teddy's name to Lord Dumbass in my phone.

Don't judge me.  That WAS me being polite.