Because she's the mommy

I called my mom for advice today.

I'm the youngest of four, so by the time my mom got to raising me, she was a pro. At least, that's how I remember it.

I remember being about 4 years old and doing things Mom didn't like. All she'd say was, "Amy," in a stern, drawn-out way, and I'd relent. Instantly. I didn't want to get in trouble -- although "get in trouble" is a phrase that conjures no vivid memory now -- and I especially didn't want to hear her say, "I'm so disappointed in you. You know better."

Does this work with my child? That would be a hearty no.

So I called my mom and whined. "Why does Sammy do this? Is the defiance something she'll outgrow, or do I need to nip this in the bud? Am I really being very, very mean to her?"

What I really wanted to ask was this: "How did I get to be the mommy?"

I don't have all the answers, like my mom did. I still feel like a kid myself sometimes. And somehow I'm in charge of the life of an entire other human being?

That scares me. Really.

What scares you about parenting? How often do you ask your own parents for advice? Does recognizing phases get easier with subsequent children?