The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

MOTHER MAY I GAME

THIS GAME IS A GAME LEARNED BY MANY AMERICAN CHILDREN
AS THEY ARE GROWING UP. ONE PERSON IS THE "MOTHER" AND
THE OTHER PLAYERS STAND SOME DISTANCE BEHIND THE PLACE
WHERE THE "MOTHER" STANDS. THE PLAYERS STAND NEXT TO EACH
OTHER AND TAKE TURNS SPEAKING. WHEN THEIR TURN COMES
ABOUT THEY CAN ASK THE MOTHER IF THEY CAN TAKE A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF STEPS TOWARDS HER. THERE ARE DIFFERENT KIND OF
STEPS SUCH AS THE BABY STEP, THE SCISSOR STEP, THE GIANT
STEP, THE BANANA STEP, THE LEAP STEP, THE BACKWARD STEP
ETC. THE PLAYER HAS TO SPECIFY THE AMOUNT AND TYPE OF
STEP HE WISHES TO TAKE AND THE "MOTHER" HAS THE PRIVILEGE
TO REFUSE OR ACCEPT THE REQUEST. THE "MOTHER" ALSO
HAS THE PRIVILEGE TO TELL THE PLAYER TO GO BACKWARDS.
THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS TO REACH THE FRONT WHERE THE
"MOTHER" IS STANDING. THE FIRST PLAYER TO REACH THE
FRONT IS THE NEW "MOTHER."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 03-28-1968