The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

MOTHER MAY I

THIS IS A GAME WE PLAYED IN OUR BACK YARD WHEN I WAS
A SMALL CHILD. IT REQUIRES A LARGE SPACE WITH TWO END
LINES. THE OBJECT IS TO BE THE FIRST CHILD TO CROSS
FROM ONE END LINE TO THE OTHER. ONE CHILD IS DESIGNATED
AS "MOTHER" AND SHE STANDS AT ONE END LINE. THE OTHER
CHILDREN LINE UP AT THE OTHER END LINE. THE MOTHER
THEN GIVES INSTRUCTIONS TO THE OTHERS ON HOW TO ADVANCE
SUCH AS, "YOU MAY TAKE THREE GIANT STEPS," "YOU MAY
TAKE FOUR BABY STEPS," OR "YOU MAY TAKE 2 RABBIT HOPS."
THE CHILDREN THEN ASK "MOTHER, MAY I?" THE MOTHER
RESPONDS EITHER "YES, YOU MAY" OR "NO, YOU MAY NOT."
THE FIRST CHILD TO REACH THE END LINE FOLLOWING THESE
INSTRUCTIONS IS THE WINNER AND BECOMES THE MOTHER FOR
THE NEXT ROUND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN