I’m a mom to 4 daughters, ages 4, 13, 15 and 18. I LOVE being a mom. I have a habit of using the hashtag #parentingislife. I think investing in my own kids and in fact, the younger generation in general, is one of the most important things I could ever do with my life. I’m a cheerleader, an investor, and a mentor when it comes to young people. And I love it. 

But I’ll tell you a secret. “Mommy” isn’t the word that completes my identity. As much as I love the mom part of my life, if I let it become my entire identity, I will be selling myself short and will find myself dissatisfied in life. 

There’s probably a hundred reasons why I have decided to embrace the fact that I am “so much more than a mom” but here’s 10 of them. 

1. If I only identify with the mom part of me, the moments when I suck at this mom gig will spin me into shame and even depression.

2. If I only identify with the mom part of me, I will not be able to find value in the other qualities that make up who I am and the dreams God has put in my heart.

3. If I only identify with the mom part of me, when the kids are all grown and don’t tug on my leg all. day. long. I won’t know what to do with myself.

4. If I only identity with the mom part of me, I won’t take the time to take care of ‘me’ because I’ve idolized spending time with my kids as most important. As a result, I will become stressed out and run down – which results in number one happening. again. 

5. If I only identify with the mom part of me, my husband will find himself married to his mother and not a passionate lover and friend.

6. If I only identify with the mom part of me, my kids won’t see me fail and succeed in different realms of life. And they need to see me fail and succeed so they know it’s a normal part of living life to the fullest.

7. If I only identify with the mom part of me, my friends can only be ones in the same mommy club as me, I won’t expand to learn from and understand women of all ages and walks of life. 

8. If I only identify with the mom part of me, I may forget to be a friend to my kids, as well as their mom, and miss out on how fun and full of personality they are.

9. If I only identify with the mom part of me, I will neglect the enjoyment that comes from sipping wine under a terrace at a vineyard, instead of downing 2 glasses immediately after they go to bed, before falling asleep on the couch.

10. If I only identify with the mom part of me, I will forget that, in heaven, my motherhood will not be needed and I won’t know how to be and to enjoy being a daughter and friend of the Creator of the universe. 

I am a mom. I’m in love with being a mom. I will be the best d*** mom I can be. But I am so much more than mom.