I am a hostage negotiator—my voice soothing and calm while I talk down an incensed child holding his sister hostage with a spoonful of lumpy oatmeal poised over her head.

I am an architect—constructing towers and cities of wooden blocks and LEGOs, discussing what constitutes sound structural integrity while a 4-year-old ignores my advice.

I am a mother.

I am a surgeon—a needle in hand, squinting over my patient on the table, making careful stitches on the beloved stuffed elephant, ensuring the almost decapitated head lasts another month.

RELATED: Motherhood is Everything All At Once

I am a scientist—discussing hypotheses as we prepare a baking soda and vinegar experiment.

I am a mother.

I am a chef—always on call to whip up a snack or meal, allergies and preferences in the forefront of my mind, my dishes often received by harsh critics demanding more ketchup and fewer peas.

I am a pastor—fielding theological questions about if people can still see angels and “Is Jesus really God?” “Why didn’t God create unicorns?” and “Why do good people do bad things? And do bad people stay bad forever?”

I am a mother.

I am a nurse—taking temperatures and looking at sore throats, evaluating scrapes and cuts, cleaning wounds, dispensing Band-Aids and medicine with a smile and kind touch.

I am a mathematician—explaining fractions while we cook, finding patterns, and solving puzzles in day-to-day life, multiplying my love every time we add another kid.

I am a mother.

I am an athlete—shooting hoops at the park, kicking balls back and forth on the soccer field, racing down the sidewalk with chubby, little hands tight in mine and giggles on our lips.

RELATED: Motherhood is One Beautiful Contradiction

I am an art critic—viewing brand new crayon creations, deciphering lines and circles and letters to determine meanings while muttering lots of “hmm” and “tell me more.”

I am a mother.

Mothering is more all-encompassing than I ever expected. My daily jobs include these and others—sleuth, (temporary) tattoo artist, actor, mechanic, seamstress, chauffer, taste tester, acrobat, parole officer, firefighter, and more. Mothering is not for the faint-hearted.

I am a mother. And I am enough.