Mother, Wife, Employee, Employer...

I don't think who we are is static. We change as we mature. Like a stream running through rocks-the rocks alter the course of the stream, but the water changes the shape of the rocks. That's how life works-I impact those around me and change their lives, and they do the same to me. From that perspective, motherhood has helped shape me into who I am now, and will continue to shape me as I raise my children.

I think this is something everyone struggles with at some point, or even perhaps many points in their life. There are so many roles that we play in life, and especially sometimes parenting seems to absorb us. A large part of my personal journey has been based on trying to figure out which parts of me were really me, because some trauma from my young life left me very confused over myself. In the past few years, there were many specific decisions that I made that shaped the way I see myself, and who I am outside of the roles I play to others. In the 13 months since I had my son, being a mother has been a large part of how I see myself, but I can also see how parts of that "motherhood" were already a part of me. I can also see how things I have learned from one role help me in other roles in my lfie. Learning patience with my son has helped me have more patience with customers at work, with friends, with my husband. Solving problems and dealing with stress at work has helped me keep my cool when I have stress at home. Being a good listener to my friends has helped me learn to tell what my son needs even when he doesn't have the word for it yet. It all ties in together for me, when I look at the big picture, and it all makes me who I am. Not to be preachy, but I think the other thing that really helps me is having a fulfilling spiritual life, even when it's challenging with time constraints. =)