I can’t begin to recount how often I worried about being too “all in” on motherhood. I remember being told by moms of in all stages, “be careful not to  let motherhood consume you.” Truthfully, motherhood has consumed me, but I am choosing to see it as a transformation that has helped me grow into an even better version of myself. I am still a wife, daughter, and friend. I am still a Bravo-obsessed, trash TV binge-watcher. I am still a teacher, an educational leader, and a fitness coach. And being a mom has helped me grow in all of those parts of my identity– okay, well, maybe not the Bravo and trash tv lover aspect. 

Embracing motherhood shouldn’t automatically mean sacrificing your identity. According to a Pew Research Center Mother’s Day Survey (2022), “the vast majority of mothers (88%) say that being a parent is the most or one of the most important aspects of who they are as a person” (Pew Research Center). Knowing this, I questioned why getting a degree, getting a job, or getting married were all seen as a beautiful and transformational addition to your identity in a way that motherhood wasn’t. Why are we so quick to mention how new moms “have changed,” “can’t do x, y, z,” or “must miss their old life,” but we never mention that during any other new transformation?

Embracing my mom era has been such a welcomed transformation. Deciding to be “all in” and being consumed by motherhood has brought me some of my greatest joys and some of the most cherished growths in my adult life. Don’t let society’s judgment of embracing your mom-era stand in your way. Be the mom who confidently says they have changed. Be the mom who proudly says they are consumed. Welcome motherhood and dive head first into this new identity… if that is what you want!

 “Key facts about moms in the U.S..” Pew Research Center, Washington, D.C. (2022). https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/05/09/facts-about-u-s-mothers/.