"Mommy! Mommy? MOMMY!??" "Ma-ma. ma-ma. ma-MA."

This is basically the soundtrack of my day. I remember looking at Jonathan a few weeks ago and telling him it was weird to hear someone say my name. I very rarely hear it! I am mostly "mommy" (or just "mom" as my three year old now calls me), and when Jonathan's home I'm "babe" (which I do like, don't get me wrong now).

I feel like I get so wrapped up in being "MOM" that it's easy to forget that I am a person, too. "Mom" is a very good person to be. We just spent an entire day in honor of moms, right? It's the thing in life I am most proud of and most happy to be called. But it can be a little overwhelming and even suffocating at times, especially when I've heard it for the hundredth time before 10:00 AM.

I think as a mom it's easy to forget that I have things I like besides watching Jake and the Neverland Pirates all day (yo ho!). And that while I do love being able to do it, I don't necessarily love singing Twinkle Twinkle 10 times in a row or blowing bubbles until I am about to pass out. God has given me gifts, talents, things I enjoy, and things I don't (i.e. seafood... #worstLouisianianever). All of that has been designed with a purpose. It's a big part of what makes me ME - Hannah.

So when's the last time I did something for ME? When's the last time you did something just for you? If we are going to be a good moms to our kids, don't we also need to take care of ourselves?? God has made me a creative person with dreams and ideas. What a waste to forget that or put it on hold for 10+ years while I am raising kids. Wouldn't it benefit them to see their mom pursuing her passions and nourishing her talents? The best way to lead is by example. Don't we want our kids to flourish and to find what makes them tick? Show them that it is ok to do that! That it's ok to do something because you love it, not just because you have to. You'll always have to work to figure out the balance, but it's worth the struggle, I promise.

Moms, wives, women in general...we don't have to put ourselves on the back burner.

Your ideas and talents matter, and the world needs them! You are beautiful and you were created with so much love and intention by a God who is crazy about you. So don't be afraid to go out on a limb and try something new. Don't use "mom" as an excuse or a crutch. Yes, our jobs as moms are VERY important and were also given to us with intention. But just remember that before you were "mommy" or "babe" that you were YOU. Don't lose YOU.