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Challenge: I'm a Great Mom Because...

I am a great mom because I am not just a mom

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I am a great mom because I'm not just a mom. I am a wife, a sister, a friend and a colleague. I am a homeowner and a traveler. I am a wine lover, a bike rider and an outdoor enthusiast. I am a writer and an avid online shopper. I am an extrovert and I think I’m a good dancer, but sometimes I’m not so sure.

I am so much more than a mom, and that’s what makes me a great mom.

Being a mother isn’t what defines me. It may take up most of my time and energy, but it’s only one part of what makes me who I am. Granted, it is the most important part and the most rewarding part, the most challenging part and the most joyful part. It is my favorite part in fact, but it is not the only part.

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I hope that in pursuing my passions and interests, I teach my son the importance of balance. He should know that there is more to mom than laundry folder and lost homework finder, even though those descriptors are far more accurate than globe trekker or outdoor adventurer these days.

My son should know that I have hobbies outside of him but that doesn’t mean I love him any less. Sure, cleaning bathrooms and making lunches are part of life, but they don’t have to be the only part of life. Teaching my son the value of balancing work and play is a lesson he will carry with him throughout adulthood. And I’d rather teach him this lesson by showing, not telling.

I want to be a strong role model for my son so he learns that powerful women are those who follow their own interests and can successfully juggle parenting, working, hobbies and homemaking. I want him to see me reading a novel, practicing yoga and brunching with my girlfriends. I want him to know that my life does not revolve around him even though it may seem like it does. I was my own person long before he was born, and I will continue to be my own person throughout his life.

There will be times I will miss a soccer game or a PTA meeting, but that doesn’t make me a bad mom. It makes me a normal human being, and that, by its very nature, is what makes me a great mom.

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