I'm Not Australian, I Just Play One on TV

I am not a "Mommy" blogger.  Yes, I am a mom.  Yes, I am a blogger.  But to say that I'm a "Mommy" blogger, to me signifies that my identity is just as a mom who is looking for a way to express myself.  I can express myself just fine.  I am my own person aside from being a wife and mom.

It always bothers me when people (specifically mothers) say that they "live for their kids".  Listen, I am a damn good mother.  My kids are polite, well-behaved, well-rounded kids.  I take great care of them, I talk to them and they even talk back, and I am involved in their lives.  They know I love them more than anything.  But they also know, I think, that I have a life apart from them.  I have a life at work.  I have a life with friends.  I have a life with Norm.  They know that while I love them with my whole heart, I am also a person apart from them.  And I think that's important.

In a couple of months they will all be going away to church camp for a whole week.  And since Norm will still be deployed, I will have an entire week all to myself.  I can't wait.  I can't wait to be myself all by myself for a whole week.  In fact, I've decided to take a trip to New York City that week.  I've already booked my flights and hotels, and I'm looking into a couple of Broadway shows.  I know there are some people who think it's strange that I'm going to NY all by myself.  But the truth is, I don't mind being by myself.  I don't mind seeing a show or eating on my own.  I'm excited about wandering around the Met all alone and taking my time.  I can't wait to eat what I want, when I want, and not worry about if someone else is hungry or if they're in the mood for the same food I'm in the mood for. 

A few years ago I was in Europe visiting my sister, and I got one whole day in London all by myself.  My friends have all said I was crazy for being someplace where I didn't know anyone else in the entire country.  But I loved it.  I grabbed a sandwich at a corner store and ate while watching ducks at a pond in Hyde Park.  I went to Harrod's and bought an odd dinner of garlic Naan and Spanish olives and Swiss chocolate, and ate while looking at a British Vogue in my hotel room.  It was fabulous.

And here's how weird I am:  a few months ago I spent a weekend all by myself in a city a few hours away.  For the entire weekend, I spoke with an accent, just because I could.  Sometimes I feel so hemmed in by my life.  It seems that it's already set out for me:  a wife and a mom and a daughter and a sister who have so many people depending on me.  If I act strange for a day, everyone asks me if I'm okay or what's wrong.  I can't change my behavior from who I have always been without people questioning me.  While I love my life, I like knowing that sometimes I can be someone different for a while.  It was fun being able to pretend for a while.  It was fun to act like I was a girl with an accent.  It made me feel like I could explore my options a little.  And then I was ready to go back to being a mom with a Midwest accent, taking care of my kids and my husband, making sure my parents were okay, being a responsible aunt and sister.  All of that felt welcome after being someone else for just a couple of days. 

My point is:  I am who I am, and who I am doesn't revolve around my children.  I can talk about things other than my kids.  I have interests apart from my kids' interests.  I am more than a wife and mother.  I'm just me.

So don't call me a "Mommy" blogger, okay?  I'm just a blogger, who happens to be a mother.  And knowing that I can be all of it at once makes me love all of my jobs even more.