Modern Motherhood and Identity

Modern motherhood asks us to be everything while somehow still being ourselves, and most days that feels impossible and beautiful at the same time. modern motherhood

Somewhere along the way, moms became the default for everything. We are the calendar keeper, the snack provider, the memory maker, the appointment scheduler, the emotional support human, and the finder of missing shoes. Before I became a mom, I thought I understood busy. I had work deadlines and dinner plans and places to be. But busy before kids had an off switch. This version follows you to bed, wakes up with you, and sits beside you while you drink coffee that never quite stays hot long enough. modern motherhood

Right now, as I sit here writing this, I am mentally running through whether I signed the school form, what we are doing for dinner, and when the dogs last went outside. And the wild part is, this is normal. We live in a time where moms are expected to juggle everything while still maintaining a sense of self. Be present. Be productive. Be grateful. Be calm. Also do not forget to enjoy every moment because it goes fast.

The Mental Load No One Sees

There is this quiet expectation that you will hold it all together while still remembering who you were before someone started calling you Mom. Some days that feels empowering. Other days it feels like trying to carry groceries, your phone, your keys, and your dignity all in one trip from the car. And let’s be honest, sometimes the dignity does not make it. You forget things. You lose things. You walk into a room and forget why you went there in the first place. You reheat the same cup of coffee three times and still never finish it. modern motherhood

But there are moments that catch you off guard. Moments when you see yourself reflected back, not just as someone’s mom, but as yourself. Motherhood did not erase us, but it definitely rearranged us. It gave us patience we did not know we had and showed us the limits of it too. It made us stronger and softer at the same time.

Finding Yourself in the Middle of It All

When we’re not navigating everyday mom life, we’re usually planning our next beach escape. Not because everything is perfect there, but because something shifts. You remember that you are still in there. You watch your child run toward the water like the world is brand new, and for a minute, it feels that way for you too.

Motherhood has a way of stretching you. We are carrying a lot mentally, emotionally, and physically, but we are also building something. A life. Not a curated one. Not a perfect one. But a real one. One filled with loud laughter, late nights, early mornings, and memories that quietly take root while you are busy living them. modern motherhood

She Is Still You modern motherhood

Maybe maintaining our identity does not mean holding onto who we used to be. Maybe it means allowing ourselves to grow into who we are now. Someone who is tired but grateful. Someone who forgets things but shows up anyway. Someone who feels overwhelmed and blessed in the same breath.

Motherhood did not erase us. It introduced us to a version of ourselves we had not met yet.

And she is doing better than she thinks. modern motherhood

 Written by Tanya Michelle spring break trips in the south

Founder of The Mama Life Blog, singer-songwriter, and family travel storyteller based in Georgia. Tanya shares real-life parenting moments, Southeast travel escapes, and creative ways to balance motherhood, music, and meaning.

Connect with Tanya on Facebook, TikTok, or Pinterest for more travel tips, family fun, and behind-the-scenes music inspiration.