I remember having an encounter with another mom at a store. We began talking and I asked her what she does for work and she says to me "I'm JUST a mom!" I told her she couldn't possibly be "JUST" a mom. I shared with her that being a mom requires us to wear multiple hats simultaneously. What I have learned thus far, is that..

Becoming a mother is the most rewarding life change that I have experienced. It completely consumes my attention and emotional well-being. Undoubtedly so, how could it not? I've planned for this time and carried my daughter for 9 months. I was home with her for 1 year and I will now spend the next lifetime being there for her, being her mom. On the flip side, I find being a mom, and being a working mom in today's society, extraordinarily hard.

Leading up to and returning to work, I started doubting my decision. The excitement mixed with fear, anxiety, and nervousness became so surreal. Don't get me wrong, all of these feelings are to be expected. As any new mom would do and with the realization that there isn't another option, I put one foot in front of the other and carried on for days, weeks, and months.