Who and What are You?

When I go to the boys' school I push the button and wait for one of the secretaries to buzz me in. "Hi Bruiser's Mom" comes over the intercom followed by the click of the door. This happens regularly. 

When I walked into the office a few weeks ago one of the secretaries finally said, "I don't believe we know your name. We just know what children you belong to." 

(Funny way to think about it... I always thought that THEY belonged to ME)

I told her my name and she doted on the baby and then I went about my business.  

The next day rolls around and I hear the friendly voice over the intercom say once again, "Hi Bruiser's Mom!" :) 

Apparently, this is my identity according to the office staff. 

I LOVE being a mother and wouldn't trade it for the world. I never wanted to be a tween or a teen. I wanted to skip those steps and just get to my twenties so that I could get married and have a family. Most of my friends talk about going back to those years. NO THANK YOU! I don't even like to think about them. I'm perfectly happy where I am.

Even though motherhood is incredibly rewarding and the most amazing job in the world, sometimes it's hard to remember who WE are. Aside from changing diapers, playing chauffeur and referee, snuggling, kissing boo boos, and wanting to rip my hair out... WHO AM I? This has been my question to myself this week. Do I get addressed mostly as "choose a boy's mother"? Yes. That's fine. But is it a problem when I only think of myself as "choose a boy's mother"? Yes. 

I am still me. I am my own person with my own thoughts and interests (other than nerf guns and backyardigans. Shocker, I know!). The only way that I can be the best mother to my children is by not forgetting that fact. I bring to the table a unique style and flare, as does every other member of our family. Our family IS the exceptional unit that it is because we are each individuals with our own personalities. 

It's very easy to forget who we are no matter what our occupation may be. We get so caught up in the everyday, mundane tasks required of all human beings that we forget what makes us who we are.

I decided to make a list of what makes me... me. This was not easy. It's hard to be positive about ourselves. It's obviously easier to find the negative and pick out all of our flaws but, I really tried to be fair to myself.

 I made two lists: Who AM I? and What am I? I felt that there was a difference, so, I broke it up. These are lists that I will continually add to. 

I am usually very reserved and keep things like this private but have decided to share them.

Here is my Who Am I? list:

And here is my What am I? list:

When I was growing up, whenever we left the house my parents would always say, "Goodbye, I Love You. Remember who you are!" This is one of my greatest memories of my childhood. It was our reminder to uphold the Ganoe name and to be virtuous daughters of God. This daily reminder helped me to be the best that I could be in every situation. 
I still apply this phrase in my life now, but it's meaning has changed some. It is obviously still a reminder to bring pride to the Ganoe name, and to follow the example of The Savior, but it is also now a reminder to just be me and to not forget about the good qualities that I possess.

We all have moments of struggle and self doubt, but we all need to take a second to remember who we are. 

So, I ask you... Who are you? What are you? If you've put yourself aside for whatever reason, I encourage you take some time to think about exactly who you are and the wonderful qualities that you possess. 

*Hills