Motherhood and Identity: Staying True to Yourself in your Mothering Journey

In today’s episode, we explore the issue of motherhood and identity, and how to stay true to yourself throughout your mothering journey. 

 When we become mothers, it’s easy to get lost in the whirlwind of diapers, feedings and sleepless nights. Our lives dramatically change and we often find ourselves questioning who we are beyond the title of ‘mom’. Navigating how to maintain a sense of self while embracing the beautiful role of motherhood is a journey of rediscovery that many of us embark on and it’s one that holds great significance. 

In this episode, Yamel shares her own experiences of navigating this over the course of her 25 years of mothering. She shares her valuable insights on the matter and provides tangible advice of how you too can seek out and maintain a sense of identity whilst still embracing the all-important role of being a mom. 

Keep in touch and in the loop with Yamel on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. 

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Some of the advice Yamel offers regarding staying true to yourself in motherhood includes:

Embrace your evolving identity 

It’s inevitable your identity will evolve once you become a mother, so embrace this fact and remember that this is perfectly normal. It’s important to foster your passions, nurture your hobbies and tune in to what parts of your identity are still wanting to be known – for Yamel this included going back to nursing school to achieve her career goals. 

Prioritize self-care

Self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate, it can be as simple as taking some me-time alone where you can treat yourself and make yourself feel good. 

Seek support and connection 

Nurture your relationships with friends because the support and connection that comes with these friendships will help to reassure you that you’re not alone in your mothering journey, and will provide a safe space for you to stay true to yourself, outside of your identity as ‘mom.’ 

Set boundaries 

Setting boundaries is actually a form of self-care, because by saying ‘yes’ to too much, you are inevitably saying ‘no’ to some of the things you want to do for you. This doesn’t always come easily, but by enforcing boundaries you can have more energy, time and space to prioritize your needs. 

Reflect and Adapt 

Take a moment to periodically reflect on your evolving identity, and adjust as needed. Check in on what and who are bringing you joy and uplifting you right now, and try and seek more of that in your life. 

Communicate with your partner

Share your needs, desires and concerns with your partner, so that they can properly show up and support you, and understand your journey. Ultimately, your partner fell In love with you for you, so allow them to help you in your journey back to yourself.