Share the Woman You Used to Be

Over the years, I have been a part of several groups of women: organizations, study groups, gatherings of friends, etc. Recently, I was sitting in the audience of one such group when a mom of two stood up to share a bit about herself and her family. She mentioned she used to be a softball catcher and a trombone player and received her master’s at UF.

And here she was, a stay-at-home mom with two small children whom she is currently homeschooling. That, plus her quiet disposition and love of motherhood, had pegged her in my mind as someone who must have grown up thinking that’s what she aspired to be. She was the second woman that week who surprised me with her unlikely background.

This got me thinking, who were we before we held the titles currently given to us? The words “wife,” “mom,” “teacher,” “accountant,” or “(insert profession or hobby here)” are definitely part of who we are, but they’re not all of who we are. We are intricate, complicated creatures with interests, passions, and histories that have shaped us into the person we are today. The problem is, with all the time that our titles demand from us, we have a tendency to forget those details.

Don’t Lose You in Motherhood

The year I was in the Florida Keys for my sister’s wedding was the perfect occasion to jog my memory of the details that comprise who I am. My husband and I had the opportunity to go on a date night, so I wanted to get a scooter and see Key West. As I rode with my arms around my man and the wind in my hair, I felt a mixture of confidence, freedom, and gratitude for the reminder that I am more than a meal-maker, laundry-folder, and diaper-changer.

Don’t get me wrong, I am thrilled and proud to have the role of mom, but that wasn’t who I always was and it isn’t who I’m always going to be. It’s good to remember that somewhere way down beneath the to-do lists, grocery runs, and fatigue that you are still in there!

The salt on my skin and the sense of adventure I felt that night reminded me that at one time, I was a free spirit who had backpacked through Europe and scooted around the cliffs of Greece. As I walked hand in hand along the moon-basked shore with my husband, it reminded us that there was an “us” before kids and if we take the time to nurture that, there will be an “us” after them as well.

Our current titles are definitely part of who we are, but they’re not all of who we are.

Start Asking This Question

If you want something fun to bring up in a conversation this week, ask someone, “Who were you before?” Since implementing that question, I have discovered a refugee from Colombia, a former CEO who now has six children, a former journalist, a former street punk who used to proudly don a red Mohawk, a former river raft guide, and a Crossfit champion. Not one of these would I have ever guessed by looking at them or even knowing them on a surface level.

You will be delighted and intrigued by the answer you receive when you ask a woman about the time before her current role. She will most likely be delighted to be asked about something other than sleep schedules and sippy cups. It will help you not to box that person whom you think you know so well, and it will remind you not to box yourself in either! There’s a lot to learn about the woman you used to be.

Each of us has exerted grit and experienced grace throughout our lives. It’s our joy as women to share those moments with one another—reminding ourselves of who we are, what we’ve accomplished, and the memories we hold dear.