You Are Not Just A Mother, You Are YOU First!
by Tonya Ramsey

Mothers face many challenges in today’s world. They carry the responsibility of many roles. Through these roles we become different things to different people. Sometimes we get divided over having a career and having a families or find conflict between the different jobs that we try to do. Making the question “Who am I?” even harder to answer.

It grows harder because mothers see this little person that looks up at them with innocent trusting eyes, mommy is everything to that little one. She makes the hurt from boo-boos go away with a kiss, chases the monsters from under the bed away, and rocks them after a bad dream. Every mother takes that responsibility and carries it with her no matter where she goes. It is an awesome responsibility of caring for this wonderful little person and being mom is always on the mind. As much as it is wonderful to revel in mommyhood, we still need to remember that being a mother is just one part of us, the more we allow ourselves to see who we are the better examples we can set for our children to leading a balanced life.

As a mother, I have struggled to find my own identity. I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, a business owner, a sister, a friend…..but who am I? It is easy to define yourself by what you do and what you mean to other people. As we take on these different roles our own identity gets blurred. It is harder to make the distinction. Who am I if I am not Logan’s mom or Ben’s wife?

click here to continue reading...

Top News Headlines from CNN Myanmar authorities seize aid for cyclone victims Myanmar authorities have seized U.N. food sufficient to feed 95,000 victims of last week's cyclone, a move that shuts down future U.N. flights, a U.N. aid official says. Friday May 9th, 5:16 AM Oil breaks $125 a barrel Read full story for latest details. Friday May 9th, 3:35 AM Behind the Scenes: Death hunt at Manson ranch The Charles Manson "Helter Skelter" murder spree of 1969 ended at a remote Death Valley, California, cabin called Barker Ranch. Now, thanks to a small-town detective and his cadaver dog, Manson's hideout might be searched for more murder victims. Friday May 9th, 3:52 AM U.S. Marine guilty of 'wrongful sexual contact' A U.S. Marine accused of raping a 19-year-old Japanese woman last year was found guilty Thursday of "committing wrongful sexual contact and indecent acts," the U.S. military said, but he was acquitted of rape. Thursday May 8th, 9:15 PM Hezbollah takes control of western Beirut Sectarian fighting rocked the Lebanese capital for a third day Friday, with small arms, machine-gun and rocket-propelled-grenade fire echoing through the streets. Friday May 9th, 4:08 AM Food from NPR When Fancy Critics Hit T.G.I. Friday's The New York Times sent critics to review chain restaurants this week. David Corcoran reveals what they found, while blogger Ezra Klein describes the conceit as an exercise in contempt for middle America. Thursday May 8th, 5:29 AM Three-Dish Cure for the Dim Sum Blues The Chinese smorgasbord of small-plate dishes known as dim sum is one of life's unreproducible pleasures, writes T. Susan Chang. What if you live far from the bustle of Chinatown? Never fear, she shares three simple recipes to sate your craving. Tuesday May 6th, 8:54 PM Zagat Guide a Sign of Beijing's Gastronomic Rise A generation ago, there were no private restaurants in the Chinese capital and service was considered a form of exploitation. Today eating out is a national pastime, and celebrity foreign chefs are rushing to open high-end restaurants ahead of the Beijing Olympics. Tuesday May 6th, 12:48 PM Chow Mein Plays Special Role in Aging Mother's Life When commentator Jay Keyser's mother moved into an assisted-living community, he noticed a change in her behavior. At their weekly lunches at a Chinese restaurant, she would order only one thing: chicken chow mein. Keyser says he thinks there may have been a deeper meaning behind her dependence on the dish. Tuesday May 6th, 12:00 PM Sonoma Restaurants Seek Creative Fixes for Woes Rising food prices and the sagging economy are a double whammy for restaurants in California's Sonoma County. In a place that sets the pace for fine cuisine, restaurant owners are under pressure to get creative as they face soaring costs and fewer diners. Monday May 5th, 1:58 PM

Today's Latest from Entertainment Weekly ''Survivor'' recap: Whoops! Ouch! Cirie triggers one of the biggest blunders in ''Survivor'' history. Plus: Jeff Probst offers EW.com his thoughts 'Idol' Exit Q&A: Jason Castro The dreadlocked fan favorite insists he was in it to win it -- but at the same time he's not upset it's over Oliver Stone talks ''W'' The director on why it's wrong to judge his movie on a first draft, and his goal of ''a magic realism biography'' 21 hot movie car chases As ''Speed Racer'' revs into theaters, we run down our favorite high-speed horsepower duels 19 great martial arts flicks With ''Redbelt'' opening wide, we get our kicks recalling tests of will for Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Keanu, more Most Popular Headlines from BusinessWeek Inside Microsoft's War Against Google With Yahoo off the table, Microsoft plans to challenge Google's online-ad juggernaut alone. A behind-the-scenes look at its provocative strategy. Thursday May 8th, 5:05 PM In India, Death to Global Business How a violent—and spreading—Maoist insurgency threatens the country's runaway growth. Thursday May 8th, 5:05 PM MySpace: Going Places Hoping to renew its growth, the social network will let users transport their profiles to other sites, such as Yahoo and eBay. Friday May 9th, 2:05 AM Is Manhattan Immune from the Real Estate Bust? For the time being, yes. But if Wall Street continues to struggle, that could change. Friday Apr 25th, 12:04 AM More Static for Sirius-XM Deal The FCC is under pressure to force stiffer restrictions on the satellite radio providers but Sirius and XM have very little leeway. Thursday May 8th, 1:05 AM