Who am I?

I realize that I am having a difficult time finding my identity outside of being a mother. Women take on many roles in their lifetimes: daughter, sister, aunt, friend, wife, mother, partial bread-winner. The transitions between each role aren't always easy but I think the transition into motherhood might be the most difficult one. Before I became Luke's mom, I juggled many roles and they all seemed to mesh into one another. But now that I stay at home, I have traded in my worker hat for the full-time mom position. Being a mom encompasses a whole new set of responsibilities: homemaker, housekeeper, nurturer, teacher, chef (if mixing up rice cereal can be considered "chefing"), dog-walker, boo-boo kisser, and wife. It is so hard to find the time to do the things that I used to enjoy so much, such as curling up on the couch with a good book or cooking a big meal that did not utilize the microwave oven or paper plates.
Brian and I talked about the importance of having my own identity outside of being a mom. We both feel that is very beneficial for a child. It is important to know that you mother has other things going on besides just drving their children to soccer practice and ballet lessons. I want to give Luke a well-rounded view of life. I want him to eventually marry someone who is independent and self-sufficient, and I think that men do learn a lot about the type of girls they want to date based off the example they get from their mothers. I want Luke to think that I am more than just his mother. It's just such a hard place for me to be in right now. I am going to find a book, I'm sure someone has written one, on finding and defining the many different roles that women are faced with. If anyone knows where I can get one, let me know.
In the meantime, I am embracing this new identity as a mother. I love watching Luke grow up and change every day. I love to teach him new things and watch him copy what I have shown him. But at the same time, I have to remember that I am a person that was once not a mother and that i had hobbies and interests and great loves. I have passions that I need to also embrace. I need to remember that I am still just me with a new role.