Motherhood

You become more than yourself when you become a mother. I have struggled because I am no longer....

Melissa Armstrong....

or

Melissa Lentz.

I am no longer just a University of Wisconsin grad.

I am no longer just Ryan's wife.

I am Everest's mom.

I have an appreciation like never before for what my mother gave me and gave up by simply or un-simply becoming my mom. She will always be Melissa's mom although I am now grown and no longer just a University of Wisconsin grad and no longer just Ryan's wife. She is still my mom even though I am now Everest's mom.

My identity revolves around my son. I do not choose this. It chooses me. It's something a mother cannot escape. We are our children's accomplishments and failures. We are their sadness and celebration.

I now sit here and think about the future and about becoming Everest and Kingston's mom and about what that means to me....

and to

Everest.