How Stay-at-Home Moms Can Maintain Their Own Identity

It's completely natural for a stay-at-home mom to find her sense of identity in her children. She may even become known as "Emily's mom," and even others who call her by name may not think of her beyond her role as a mother.

Although it's fine for a stay-at-home mother to have part of her identity tied to her role as a mom, it's important for even SAHMs to also have an identity that is separate from their role as mothers.

Below are some ways stay-at-home moms can maintain their own identity.

Work from Home

Mothers who work from home immediately have an identity that goes beyond their role as moms. For example, a work-from-home mom may refer to herself as a stay-at-home mom and a web designer. She may still take pride in her motherhood, but her identity is not limited to that one role when she also works from home.

There are several advantages to being a work-from home mom that go beyond a sense of identity. Most moms feel good about themselves when they contribute to their family's financial well being, even in a small way, and most families benefit from the additional income, even if the income provides nonessentials such as family vacations.

Work-from-home moms automatically have something else to talk about besides parenting. This opens up the opportunity for friendships and networking with people who are not parents or are in a different season of parenting than the stay-at-home mom.

Stay-at-home moms who chose to work from home may also find it easier to transition back into the work place if they chose to in the future. Working from home, even very part-time, helps mothers to avoid large employment gaps on their resume.

Spend Time Away from the Kids

One of the best ways for a stay-at-home mom to develop a sense of self is to spend time away from her children. Going out to lunch, coffee or a movie with a girlfriend, going for a walk and even mundane things like time alone at home to work on projects all help a mom to have an identity apart from her children.

Moms who spend time away from their children not only develop a better sense of self, they also often feel energized and better able to focus on the needs of their children when they are back together with them.

Stimulate the Mind

Watching children's television programs, talking to two-year-olds and reading Dr. Seuss books may be a fun part of parenting, but they certainly don't stimulate the mind in the same ways as activities meant for adults. Stay-at-home moms who regularly participate in activities that provide mental stimulation are more likely to have a healthy sense of self identity.

Here are a few ways a mom can stimulate her mind:

Learn a foreign language

Take continuing education courses at a local community college

Join a book club

Journal

Have a hobby such as quilting, rubber stamping or competitive sports

Find a niche and start a blog about it

Attend Bible or other religious studies

Participate in online forums

Volunteer

Dream about the Future

Although "once a mom, always a mom" may be true, there comes a day in any mom's life when she is not needed in the same way as she was when her children were younger. Although it's important to live in the moment, it's also important for stay-at-home moms to dream about what life will look like as their children grow and it's also important to take steps in the direction of your dreams.

Being a mom is an important part of many women's identity, but it doesn't have to be and should not be the only thing that defines a woman. Consciously choosing to be identified as more than just a mom is healthy for both mothers and their children.