Do you see what I see

Wife. Mother.
Flutist.
Scrapbooker.
Liberal. Churchgoer.

I am more than the sum of my parts. It is so easy to fall into the trap of pigeonholing people into neat little boxes based on what is seen. I am more than than my society-given labels.

When I meet people for the first time I am often asked if I work or stay home. Uh-whaaa? No, I don't work, I stay home and put my feet up and and let the boys act out "Lord of the Flies" in the backyard. Food magically appears, laundry is hung with care by whistling bluebirds, and Mary Poppins tends to the children. Sigh...Mary Poppins...every mom's quiet fantasy. Stay at home moms, work outside the home moms, moms of all shapes and sizes...we all wish for Mary Poppins when we blow out our birthday candles, we just don't all admit it.

I am trained as a flutist. One of the few things I've learned from that part of my life that transfers to being a stay-at-home mom is time management (and not even all the time). I've had to give up playing for the time being. It is nearly impossible to practice when you have a four year old digging out his violin and a seven year old pulling out a trumpet for an avant-garde trio. So when I meet new musicians at the increasingly rare gig and get either the cold shoulder or poorly disguised shock that I can play so well, it angers and saddens me. I have a masters degree in flute performance from an excellent music school. I used to be a damned fine flutist and will be again...someday. Their rudeness and hubris won't be eliminated with more hours in the practice room.

I am a scrapbooker. This does not mean I have no life, have too much time on my hands, or that I get high off the adhesive. It means simply that I'm dedicated to recording my family's history for future generations.

I lean pretty far liberal. This does not mean I am a fire breathing heathen.

I am a churchgoer. This does not mean I am more pious than thou.

I am more than the sum of my parts. I am more than the labels society sticks on me. I am quiet until I get to know you, then I don't shut up. I appear reserved, but man, I love a good dirty joke. I don't jump up and run over when one of the boys falls down (the house rule is bone, blood, or fire), but I would do anything for their safety and well-being. I am more than meets the eye.

Do you see what I see?

***********************

When not challenging how society views her, Jen pines for Mary Poppins over at Never a Dull Moment and shares her frustrations with raising twice-exceptional children over at Hopeful Parents.