“Gymnastics is something that I did, versus I am the gymnast. I believe that if you’re able to take it that way and know that yes, at this moment, this is the most important thing... there’s also life beyond that… We will never be defined by a salary, a title, a relationship, a company, or even a gold medal. Those are things we’ve done, not who we are…I think if you’re able to recognize that and know that you don’t have to compare it to that, you can find other things that bring you passion and joy.”
— Nastia Luikin, 5-time Olympic medalist
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come ”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17

I thought I was the sum of all the things I did…and then I became a Mom.

Hi there! I’m Maria. I’m a wife, a daughter, a sister, and a friend. I am an economist; an international development policy specialist. I am a global citizen, Danish by birth and American by choice. In my free time, I am a runner, a dabbling creative, and a reader with endless library requests. Above all, I am a mama to two toddlers, my daughter “N” and son “B”.

Before having children, I ran the professional rat-race, thinking my worth and identity were measured by line items on my CV. Titles and accomplishments are valued at a high premium. “What do you do?” often follows “nice to meet you”. Acceptance can feel like a function of our latest achievements. When I became a mom, these titles all fell to the wayside in priority, as I stepped into a role that felt all-encompassing of who I now had become. God has been using these early years of motherhood to teach me about identity and I feel called to bring that conversation to the table of other women who are trying, like me, to do and be all the things.

Motherhood is a life-altering identity change but it is not the entirety of who God made us to be.

Motherhood is one of the beautiful callings God has given us; it is not our entire identity. God designed us women as complex, multi-talented individuals with many diverse callings. It’s easy to forget this as mothers, in a role that demands every last bit of our focus, energy, and capacity. How is there time for “me” when someone is always calling for “Mama”? Returning to work can simultaneously feel like a return to oneself and like a piece of your heart is missing. It’s messy, it’s complicated, and it’s not a conversation we are openly having - with each other or with God.

What did God create me to do? What are my callings? How do I find my purposes?

God, Mama, and Me is our space to explore all these questions together. God gives each of us life experiences and talents to help us in our process. For me, I’ll be drawing on my own unique experiences – as a Dane, an economist, a mom raising my kids on Disney and Jesus. I pray that in my words you feel encouraged to do the same. We are beautiful women with endless possibilities ahead and we are all in it together. Finding the “me” that He created us to be amidst our roles as “Mama.”

God, Mama, & Me.