...and behind door number three is..

After the first two years of my oldest duckling's life, I began to realize that my identity has been stolen.  It wasn't from some teenage, antisocial hacker, but lots of little, two legged creatures.   Now, through my life, I've been called a lot of things..Tiffany, Tiff, Tiffy, Tiffers, LT, CPT Rudd, Nagy...the list can go on and on.  The common denominator of all of those names is that they all included my name.  Somehow down the line, my name has become something completely different.  When naming my daughter, I had no inkling that I would lose my name and take on hers.  Now I walk into a room, or the school yard, and this is what I hear.."Shelby's Mom!!"  I guess I should be happy that the word, "Mom" is in that statement.  I'm also noticing by being called "Shelby's Mom," I'm also making great friendships with other "insert child's name" Mom's.
The last 17 years has been an evolution that would make Darwin proud.  For the first 13 years, I had a life of flying helicopters, jumping out of planes, taking care of patients, running battles and driving around in a truck or a Mini Cooper.  I traveled when I wanted with just a backpack on and slept in whenever I could.  Now, I'm trying to decipher the latest knitting pattern, walking with a stroller to get exercise, wearing ONLY wash and wear clothes, running my household, and above all....two more kids later, I'm now driving a MINIVAN.  My traveling has to be well thought out and TONS of gear in tow...usually in the minivan.  Oh, and sleeping?  Yep,,,um, no.   Above everything else, I seemed to have lost my name.  Truth be told, I like it.  It's my new identity that brings smile to my face when I realize what I have and how much more rewarding this life is.  I love how all of Shelby's friends want to tell me everything about their day or that they make sure to say 'bye' to both Shelby and Shelby's Mom.  To me, it's a sign of respect and I love being surround by all those pint size creatures.  Do I miss my old life...sure, sometimes.  But, I LOVE this new life, even if it doesn't include my given name.  I look at my children and they are the best little projects I've ever been in charge of.  It's hard, sometimes full of lots of tears...TONs of diapers and arguments; however, when I snuggle up to them at night and read them a book, or when they draw a picture just for me, it's so much more rewarding that any day on the flight line.  Not to mentions all the hugs and kisses cannot be beat.  My only questions is...now that the other two are slowing coming to that age, will my new name be..."Shelby, Mikey's and RJ's Mom?"