I held a pretend Ask Me Anything* in my mind and this question arose. Why did I feel that tug to put ‘non-mom’ in my professional bio?

My answers and their tones:

Because I want to be clear that the material in this account is from lived experience (authentic)

Because moms do on their professional accounts (contrary and rebellious)

Because I've rarely seen it (lonely)

Because we need more representation and I'm willing to look like 'it's my whole personality' to do so (annoyed)

Because people might wonder (upfront)

Because it points out the fact that we don't have a good word for a 'me' (once again annoyed)

Because it's been a transformative shift to not be a mom one day. While I am many other things this experience has shaped me in ways I didn't expect (honoring something)

Because I am personally OVER receiving education/training from those outside the target identity and topic, and I want to help create this new norm in our field (driven)

Because it might make someone else feel less excluded (caring)

Because.... I'm sure there are many other reasons. I highly recommend hosting your own brain's ask me anything, it was an interesting thought experiment indeed!!

*This is how my brain works, I guess? lol.. My interior dialogue is quite vivid!