The other day while at a lunch someone introduced me as a 'Mommy Blogger'. I had no idea I was a 'Mommy blogger'. I was floored and apparently decrepit. Joke lang. I had never realized that my blog and Instagram handle, ‘A Momma Abroad’ (parodied from the tv show, An Idiot Abroad) would pigeon hole me into a mommy blog. I know, duh. I should have known that from the beginning. I don’t even write about parenting crap. I don't even write about kid crap! Sometimes I Instagram about my childrens' literal crap, like how they finger paint with it. I write about what I love to do in Manila with my family and my love affair with The Philippines… as a mom. Well, I guess I am a ‘mommy bloggger’ but I would like to think I am breaking the mold. Maybe just a little. If I have to fit a mold, I am going to make it my own. I’ll pivot where my interests are because I can and because I am capable. For now, I’ll assume my role as a ‘Mommy Blogger’ and launch a new series on my blog, Investing In Motherhood. As I said before, I write about my life in Manila. Manila is where I learned and continue to learn, how to be a mom. My oldest was born in Seattle, but I spent my entire pregnancy here in Manila, moving back to The US just a few weeks before he was born. Later, I delivered two babies in Makati Med in 2012 and 2014. Manila is where Jake and I started and continue to grow our family. Manila has taught me how to be a mom, and for that, I owe her this series.

I love being a mom! It’s messy, tiring and a lot of the times draining. It is, however, super fulfilling, fun and full of love and growth. Since I am an American raising our kids in a foreign country our home is a mix of cultures but the resources are primarily lokal.

I love the movement here of ‘hands on mom’. We all do it differently but what is important is finding a way to do it joyfully. Finding ways to invest in motherhood and create more joy in the journey is what I hope to spark through this collaboration series. This last year I have been a part of a great and growing community and want to share my voice and the voice of others to help identify ways to invest in motherhood. This concept came from two experiences: Magformers (not a sponsored post, I promise!) and a quote: “Invest in people who invest in you.” I was sitting and playing Magformers with my boys and realized how much I love this toy and this time with my kids because I enjoy what I am doing. When I linked these feelings with the quote above I had a moment of clarity, “I want to bank on what I love in motherhood!”

Everyone does it a little differently and I am so grateful. There is no one way and I hope the dialogue we share through this collaboration will generate ideas to inspire all of us. My hopes are to aid in identifying what you can invest in your own motherhood to find more joy. The intent is not to leave you buying the next trendy toy or book but to identify what you and your child enjoy together. I have rounded up a group of powerful mothers to share their wisdom on various topics ranging from arts and crafts to work ethic. Investing In Motherhood is a four part series starting this week in March and will continue throughout the year. I hope you will take this journey with me. We will be better for it, I just know it.