I’ve been a working mom for five years. In that time frame, I’ve changed and grown as a person, as a mother, and as a professional. These identities have intertwined, building the core of who I am. Yet, many times at work, at home, in the world, my identity is pulled apart. Work only wants me to see the professional me. The kids only see me as mommy. Yet, they can both blind to what makes me who I am.

In the office I need my coworkers to see that, yes, I’m a professional, but I am more. I’m a mother to two brilliant little boys, who sometimes need me during the traditional 9-5 hours. I need them to see that because I’m not a butt in a seat during that time frame does not mean I’m not working or contributing. I may be taking a conference call in my car on the way to the pediatrician’s office. I could be at home, snuggling a sick baby, with a laptop open next to me as I build reports. I might have left the office at 4:30 but I didn’t take lunch and am plugged in at 10 p.m. when the rest of my house is asleep.

Too often in today’s corporate environments, seeing is believing when that shouldn’t be the case. Some offices have been slow to catch up to the digital age and see that the old school ways of business are not the set rules anymore. Work can happen from anywhere. And this doesn’t just apply for working mothers. Flex time and telecommuting are a necessity for professionals who want to balance their lives in and outside of work.

I also need my employer and colleagues to see that being a mother doesn’t take away from my work but enhances my value. I’ve learned to juggle more with less resources as a mother than through any other experience. My efficiency has improved beyond what I’ve dreamed was possible. Motherhood has given me a different view point on the world. It’s made me more empathetic to coworkers and customers. It’s made me more confident in my decision making and more confident in defending my point of view. My problem solving and negotiation skills are also growing by the day thanks to my journey as a mom.

On the other side, I want my children and husband to understand that I am more than a mommy and a wife. I am more than a cook, a maid, a boo boo healer, and a partner. My professional goals and successes are an important part of who I am. If my children can see that, see my ambition, then maybe I can lead them in working hard to achieve their own goals as they grow. It’s also important that they see I have a passion for my career so they can know a job can be more than just work.

Beyond motivating my children, my family being able to see my professional side shows them my value too. Yes, I’m very important to all of them, but I’m important to another group of people as well. Seeing me as more than a mom or wife can help them understand what all is expected of me at work so they can help balance the weight of responsibilities coming from home.

Most importantly, seeing how my professional and personal life is intertwined through all that I am will help my coworkers, friends, and family see the whole me. Know the whole me. The real me.