While I count motherhood as my greatest achievement and joy, I have come to understand over the last few years that in order to be great at the mom thing I need time alone. When my oldest son was a baby we were in a situation where I had little help with him and he and I were virtually alone. Once we were out of that situation and I was to a place where I could take time to myself I would leave him feeling guilty about doing things for myself. It felt selfish.

Skip ahead a few years and I have that balance of who I am as a mother and also who I am as a woman coming in to focus. Literally...

When I am behind the lens of my camera, even if it is taking pictures of my children, I feel like LaShawn, not just Mom. Time to myself some times consists of getting out of the house and being alone, but more often than not it is sitting on the computer during nap time and editing pictures or trying to figure out how to compose a shot better. Photography has given me a much needed escape from the monotony of being a stay at home mom. It gives me the ability to freeze time. It makes my heart race every time I upload my pictures and I see something that I did come to fruition. It makes me feel like more than *just* a mom. In fact, it makes me a BETTER mom.

LaShawn also blogs at Frazzled LaShawn