My latest post for the Knoxville Moms was inspired by Encanto, the soundtrack of which plays in my head on a constant loop. You can read the full post here! Here’s a sneak peek:

Like much of the population, I’ve been constantly listening to (and absently singing) songs from Encanto since I first saw it. I’m just as obsessed with it as my kids, and yes, I still cry every single time we watch it.

First, a disclaimer. Encanto has made huge strides for representation, and many of the themes seem to especially hit home to those who belong to the Latinx community. I do not belong to this community, and am not speaking as though I do, or as though everything has to fit my experience. Instead, I’m discussing some of the universal themes in the film and how relatable they are. Also, there are sort-of spoilers ahead for the movie.

There is so much about Encanto that hits home for me personally and as a parent. Much of my labor is invisible to my family. A tidy house and an empty dishwasher aren’t exactly things elementary school aged kids are going to notice, after all. But I’ve found myself feeling hurt many a time when my efforts go unnoticed. So at the end of Encanto, when Mirabel’s family sings how they see her, they see how brave she’s been? Cue the sobs.

Yet, though that moment is powerful and wonderful, the larger theme of the scene hits home even more. “You’re more than just your gift.” This applies in so many different facets of our lives.

You’re more than just your work.

You’re more than just your housework.

You’re more than just your failures.

You’re more than just your successes.

You’re more than just a wife/spouse/partner.

You’re more than just a parent/caregiver.

You. Are. More.

I delight in so many of my roles. I love being a daughter, a mother, a wife, a sister, a friend, a colleague. These are titles that I am grateful to have, that signify I am part of these communities, these tiny loving groups. But I am more than just any title or any one role. I’m a full human person, and I hope and aim to have a well-rounded life, a life where I serve others and I serve myself.

I am more. And so are you.

Whether you struggle with perfection or always being the bearer of bad news or of providing for everyone or being the backbone of the family, remember that you are more.

Let us throw off the prison of perfection, step away from the tightrope of desperately trying to balance being all the things to all the people, and remember we are more. Let us remember to serve ourselves, pressure free.

Okay, so that’s super easy to say, right? But how do we DO it?

Find out and how to do it and read the full post on the Knoxville Moms site here!

You are more than what you provide for your family, your friends, your work. You’re more than just your gift.