I have a name

Since the trio were born, my name seems to have disappeared. People introduce me as 'the triplet mum,', the 'amazing mum of triplets,' 'you know, my friend with the triplets.' It gets old. People, I have a name (which I like) - and I'd be very glad if you could use it! I don't often tell people about my kids - especially in a work or professional environment. My children have nothing to do with how well I can perform my job - it's just another part of my personal life. Don't get me wrong, I am immensely proud of them, and to friends I will brag about them endlessly - but they do not define WHO I am. They are just part of the picture which makes up the person who I am. Most irritating is when people introduce me as 'the triplet mum' in situations when I'd rather they didn't. In classs a few months ago (school is another place where the kids are not really mentioned - again, irrelevant), we had to introduce ourselves to the teacher. So I did my, "Hi, I'm Michelle, I work at XYZ and I like XYZ and blah blah..." - and immediately one of my friends says to the teacher, "Ask her about the kids!!" *sigh* I realise people think that triplets are amazing, and they think *I* am amazing by virtue of raising them, but I wish it wasn't always used as the only point of identification for me. I recently was with DS (Dear Son) on our own when we ran into a friend of his and his Mom. I said, "Hi, I don't think we've met, I'm J's Mom" to which she said, "But aren't you A and C's Mom too?" She thought it was wierd I didn't mention ALL of them. I can assure you my Mom never introduced herself by saying, "Hi, I'm O, Michelle and S's Mom." Parents of kids born more than 30 seconds apart wouldn't do this, so why should I?! This blog is just to say: My name is Michelle. I like my name. Please use it.