Super Mom
When I hear the term “Supermom” the first thing that comes to my mind is the quintessential perfect, well-balanced, put together, organized, always available to play, present in everyone’s life, head of the PTA bake sales, carpool to soccer kind of mom. The mom that wakes up early to make breakfast, whips up the kids favorite meals and packs them in those cute little shapes with a loving note. A mom that can whip up a costume on a whim and a mom that helps make the winning science project. The mom that seemingly has it all together; a “Super-mom”. The expectations in my head for a Super-mom has the character traits to the likeness of the main character in a hero film, something so out of the ordinary, so out of reach. The expectation to be this Super-mom makes me my own worst critic when it comes to the thought of being a good mom. Growing up with the strong mom, the single mom, the work 2 jobs mom, the sacrifice so much for her kids mom. I was surrounded seeing those types of moms, super-moms in our eyes and yet as I became a mom I felt the loneliness in motherhood. I quickly learned that super-mom meant juggling it all mom; without any instructions. Training for super-mom hood was the learning track of “You learn as you go!”. Here is a child with no instructions and you are expected to just be “Super-mom”.
We have been so ingrained of what a super-mom entails and we get caught in reaching for an unattainable goal of being this Super-mom where you get to balance it all, the struggles, the hardships, the life of motherhood and still be expected to be happy. What goes unsaid are the days where you’ll lose sight of who you are, the person you once were gets pushed to the bottom of a shelf and shoved in between the carefree and the hopeful person you once were. Randomly peering out in between the joyful moments. Motherhood can not be summed up into one word or one feeling. Motherhood is a journey at every turn. Some days you might wake up too tired and don’t get around to folding your laundry, too tired to shower, too tired to run errands, too tired to whip up a meal so take-out or frozen pizza is your best option for the night.
Now being a mom of two I have learned to understand a new definition of Super-mom. Super-moms are the ones that sit in the moments absorbing the essence of it and super-moms are also the moms that zone out and stare out until a laughter peeks through and brings you back in. The moms that are the director of household operations AKA stay at home moms and the moms that get up early to get herself ready and everyone fed, dressed, and out the house for work on time. The moms that wake up and take care of their kids in a never ending shift. The moms that put on Mrs Rachel while they take a moment to drink their warm cup of coffee and unload or load a dishwasher depending on who closed up the night shift. The moms that enjoy the cup of coffee at the office since it’s the first time to think without being absorbed in distractions. The moms that only have adult conversation in passing at the playground while they chase their kids around yelling “Be Careful!”.
Super-mom the mom’s that do it all and yet still believe that it’s not enough. The moms that text their friends when they’re thinking of them during nap-time and then forget to respond after the baby wakes up from their slumber. The moms that do it all alone and yet still remember birthdays and playdates. The moms that so desperately need time for themselves yet feel too guilty to leave the kids' sides. The moms that are overwhelmed and over tired. The moms that are trying and working on themselves to be better, to be kinder, to be active, to be social, to rest more, to find hobbies, and the moms that are doing their best to keep it all together. The moms in each chapter and new season of motherhood. Every mom has their own super power that they share.
For me; Super-mom is a synonym for motherhood. It’s a story of the hero who doesn’t realize it yet until they find it within themselves and when they do; super-mom a story of a mother that learns to give herself grace and treat herself with kindness, love and support that she deserves.