So, there's this article that I've seen floating around the Facebook world a couple of times now. "Killing Off Supermom". When I first read the article, I wanted to cheer. "Yes! Down with Supermom!" It is so validating to hear how not-perfect other people are- because really we all are.
As I thought more about it, though, I realized something. "I'm being super-judgmental right now. Why should I want to rid the world of someone who's really good at throwing parties or keeping their house clean?" Now, I'm not saying that most people who read the article were being judgmental - I'm saying that I was. I am also not saying that the author was being judgmental. I am reasonably sure that her intentions were not to create judgment. But, for me - that's what happened.
So, here's how I'm thinking about it. There may be some women in the world that really thrive as a mom. They have personalities that lend themselves to structure, so they can make a cleaning schedule and stick to it. Maybe they really, really love throwing parties and taking their kids all over the place. Maybe there are some moms who aren't trying to prove anything - they just really like that stuff and love to do it.
For those moms, my hope is that they are doing it because they really, really do love it. That they aren't thinking that they have to do those things so that the rest of us moms don't think less of them. My hope is that they can be super all day long and then put their feet up at night and enjoy some down-time. That "being super" doesn't mean "being perfect". And if you're a mom who still struggles with the whole "perfect" thing - that's okay, too. Truth be told, I think we all do - at least sometimes.
So, Supermom - if you're out there and you're supering-it-up all day because you feel great doing it and you genuinely enjoy doing the things that I might think you're crazy for doing - then I say "Way to go!". I will allow you to do what you enjoy doing without judging you for it. I will work on my own insecurities that might make me feel jealous or "less than" when I'm around you. I will recognize that, in each our own way, we are all Supermom at something. My Supermom ability might not be as visible as yours - and that's okay. My Supermom ability isn't for your benefit - it's for my family. Just like your Supermom abilities aren't for me - they are for your family. So, I will not judge - you or myself.
And so, whether you fall in the category of organized, tidy, and on top of it - or you fall more so in the category of "What day is it?", "I don't remember the last time I cleaned the toilet.", and "I'm pretty sure that basket of clothes is clean - I think." - or if you fall somewhere in the middle... Here's what we all have in common - WE LOVE OUR KIDS.
Supermom or not-so-Supermom, we all love our kids to the moon and back. Whether you're the party throwing kind, the taxi cab kind, the pack healthy lunches kind, the buy hot lunch kind, the let's-make-a-craft kind, or the let's-sit-and-watch-a-movie kind... The one Supermom ability we all have is to love our kids with a love we didn't know we possessed until we held our little ones for the first time. If you ask me, that is by far the best kind of ability to have.
Until next time, my superfriends.... live well.
Becky
No comments:
Post a Comment