What is your Super Power?

This week my daughter and her friends were having a discussion about super heroes and their super powers.  It was no surprise that each friend choose a different super power.  We did a similar ice breaker at work.  My co-workers had some great answers, many involving time travel. Me?  I would choose teleportation so that with snap of my fingers I would instantly be where I needed to be.

All this talk got me thinking, what’s so great about these Super Heroes anyway?  Superman is pretty powerful in every way, but put him around kryptonite and he’s nearly helpless.  Spiderman can fly through the air and spin webs, but he is not the biggest or the strongest. Batman is the only one with a sidekick and without his car and gadgets, what can he do?  Obviously the creators had to give these heroes human qualities to make them relatable.  However, when you think of a Super Hero you are much more likely to think of their strengths than their weaknesses.

Often we use the term Super Mom or Super Dad, especially on days where we’ve taken on the bad guys, performed the impossible and still managed to save the day in one way or another.  On these days you feel as though you are literally wearing a cape and you earned the praise of those around you, “I don’t know how you do it!”  Do you shy away from this praise?  Or do you give yourself the proper credit for all that you do?  You may be modest and down play it, but why?  Who ever said that it was a bad thing to toot your own horn?  Embrace the praise.  And if no one is around to literally pat you on the back then take the time to acknowledge yourself.  It may feel a little awkward at first but if you did the impossible, be proud of yourself.

It’s important to recognize your inner Super Hero in that moment because we all know that it doesn't last long.  The kryptonite appears, the web slows you down or you can't grab the gadgets off your belt fast enough.  Nothing goes right, you’re late for every appointment, you have nothing to cook and the dog literally eats the homework.  What happened to all the super powers?  You may feel as if your powers deserted you.  What was possible one day may be impossible the next day and that is ok.

It’s easy for “type A” personalities like me to come to expect that every day should be a Super Mom or Super Dad day.  It’s easy to get frustrated with yourself or with the situation when things are not going as expected.  On these days your powers have not been diminished, they’ve just taken a different form.  The thing that all parents have to remember is – being a Super Mom or Super Dad isn’t about your Super Powers, your kids think you are Super just because you are you.

Heart-FULLy yours, 

Kacey