SUPERMOMS
INTRODUCTION
When I first became a mother, I felt isolated and very lonely. In my mind, I had always imagined motherhood was something women did in community. I thought I would have a village of seasoned moms coming over to support me and give me advice. Instead, I spent most of my maternity leave alone with my baby, struggling to figure out this new parenting role and desperately trying to figure out a routine that would work. I looked to social media and Google for guidance, only to discover that motherhood seemed to be one of the most undervalued roles in our society. Instead of emphasizing the joys of raising these cute, kind, intelligent beings, children were regularly made fun of and painted as a burden or inconvenience.
Contrary to what seemed like popular opinion, I saw parenthood as a meaningful and transformative journey – like climbing a mountain. The people who climbed Mount Everest didn't dwell on the hardships of the climb. Imagine if all they did was whine about how they were always hungry and freezing. Instead, they emphasized their accomplishments and reveled in the triumph of reaching the summit. And this is how I felt we should be talking about motherhood.
I started seeking out and interviewing moms who I knew were doing an exceptionally good job at raising their children – supermoms. And that’s how this book got started. Supermoms are mothers who go above and beyond, putting their children first and making it their top priority to be the best mother they can. These women didn’t complain but instead used difficult moments as learning opportunities to grow into better versions of themselves. Some even made it look easy, maintaining a sense of calm as they competently managed numerous responsibilities including childcare, exercise, cooking, cleaning, careers, and perhaps even a hobby or two. They were the women I had watched in admiration as they walked around Target with one baby strapped to their back, another held on the hip, another pushed in a stroller, and a fourth, fifth, sixth running circles around them.
I also spoke with mothers who had faced adversity, mothers who taught me to be fierce. These moms didn’t have it easy. They left abusive husbands and raised children on their own, facing fears and making sacrifices. They worked extremely hard to put food on the table and a roof over their heads, ultimately going from rags to riches with their children as motivation.
The supermothers in this book helped shape me into the mother that I am. They showed me how to fully embrace the challenges of this role and find beauty within it. They taught me that even in the most trying times, I could pull out hidden magic by using gratitude to remind myself of how lucky I was to be given this privilege. They taught me that the period of bringing up young, demanding, babies and toddlers is so short and happens so quickly that it was important to be present. They taught me to keep my cool, that spills and messes are not that serious, and to laugh even when I was feeling exhausted. They taught me that the learning never ends and that every day is an opportunity for growth. These supermoms taught me to put my children first and my family first for they are my most valuable asset – not my career, not my artistic practice, not the laundry or the dishes. They taught me that great rewards would come and that no matter how hard I thought parenting was I would manage to find the strength within me to pull it off. They revealed a profound truth: that our children have the remarkable ability to transform us into superhumans.
I continue to rely on these stories to motivate me and remind me that I am not alone in this journey. Whether you’re a new mother or a great-grandmother, I hope this book reminds you of your own superpower.
When I first became a mother, I felt isolated and very lonely. In my mind, I had always imagined motherhood was something women did in community. I thought I would have a village of seasoned moms coming over to support me and give me advice. Instead, I spent most of my maternity leave alone with my baby, struggling to figure out this new parenting role and desperately trying to figure out a routine that would work. I looked to social media and Google for guidance, only to discover that motherhood seemed to be one of the most undervalued roles in our society. Instead of emphasizing the joys of raising these cute, kind, intelligent beings, children were regularly made fun of and painted as a burden or inconvenience.
Contrary to what seemed like popular opinion, I saw parenthood as a meaningful and transformative journey – like climbing a mountain. The people who climbed Mount Everest didn't dwell on the hardships of the climb. Imagine if all they did was whine about how they were always hungry and freezing. Instead, they emphasized their accomplishments and reveled in the triumph of reaching the summit. And this is how I felt we should be talking about motherhood.
I started seeking out and interviewing moms who I knew were doing an exceptionally good job at raising their children – supermoms. And that’s how this book got started. Supermoms are mothers who go above and beyond, putting their children first and making it their top priority to be the best mother they can. These women didn’t complain but instead used difficult moments as learning opportunities to grow into better versions of themselves. Some even made it look easy, maintaining a sense of calm as they competently managed numerous responsibilities including childcare, exercise, cooking, cleaning, careers, and perhaps even a hobby or two. They were the women I had watched in admiration as they walked around Target with one baby strapped to their back, another held on the hip, another pushed in a stroller, and a fourth, fifth, sixth running circles around them.
I also spoke with mothers who had faced adversity, mothers who taught me to be fierce. These moms didn’t have it easy. They left abusive husbands and raised children on their own, facing fears and making sacrifices. They worked extremely hard to put food on the table and a roof over their heads, ultimately going from rags to riches with their children as motivation.
The supermothers in this book helped shape me into the mother that I am. They showed me how to fully embrace the challenges of this role and find beauty within it. They taught me that even in the most trying times, I could pull out hidden magic by using gratitude to remind myself of how lucky I was to be given this privilege. They taught me that the period of bringing up young, demanding, babies and toddlers is so short and happens so quickly that it was important to be present. They taught me to keep my cool, that spills and messes are not that serious, and to laugh even when I was feeling exhausted. They taught me that the learning never ends and that every day is an opportunity for growth. These supermoms taught me to put my children first and my family first for they are my most valuable asset – not my career, not my artistic practice, not the laundry or the dishes. They taught me that great rewards would come and that no matter how hard I thought parenting was I would manage to find the strength within me to pull it off. They revealed a profound truth: that our children have the remarkable ability to transform us into superhumans.
I continue to rely on these stories to motivate me and remind me that I am not alone in this journey. Whether you’re a new mother or a great-grandmother, I hope this book reminds you of your own superpower.