Wonder Woman!
She easily hurdles a laundry basket to catch her falling toddler.
Runs flat out to comfort the child who crashed his bike.
Speaks truth into murky situations.
Defends the powerless.
She’s more than Wonder Woman. She’s MOM.
However, while Millennial moms today would say they are doing well at parenting, they also struggle with large amounts of guilt. Are they really doing enough? Are they feeding their children the right foods? Are their children involved in the best activities?
Our society doesn’t necessarily congratulate motherhood either. How many current mainstream movies prize motherhood as a worthy fulltime occupation? When was the last time you were congratulated for making the decision to be “just a mom”?
Whether you are a working-outside-the-home mom, a stay-at-home mom, a single mom, or hoping to be a mom someday, most of us tend to think that what we do day in and day out has little value.
Let me challenge that thinking. You, Mom, save lives every day.
- Justin learned to crawl two days ago. Now he’s discovered the wall outlets.
- Amy shoved all the banana pieces into her mouth at once causing her to choke.
- Kate looked out the kitchen window, dropped everything and ran outside in time to catch Jill as she toppled from the top bar of the swing set.
- Bobby ran past Julie brandishing the scissors like a sword. Instinctively, she reached out and grabbed the scissors just before he tripped.
- Sue, carrying clean clothes to the girls’ room, dropped the basket, and quickly undid the ribbon tied too tightly around Mandy’s neck.
- Paul climbed the bathroom counter, opened the medicine cabinet, grabbed the bottle he saw Daddy use this morning, and opened the cap just as Mommy walked by.
Mom, you are the superhero in your child’s life.
Your littles are blissfully unaware of most of the dangers around them. However, they are—and it’s good they are—curious. They have much to learn about this world. Cultivate their curiosity. You will learn right along with them.
You won’t do this mommying thing perfectly but you will do it to the best of your ability. You teach your children how to navigate this big, beautiful world in which they live whether on purpose or not. But, because you are a mom who cares, you do it intentionally.
You have a huge impact.
- Because you care for your child, your work changes your child’s life.
- You continue to mature and grow, you lead your children into maturity and growth.
- When you ask for forgiveness for losing your temper, you teach your child to be humble.
- As you put down your phone or shut your computer, look your child in the eye and listen to whatever they want to tell you, you teach them the importance of relationship.
- When you listen to their troubles, you teach them compassion.
- Those times when your child is sick, and you spend your day holding them close, you teach them the meaning of sympathy and love.
Today, take a few moments to combat the lie that what you are doing doesn’t matter. It does. In fact, it is the most important work you will ever do on this earth.
Wonder Woman is a fun comic superhero. But, you, Mom, are the real thing. Wonder Woman has nothing on you.
Look back over the last couple of days. In what ways, simple though they may seem, have you saved a life today? Leave a comment below and encourage other moms.
If you need help, please reach out. I promise to listen without judgment and help you take the next step.
