Recently, Indies Unlimited very kindly invited me to do an author interview with them and the extremely funny host, Stephen Hise, depicted me as a sort of superhero! This set me thinking about some of the ‘superheroes’ that I’ve known in real life. I’ve never met any of the more famous examples, such as Nelson Mandela, but I have met many people who achieve amazing things in their everyday life. Take, for example, the life of a working mother. In an average week she may be expected to do all the following:
- Work overtime in order to meet ever-shortening deadlines
- Provide healthy, delicious meals for her family
- Ensure her home is clean and tidy
- Take her children to numerous clubs, activities and events
- Be a friend, lover and social companion to her husband
- Be a friend and counsellor to her fiends
- Be an active member of her local community
And as if this was not enough, she may also feel that she should:
- Get promotion at work (though this will mean even longer hours)
- Serve nutritious meals made from scratch out of organic ingredients (though her kids will have to be force-fed them)
- Have a home that looks like something out of a magazine (and is therefore completely unsuitable for the presence of any small children)
- Have her children enrolled in numerous after-school activities that include drama, art, music, sport (both indoor and outdoor) and languages (which means that she spends even less time actually doing things with her children and not just for her children)
- Look like a supermodel (and therefore has to spend long hours at the hairdressers and gym before and after work and so even less time with her family)
- Have a wide social circle of fun, clever and successful friends (and therefore she has to keep up with them by being constantly fun, clever and successful herself)
- Be interviewed by a magazine, newspaper, or TV station about her brilliant work for the causes that she supports (which will turn her into some kind of local celebrity, causing jealously and strife in her community)
- And finally, whip up gorgeous cakes and imaginative fancy dress costumes out of nothing at 30 minutes notice before leaving the house to go to work!
Out of ten, I think I would score very low on all of the above. However, I think that if you can manage to do just a few of the above in the first list, and not feel pressured to do the things in the second, then you’re a superhero and should be praised as such!
I must agree, working mums are definitely part of the hero corps. Nor should anyone forget all the different uniforms required for each task, not just one quick change like superman.
ReplyDeleteSo well done indeed to all who qualify, oh and one more thing, see if you can come up with a theme tune before dinner.
Katheryn,
ReplyDeleteI am glad you liked the article. I noticed you do a lot and very quietly in a behind-the-scenes way to help other people. That makes you a superhero to me. :)
Hi Roy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. You're right, it's more than just one change of uniform (I wish life was that simple). Also, there are also a lot of great superhero dads out there as well!
Katheyrn
Hi Stephen,
ReplyDeleteThank you! I do what I can to help other authors, just as so many people have a done a lot to help me, yourself included (you have done a million more things than me to help indie authors, your blog, http://www.indiesunlimited.com being a great example!)
Katheryn
Great article!!
ReplyDeleteKathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com/
Thank you Kathy. I'm so glad you like it.
ReplyDeleteKatheryn
Excellent Post--although I'm not sure I see myself (a working Mom) as a hero--just sort of doing what feels right!! Cheers, Jenn.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenn,
ReplyDeleteThat probably means you ARE a superhero! Doing what 'feels right' is all part of being a great mum.
Katheryn
This is a great write and should be required reading for all working mom's. You just cannot do it all unless being mediocre is good enough for you. So choose your battles or specialties and shine like a star in a couple of areas and let the rest ride!
ReplyDeleteLoved this! I'm a stay at home mom of six children. I'm up at 5:30 am every morning to make lunches, find missing garments that only Mom can find, do a little laundry, empty dish washer, make breakfast and leave the house at 7:15 am for school deliveries. As I walked out the door just this morning, I told my daughter, "Man, I feel like I've already ran a marathon!"
ReplyDeleteI know you know what I'm talking about!
Great post!
Hi Jo,
ReplyDeleteI agree so much! Don't try and do it all (no what the magazines, friends, family, in-laws etc tell you). Do some things really well and focus on the things that count (like your kids!)
Katheryn
Hi Beachlover,
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel. I get up at 5.15 every day and it's a killer! A friend once told me that I'd get used to it, but it's been more than 10 years now and I still find it hard.
Katheryn