Wonder Woman: A Role Model For Any SuperParent

I had some underwear just like this!

I remember how sad I was the day I realized I outgrew my Wonder Woman underwear and undershirt set. Alas! Though it seems like yesterday, this was probably 25 years ago.

When I was a girl, I loved Wonder Woman. I never read the comics; my version of WW was the Lynda Carter TV show version. I retain some strong images from the show: her spinning transformation, using the lasso to get the bad guys, and the cool costume. Mostly, I think I just latched on to the idea of a female superhero, who was a strong lead character.

Flash forward 20 years or so. I felt an affinity for WW as a woman, seeing my aspirations for myself in her. In my idealized memory, she had hidden strength, restraint, common sense, independence, and the ability to save the world from peril (and she smiles while she does it)! As a new mom, I was inspired by this ideal.

Catching bad guys is fun!
Source: http://backseatcuddler.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/

Some days I feel like I am a suburban superhero. That used to happen occasionally, on the days when I did everything to cover for a sick or out-of-town husband. By everything, I mean getting the kids to child care/school, working full time, teaching at the dojo afterward, making dinner, helping with homework, and so on- and not forgetting to pack lunches! I was ready to drop at the end of the day. I'm sure every parent has those SuperParent days from time to time.

A year or two ago, my husband and I separated, and now I feel like I have those days all the time. Single parenting is exhausting. At first it was so overwhelming. I was still angry and in denial about how long this was going to go on. It's better now. The days where I feel like I ran the Mom Marathon are not as frequent. Or maybe they are, but I have figured out how to deal with them better. 

SuperMom abilities required... Transform!

Source: http://lovelifeicecream.blogspot.com/2010/03/satin-tights-lasso-of-truth.html

One day, on my desk at work I propped up a notebook with WW on the cover in various super poses and smiling all the while. It sounds ridiculous, but I sometimes get a little burst of encouragement on those days when I am having a bad day. I glance over at that picture and see WW smiling and proud of of making the world a better place.