SuperMom couldn't do it without Super Inspiration!

Here is something I saw in an article that really made me stop and think:

You think your life is hard? Imagine being plunked down in a foreign land where you're not fluent in the language, you have to figure out how everything from a doorknob to a toilet works, and you're one-third the height of everyone else. Now you may know how your preschooler feels! Being a preschooler has its stresses. When your child seems overwhelmed, it's a good idea to look at what's going on in his world, slow the pace, HAVE SOME PATIENCE and provide some extra TLC — the same things you like when you're overwhelmed!

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So The Adventures of Supermom is the title of my blog not because I think I AM Supermom, but to remind me to continue to strive to be the best Mom I can be. Lately, I have really been evaluating my parenting skills and watching my friends with their kids and I literally am inspired so often to be a better Mom. I love taking bits and pieces from my friends and using it to keep evolving on this long strange trip of parenting, where there is NO instruction manual! Here are some of the Moms who have inspired me in different ways:

Brooke: inspires me to want to slow down a bit. Not always be in such a need or rush to get of the house. Just to breathe. Relax, spend a lazy day at home with the kids, and know that it is OK to do that.

Adrianna: inspires me to want to be stronger/more independent and rely on Jimmy less, since she so often has to go it alone, when Gary is on the road. =(

Michella: inspires me to strive to really grow and cultivate a beautiful and loving relationship between my two girls, like she does. There is nothing like Sisters.

Lori: inspires me to remember to fight for my children, and to never forget that I am their advocate and their voice.

Sue: inspires me to remember that Art and Music are just as important in my children's lives as Math, Language and Science

Tanya: inspires me to get my hands dirty and actually PLAY with my child. Not be in the same room with her while she plays and I read or blog etc. But to really PLAY with her and to really LOVE that time with her while I am lucky enough to have it. One day I will be yelling they never have time for Mom anymore...

Lindsay B: inspires me to try to respect the job I do now, just as much as I respected my jobs in the corporate world, and to realize that although I am not paid in money I am paid in love.

Carina: inspires me to want to have more children and to know it is possible! LOL

Jessica: inspires me to forget about the messes, forget about the spills or the waste of yards of toilet paper strewn all over the house and stop to appreciate the special moments with my children. Messes are cleanable, things are replaceable, but those special moments when you can grab your camera and laugh at your child's adventures (without caring about the clean up or the waste) you cant ever get back if you waste them getting angry...

Pamela: inspires me to not feel guilty about taking care of me! I simply will be a better Mom to my kids and a better Wife to Jimmy if I am taking care of me too. So she inspires me to not feel guilty about investing in my own health, as I am investing in my entire family's health at the same time.

Danielle: inspires me to be madly in love with my children and not care what anyone thinks about it! ;)

Jackie: inspires me to let kids be kids and not worry about the carpets or the couch or the toys or the vase etc. Children will break things, children will ruin things, and accepting it and preparing for it is a huge relief and much less stressful than always trying to prevent it.

Deanna: inspires me to try to not let having kids stop me from having fun, even though our definition of having fun has been drastically re-written.

My Mom Linda: I couldn't complete this list without the woman who inspired me most. My Mom inspired me to leave my corporate ambitions behind in trade of the best job in the world. To accept the challenge and the financial struggle of being a one income family today so that I could be a major presence in my Children's lives the way she was in ours. My Mom sacrificed a career of her own, her friendships, her time and so many other things for my siblings and I that I couldn't even possibly begin to list them here. Now that we are older and have had children of our own, marriages, divorces, etc she continues to sacrifice for us and be there for us on a daily basis. I would not have survived the first 6 mos of Ella's life had it not been for her. She was my rock. When I was terrified and doubting myself she told me with SUCH conviction and such confidence that I would succeed, that I would be the BEST MOM and that I absolutely could do it on my own, away from the help and rescue of family. She made me believe it, and she gave me the confidence I needed to believe in myself. Lately, she probably feels like all she hears from us is what she does wrong (which is unfortunately human nature I think) But I hope she realizes when reading this, that no one is perfect, and she did/does SO MANY things right too.

So many countless others of you inspire me in so many ways everyday, and I am so happy to have you all around to watch and learn from. As Moms we can sometimes be our own worst critic. So for any of you above who have ever felt like you do so much wrong, please know that you do a lot of things right too, and you have helped me become a better Mom as a result!

XOXO