The Myth of the Illusive Super Mom Cape

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

Have you ever felt like motherhood is a competition to see who can come up with the cutest costumes and have the best-dressed, most well-behaved children? Do you sometimes wish you could find the “super mom” cape all the cool moms seem to have?

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. That mom who seems to have everything together is just a fabrication simulated by carefully chosen snapshots posted on social media. She is actually just as exhausted and frustrated as you are. As parents we all want to be the best, do the best, provide the best for our children and work very hard to cover up the fact that we never quite reach that mark. Of course, none of us want to share this evidence on FaceBook.

Well, I have good news.

God didn’t call us to be perfect.

He doesn’t intend for us to please other people.

He never told us successful parenting requires us to plan exciting activities or fun family outings. (Though it is an option – just not a requiremet.)

He called us to listen and obey – to put our trust in Him.

He promised to walk with us every step of the way.

The fact is none of us are perfect. Modeling is one of the most powerful ways we can intentionally incorporate the discipleship of our children into our daily activities. So when He covers our shortcomings with grace and mercy, our kids need to see how we receive that grace and how we show mercy. Do our actions and words honor God? How do we deal with drivers in rush hour traffic or interact with the waitress at the restaurant? How do we respond to our kids when we are frustrated and tired? Our behavior in these day-to-day experiences speaks loudly to our kids’ hearts and provides us with opportunities to give voice to our thought processes.

We may not – and shouldn’t – post incriminating snapshots of our family for everyone to see, but they represent fertile learning opportunities not only for us but for our kids as well. Believe me. I have had plenty of chances to learn.

Recently, one of my grown daughters was talking about saying the phrase, “Well, there goes my mother of the year award.” I was so proud of the fact that she followed by explaining that she wasn’t going to say that any more because she doesn’t want to set the expectations for her own daughters that they will have to be perfect moms one day. I wish I could say this decision came from my influence on her life, but, alas, I am the one guilty of lamenting about my own mother of the year award.

What I wish I had said was…

1. Use God’s standards for measuring successes and failures. It is the only one that counts.
2. Parenting is hard, but it is not a competition. Respect the importance of your role, but give yourself a little grace and mercy.
3. Our goal is to honor God by raising children who have a firm foundation in God’s Word and give them the tools to be able to live in the world but not be of it.

Not that we dare to classify and compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

2 Corinthians 10:12 ESV

Motherhood is one of the most difficult and rewarding responsibilities we will ever have. There is, however, no secret competition going on for some fictitious mother-of-the-year award, and that illusive “super mom” cape is a myth. God’s power, wisdom and love trump them all!