The Cape is Off

The closet in my entryway looks like this:

10 hooks all lined up in a row. A pink rain parka, a wool winter coat, little boys red sweatshirt, two backpacks, and hanging on the spare hook all on its own - A brightly colored Cape with the Initials - SM.

This is my Super Mom Cape. It is rather lovely to wear, covering up all of the things that others could not see about me. It was fashionable, made me a super-hero mom, and set out a reputation to uphold. Just by wearing My Cape.

Now....?? It has a permanent place on a hook.

Yep, I am not wearing it. I hung it up a long time ago. Why?

Well, this is what I discovered. Other moms, woman in public, some people at Church, and even family members began to say things like,

You amaze me!"

"How do you do all that you do?"

"You have it all together."

"Your life is like a dream- you don't seem to have any struggles."

"You never get uptight, how do you handle so many responsibilities?"

And so forth.

I am a mom. Whether I have 1 child, or 9 children, I am just a plain ole' mom. It is the same fundamentals - what I am doing, teaching, etc., with one, I do with 9.

Nothing miraculous. Nothing worthy of awe .

I began to realize that what other moms or woman, were thinking and observing in me - could become a discouragement to them.

I have spoken at various functions on Motherhood. The biggest blessings come from seeing the Ladies start off listening to me, and I can see as time progresses through my topics with them, they can see that I am just like them.. real,,, simple, and trying my best to be a good mom.

It is in those moments that we learn from one another.

The reason I hung my Super Mom Cape on the Hook? - To expose the real struggles, the inward battles, the moments of loneliness, discouragement, and reality of being a mom.

This is not a lofty job with a lot of praise, and women can use all of the encouragement possible thru some of the Life Seasons that come with being a wife and mother.

Wearing a Super Mom Cape prevents that Scriptural mandate- encouragement, sharing one anothers burdens, etc. .

There is no cape to hide my imperfection. I share what I have learned, and I learn from others that have also hung this cape on a hook.