A Gift for Mom! 🤍

Not all heroes wear capes—many wear leggings.

Batgirl, Catwoman, Black Widow, Wonder Womanoh, how I fantasized about being a superhero. Maybe it’s because Dean Cain was quite easy on the eyes when I sat down to watch television after school, but to be fair, I wanted to be something special, a SUPERHERO. Someone everyone looked up to and could depend on to save the day.

Dean . . . err . . . Superman was not only strikingly handsome, he was kind. He was brave and awoke each morning to rid the city of evil and take care of those in his town. On the surface, his job, a reporter, wasn’t anything special. When you looked at him, you never thought much about him.

He appeared ordinary. That’s half the appeal.

Remember in elementary school when you had to write about your favorite superhero or someone who was a hero to you? Who did you do your assignment on? Your father? Your grandmother? Your friend, right? People who were close to you who did things that seemed impossible.

RELATED: Dear Hot Mess Mom: To Me You Are Perfect

You wrote about the ordinary. I did, too. I wrote about my grandmother and her battle with breast cancer and how she made me feel special even when she was fighting an incurable illness.

Superheroes aren’t covered in muscles or tight-fitted garments. They aren’t a special breed roaming Earth. Sure Hollywood has glamorized this concept a bit and outdone themselves on portrayals, but deep down, superheroes are everyday people who use their powers for good.

That’s it. That’s all it takes.

In the midst of chaos, they are calm. In adversity, they are resilient. In trials, they are strong. In the middle of the night, they work.

They do the unseen. They are almost invisible themselves.

Sound like anyone you know?

They are mothers. Everyday, typical mothers. Women who are doing God’s work.

Women who have 20 bags in their hands while simultaneously catching throw up and still delivering a friend an extra soccer t-shirt because their kid lost theirs.

RELATED: Dear Young Moms, You Are Doing Great

Women who are breastfeeding while working AND stirring the pot of chili with apple pie in the oven. That isn’t something we are taught in school or a learned behavior. It is something we turn out to be when we become a mother.

We gain a child AND superhero abilities.

You’ve seen it, moms rushing to save the day physically. It’s heroic. Brave. And most importantly empowering.

Dean Cain, while gorgeous (have I mentioned that yet?) is no more special than the woman next door. Superman is idealistic because he’s ordinary and makes it possible for anyone to be something special. He puts others first.

And so do mothers.

I’d like to think if I was a movie star superhero, I’d be exactly who I am on a day to day basis. Standard Target short sleeve t-shirt with black leggings. Rolling up in my 8-seater SUV to save the day and make someone’s life a little bit easier. Stopping bullies, fixing ouchies, and taking names. Doing 10 things at once, but on the surface, I’m overlooked as just another mom.

RELATED: To the Moms Who Make This Look Easy

I truly hope all mothers know how super they are. I see your immeasurable strength. I see that you would do anything for your children and for your loved ones. I see how protective you are. I even see your seemingly invisible work.

Moms are mentors, sacrificers, rocks, and fighters.

Think about it, who are YOU going to call when the times get rough and you need saving? I know who I’d count on and phonemy mom. And she’d surely show up in leggings and a true mom hairstyle to fix the problem. You can’t see her cape, but it’s there.

Not all heroes have a mask or ensemble.

Not all heroes are men.

Not all heroes wear capes . . . many wear leggings. Many, are moms. 

PS – Are these the best leggings ever? Amazon reviewers seem to think so!

So God Made a Grandmother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A GRANDMA

Order Now!

Jennifer Bailey

Stay at home mom enjoying one little boy and navigating parenting one trip to Target at a time.

I Finally Admitted I Didn’t Want To Be a SAHM Anymore

In: Motherhood
Mother and child silhouette

For most of my life, I believed becoming a stay-at-home mom wasn’t just a choice, it was the ultimate goal. The kind of life a “good” woman was meant to want. The kind of life that meant you were doing things right. I grew up surrounded by that message. In conservative spaces, in church circles, in subtle conversations about what a “real” mother looked like. Women who stayed home were praised. Women who didn’t were quietly questioned. I learned, without ever being directly told, that a mother’s highest purpose was to center her entire world around her children and her...

Keep Reading

I’m Not Really Sure How To Do This Teenager Thing

In: Motherhood, Teen
Teenager on phone

I was not prepared to be a mother of teenagers. Sure, I was warned by other parents about the difficult journey I was about to embark on, but I did not expect it to be this challenging. I remember these two sweet, innocent children who wanted to be with me all the time. Now they barely give me the time of day. How did we get here? Like many parents, we long to have that child who once, a long time ago, called us Mommy and Daddy and begged us to read them another story. Where are those kids I...

Keep Reading

Why Don’t We Talk About Jonah’s Mother?

In: Faith, Living, Motherhood
Woman standing over water

Praying for My Son Send a storm to stop him; Let his friends throw him out. May he drop to the deeps, But gently, please, Stubborn though he may be. If it could only take three days, How my mother’s heart would Rejoice in praise.  From the hell you allow him, Let him cry to you. Is not Nineveh and mercy Exactly what he knows He needs— A mercy on enemies He fears You will concede? Please let all the shade wither If his is an angry soul; Humble him and help him follow Where you would have his purpose...

Keep Reading

To the Mom Worrying She’s Not Doing Enough This Summer

In: Motherhood
Kids looking at lake in summer

It’s only the second week of summer, and, thanks to modern-day social media, I feel like I’ve already seen it all. Picture-perfect beach getaways, color-coded bucket lists, backyard neighborhood movie nights, you name it. And if I’m being honest, I’ve already caught myself wondering if I’m doing enough. More than once, at that. As a solo mom of two, I’m still adjusting to our new norm while trying desperately to delicately let go of any expectations tied to all of our past experiences…including summer vacations. I’m reminding myself that our summers won’t look like they used to. At least not...

Keep Reading

Your Worth As a Mother Is Not Defined By How You Feed Your Baby

In: Baby, Motherhood
Mother and baby stand by crib

I’m not breastfeeding my baby. I wanted to. And I was able to for the first several weeks of her life. But as the days went on, I could tell it wasn’t enough for her anymore, so we started supplementing. And sure enough, without warning, she began screaming through nursing sessions, but was satisfied with a bottle. And that’s when I knew what I needed to do. A similar situation also happened with my first. She didn’t gain her birth weight back on my milk alone, so I had no choice but to supplement right away. And before I knew...

Keep Reading

A Mother’s Love Doesn’t End When Her Kids Move Out

In: Motherhood
Family posing in Time Square

When my last sibling moved out of the house, I watched my mom struggle in a quiet, almost unspoken way. It wasn’t something dramatic or visible; it was something I could feel in her presence. For 40 years, her life had revolved around taking care of us—my siblings and me. Every season of her life had been shaped around our needs, our schedules, our milestones, and our growing up. Being a mom wasn’t just something she did. It was who she was—the structure of her days, the cadence of her thoughts, and the center of her purpose. So when the...

Keep Reading

The Hardest Part of Divorce Is Being Away from My Kids

In: Living, Marriage, Motherhood
Woman in driver's seat

I’ve written several times about how divorce has allowed me to find myself again, and how that version is even better than the one I was before I was married. All of that is still true. I am happier than I’ve ever been. More confident and sure of myself. I understand my emotions and how to handle myself when things get tough or scary. I am more grounded and calm than I’ve ever been. Truly, I have come out on top. I’ve received comments about how happy I look, how I’m “living my best life with kids only half the...

Keep Reading

I May Let Go of the Baby Things, but I’ll Hold the Memories Forever

In: Baby, Motherhood
Woman looking through closet of baby items

It’s easy to think of multiple sayings and mottos about how invaluable earthly possessions are. “It’s not what you have, but who you share it with” “Worry less about things and more about experiences” “Who cares what you have, you can’t take it with you when you go” And trust me, I know these to be true. I am not a hoarder of hotel pens or mini shampoo bottles or every receipt and coaster from my favorite restaurants. I don’t care much for name-brand shoes or designer purses, yet there are a few things I just can’t easily let go...

Keep Reading

Mom Showed Us Love that Lasts

In: Motherhood
Vintage photo of mother and three young kids

We moved a few years ago, and we had a closet that needed some reworking. In doing so, my husband found some old photos. He pulled out an album that held this vintage photo of my mom, my sisters, and me. It was probably circa 1983 when prints were made from Kodak. I actually don’t remember seeing the photo before. But I love it. In the photo, my mother’s eyes are shut with a blink because those were the days when blinks weren’t edited. It’s beautiful, and I can’t stop thinking about the captured connection. She was showing us something...

Keep Reading

This Is How I’m Raising My Sensitive Son

In: Motherhood
Little boy hugs a cat

When I was pregnant with my son, everyone warned me of what was to come. “Just you wait,” they’d say with an underlying schadenfreude, “you’ll never sleep again.” I fully expected sleep-deprived days and long, unrelenting nights, calming my son down from tantrums, trying to keep the peace with my marriage. But I got lucky—my son sleeps through the night, doesn’t throw tantrums, and my marriage is stronger than ever. I didn’t expect that, especially because I struggle with my own mental health and assumed I’d be in the weeds during my postpartum period. Now that my son is almost...

Keep Reading