By Jennifer Bailey 
Not all heroes wear capes—many wear leggings.
Batgirl, Catwoman, Black Widow, Wonder Woman—oh, 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.
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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.
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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.
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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 phone—my 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!
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