What does it really mean to be a 'Supermom?'

What does it really mean to be a 'Supermom?'


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SALT LAKE CITY — There is a term that has been thrown around in motherhood circles over the last little while, used to describe other mothers.

It has been the subject of many articles and news stories in recent months, sparking a revolution of sorts. The term I am referring to is, “Supermom.”

A revolution? What kind of a revolution, you might be asking? Are “mediocre” moms suddenly taking a stand against mediocrity and proclaiming perfection? Are “perfect” moms now committing themselves to life of mediocrity? Well, yes and yes.


Simply put, a Supermom is a mediocre mom who does extraordinary things without all the accolades, and who loves spending time with those she loves.

This term, “Supermom” has sent some mothers running the other way, proudly proclaiming their imperfections, while at the same time, beckoning some moms to be just that: Super … in every way, shape and form. A line has been drawn. A division has been made. You're ether super or you're not.

Why the battle? Why, over such an inherently good term, are we as mothers taking extreme measures to either denounce or exude it?

I'm not quite sure of the answer to this. However, I think the more important question to ask is, “What does it mean to be a Supermom?”

To find the answer, we must first go to the origin of the term. It of course comes from that old comic book character, Superman.

Who was Superman? If my childhood recollections are correct, he was a man by the name of Clark Kent, and a quite clumsy and awkward man at that. He worked at an office, wore glasses, stuttered a lot, and was by every definition of the word, mediocre. And just like any other person, he went about his daily routine, until he was needed.

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He would then go change his clothes and assume the role of Superman. When summoned, there were times when the need was small, as in rescuing a child out of a tree. Then there were times when the need was great, and it required things like diving over a railing to save a boy from falling down into the roaring waters of Niagara Falls.

After completing such heroic acts, he never hung around to receive accolades. He never posed for pictures, and everyone was left asking, “Where's Superman?”

And where was he? As we all know, he was in a hurry to get back to being Clark Kent and to spend time with the one he loved, Lois Lane.

With that in mind, let's go back to my original question: What does it mean to be Supermom?

Simply put, a Supermom is a mediocre mom who does extraordinary things without all the accolades, and who loves spending time with those she loves.

So when hearing the term, “Supermom,” don't denounce it or exude it — instead, embrace it. There is nothing wrong with being mediocre, and there is certainly nothing wrong with having a little bit of “super” mixed in there, too.

Now, let's say it together: "I am a Supermom!" Arianne Brown is a mother of five who loves running the beautiful trails around Utah. For more articles by Brown, "like" her FB page (https://www.facebook.com/WriterArianneBrown), go to her blog at timetofititin.com or follow on Twitter @arimom5

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