There Are Mom Heroes Among Us

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Mom Heroes and Super Moms Unite
Mom Heroes are dressed covertly in activewear, work clothes, and pajamas.

There are Mom Heroes among us and they don’t wear capes. You see them every day. Some are in uniform or scrubs. Others are in business attire. Many are still in ketchup-stained pajamas with nursing bras and unwashed hair.

Today I saw a Mom Hero outside the library. It was noon and easily 95 degrees with 90% humidity. My Mom Hero was dressed much like me: running shorts and sneakers, sports bra, and tank, with her hair pulled back in a baseball cap. She was working to untangle her golden retriever’s leash from the double jogging stroller carrying her two toddlers, all the while keeping a close eye on her preschooler riding a bike. She never once lost her cool.

By the time I loaded my own kids in the car, she was gone. Within minutes, from the comfort of my air-conditioned car, I saw her again. She was pushing that heavy stroller up a hill, dog trotting happily beside and daughter biking behind. I couldn’t help myself. I drove up beside her, rolled down my window and shouted, “You’re my Mom Hero!” If she thought I was psycho, she didn’t let on. She just laughed and replied that it was too hot to be out there. Basically, she was just doing what she had to do.

That’s when I realized it: we are all Mom Heroes. You are a Mom Hero. You may not feel like it on a daily basis, but I guarantee you there have been times in a restaurant, supermarket, at work, or a park that another mom has watched you and admired you. I’ve been on the other side many times, watching how patient you are with your angelic children while mine run around in circles like Tasmanian devils. Whether you know it or not, you’re an inspiration. Even if it’s just a small moment in time between tantrums and breakdowns, I notice, other people notice. And we appreciate it. We appreciate you. Those moments make us strive to be better mothers like you.

The most amazing thing about Mom Heroes is that you don’t realize you are a hero. In your mind, you’re just doing your job as a mother. A lot of motherhood is considered survival mode. Getting the kids out of the house on a steaming hot day is for your own sanity as much as it is for the kids’ enjoyment. So it doesn’t even cross your mind how heroic something so simple can seem to someone else.

You’re a Mom Hero to your kids every day of their lives. They may not always show their appreciation and will take you for granted. But even what you consider the smallest act, like walking them to the library on a hot summer day, will have a lasting, positive impact on their lives.

So when you’re struggling on this rollercoaster of motherhood, remember you are a hero. And when you see another Mom Hero, acknowledge her, even if it’s just a nod and smile. We don’t get performance reviews or merit raises in this job. Knowing someone is watching and appreciating the job we are doing can help us through another day. 

 

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Beth L
Beth lives in Vestavia Hills, Ala. with her husband, Grant, and their two sons, Ian (3.5) and Colin (22 months). They also have a 95lb furbaby named Bailey that gets into more trouble than both kids. Beth grew up in Connecticut and is a Yankee at heart but moved to the South where she attended the University of Alabama and fell in love with the charm (and weather) of Southern life. After a decade-long marketing career and short stint back from maternity leave, Beth made the incredibly difficult decision to pause her career and become a stay-at-home mom. While at times she questions that decision, along with her sanity, she has absolutely no regrets. When she isn't chasing two crazy boys and trying to tame their wild beast of a dog, Beth enjoys spending time with her husband, traveling, hiking, exploring Birmingham, reading, and long-distance running.