When I started researching the Superwoman Phenomenon, I found countless articles and advertisements in womens’ magazines that suggested a continuous pursuit of ‘having it all.’ What I was shocked to find, even at the age of 26, was that women feel like something was wrong with them, if they felt like they could not balance all of what life had to give them.
This ‘having it all’ thing, the Superwoman Phenomenon, elements like having a successful career (that we are passionate about and pays the bills), beautiful, well-behaved and talented children, a healthy supportive marriage, and a fashion sense what worked well with the size 2 jeans we are “supposed” to be wearing.
Admitting that this Superwoman Phenomenon is a myth is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength. It is not saying that woman can NOT do it all… it is saying that we refuse to live up to this lie…that we are better than that. That we know, in the depths of our souls, that we sacrifice too many previous things in this pursuit. (Ok, how many times have you yelled at your children when you are running around to get everything on your to do list DONE ? Happens too often at my house, I will admit. But I am trying. In fact, I am about to stop typing in a few minutes to play some basement hockey with my four year old!
So next time you find yourself sweating and out of breath from running from one thing to another trying to get it all done…remember…. the world will not end if you forgo the idea of bringing a homemade birthday treat to your child’s entire class. Your child will get over it…and you will feel a huge release for truly giving yourself permission to do so!
