Super Mom Says

5 Ways to Get in to See the Specialist When They Say "No!"

Supermoms do not usually take no for an answer. We know how to get what we want for our kids. Sold out Disney on Ice – got it. Special flavor of ice cream your store no longer carries – found it. Purple tennis shoes that light up AND have Velcro – bought them weeks ago.

Squeeze in for appointment at the specialist when the pediatrician refers you – um, wait. What do you mean, no?! Not every doctor or specialist has as flexible of a schedule as the pediatrician, especially when they are the best in the state. And, you want the best, right?!

1. Be as polite as possible and ask if you can get little Susie in any sooner because fill-in-the-blank-excuse.

2. Ask your pediatrician if her staff can get you in any sooner than the 6 week wait that you were just given.

3. Call and asked to be placed on a “cancellation list”. Who knew these even existed? Let them know that you are very flexible and will take any time slot.

4. Call every day, mid-morning, and ask if they can possibly squeeze little Susie in that day. You’d think this would be annoying, but I have it on good authority from a front desk person that it happens all the time and is not the least bit annoying.

5. When all else fails, beg, cry and plead for your baby. Healthcare should not be like this in this day and age, but, when it comes to specialists, it is.

Birthday Wishes SuperMom Style

Every kid has big dreams for their birthday. They have a list of toys a mile long. They want to invite every kid in their school (more presents that way). They want to have The. Most. Amazing. Party. E.V.E.R.

Supermoms instinctively know this. We are, however, bound by the limits of our budget, time, feasibility, legality and the laws of physics. Beyond that, we got it covered.

Here is my latest challenge. My soon-to-be 6 year old wants, and I quote…

“To go on an archeological dig, find a dinosaur bone, take pictures with it and then donate it to a museum, as long as they put my name on a plaque on the wall…”

Tall order, but do-able. I have 2 options:

1. An aunt in a neighboring state lives next door to a facility that lets kids actually dig for dinosaur bones and, afterwards, tour their previous finds in the on-site museum. Sure, it’s an overnight trip for us, but it’d be an adventure.

2. Our local Natural Science Museum’s membership plans include an upgraded option that allows you one behind-the-scenes tour with a staff member as a thank you for your generous donation. It’s slightly more than the standard family membership, but no more than what I would pay if I were throwing a regular party this year at, say, a bounce house place.

How have you saved the day in the birthday party department? Did you wear your SuperMom cape while doing it?! Yes, SuperMoms rock!

8 St. Patrick's Day Activities

SuperMom is not necessarily Irish, but she likes to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with her kids. If you need a little help on how to do this, read on:

1. Dress Up. Wear green so you don’t get pinched or grab that “Kiss Me” t-shirt out of your closet and stand tall.

2. Make and decorate some sugar cookies. If you’ve got a cookie cutter shaped like a four-leaf clover, great. If not, grab the green frosting and sprinkles and go to town.

3. Run to the library and borrow a book about the story of St. Patrick. It’s an interesting read. For older siblings, you can research famous Irish-Americans, like Kennedy family comes to mind, of course.

4. Throw a corned beef in the crock pot. People just don’t make corned beef anymore and it really is good. Be sure to save the leftovers for a wicked corned beef has in the a.m. Wait until they leave for school, no need to share that one. What?

5. If you are Irish, talk about your family history. Pull out the ole photo album. If you’re not, talk about what it meant to be Irish in America anyway.

6. Grab all the green markers, pens, crayons and glitter for a monochromatic art project. Hunt down green felt, puff balls and construction paper and go to town.

7. Printables rock. Check online for any St.Patrick’s Day printables, coloring sheets or search-a-words.

8. Take some pictures with your handy camera and make St. Patrick’s Day cards to send off to Grandma.

5 Things Super Moms Know

No super mom knows everything, but there are certain things that are common knowledge to super moms all around the world. What are they? Don't worry, I won't hold out on you – there's a list below.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT

A super mom is super, not perfect. That's because nobody is perfect. Yeah, you've heard that a million times, and there's a reason for that – it's because it's true.

ALONE TIME IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST

Every super mom needs some alone time, even if it's just 10 minutes to take a bath each night. Alone time means time not spent with your kids, friends, or partner. It's time where you're completely alone.

YOU DESERVE A BREAK

Some moms feel like they have to go, go, go all day long. Super moms know that it's okay to take a break. Sit down, kick up your feet, and enjoy a candy bar while your kids fight over the sticker in the cereal box. You don't have to devote every second of every day to your kids.

IT'S OKAY TO BREAK THE RULES

Dinner shouldn't always be a 4 course meal that includes something from each major food group. In fact, it's perfectly acceptable to give your kids peanut butter sandwiches or a bowl of cereal every once in awhile. Trust me, they'll be just fine.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO CRITICS

When it comes to parenting, everybody has an opinion. You think politics and religion are taboo topics? Try telling a mom she's raising her kids wrong. Super moms know that they're doing a good job, so they avoid critics because they simply don't have time to listen to negative babble.

How a Super Mom Survives Summer

It's Never Too Early to Start Planning

OK. Once your kids are older you can send them off to a faraway state, like Maine, for 8 long weeks of summer camp and some well-deserved rest. The rest is for Super Mom. If your kids are little, however, this does not work. Camp counselors do not change diapers. So, you need to get a little more creative to avoid that dreaded, “I’m bored” whine!

Here’s the plan. Depending on where you live and your school district, there are 10 -12 weeks of summer vacation. That’s a lot of time to fill without the help of a camp or two. Why not schedule a day camp every other week? They are not terribly expensive. Heck, it’s probably cheaper than having them home. And, you can schedule in some really fun and educational activities.

Everyone from the zoo to the local museums has a summer camp offering. Call around and see what you can find out. In addition, there are day camps dedicated to just about every sports and school subject you can think of, from math to soccer. Get creative. Would your child like to try their hand at mixed media art pieces or learning Mandarin? What about a space camp, golf or even cooking? The possibilities are endless.

Now, here’s where you need to pull out that Super Mom cape… some of these camps fill up by the end of January. Yes. Yes, it is very early. Luckily for your kids, they have an unber-prepared Super Mom, like you, who knows how to plan in advance.

Who Takes Care Of Super Mom?

Super Moms take care of everyone and everything around them. They remember birthdays. They kiss boo-boos. They make sure their families get plenty of fresh air, three servings of dairy and more antioxidants than you can shake a stick at. That’s all well and good, but who takes care of them? Who checks up on their caloric needs? Who asks about their obscure medical symptoms? Anyone?

Probably not. The problem with being a Super Mom is that everyone thinks you are invincible but, contrary to popular belief, you are not. None of us are. We break. We slow down. We get tired. We get sick.

Just like any creature, we need to take care of ourselves. I cannot begin to tell you how many times a Super Mom has skipped a meal. The cause is usually one of two things, either a small child decided that what was on Super Mom’s plate looked much more appetizing than his or her own and ate it. And, what mom would discourage that, kids need to eat. Or, equally distressing, Super Mom’s out and out forget to eat.

Just yesterday, I was feeling tired. It hit me like a ton of bricks. Boom. Instantly tired with a killer headache. I was moving like molasses and totally scatterbrained. My sister (because sister’s rock) asked me what I had for lunch. Hmmm… it was 3 p.m., lunch wasn’t that long ago. Yet, I couldn’t remember. So, she asked me what I had for breakfast. That was easy: coffee. So, in the 10 hours I had been running around that day, I had consumed nothing but my morning coffee. Not good. Super Sister took care of it, and me.

Don’t forget to take care of yourself and the other Super Moms you know.

Quick - One Last Chance to See the Holiday Lights at Your Zoo

What kid wouldn’t want to wander around the zoo at night? What kid doesn’t love holiday light displays? Leave it to a SuperMom to bundle it altogether into one. Hey – it’s not just the cable company that knows a thing or two about bundling. Entre Zoolights.

Oh, alright. This SuperMom did not invent the concept of ZooLights. Not even close. In fact, most of the larger zoos around the country have something similar at the holidays each year, albeit with a slightly different name. What a great idea, both for families with kids and for fundraising for the zoo.

Bundle everyone up. Pack some hot cocoa in a thermos and away you go. For younger kids, bring a wagon filled with pillows and blankets. Even if you have the older ones, pack some extra cozy blankets for the ride home. They may pretend it is so uncool but, secretly, they will know you are a SuperMom.

Most shows start around 6pm, when it starts to get dark, and are a separate admission. In fact, the Phoenix Zoo actually closes at 5pm, moves everyone out and then re-opens at 6pm. Yes, you have to leave for an hour and then pay again, even members.

Speaking of which, have I mentioned lately that SuperMoms are also SuperSavers? If you want to wear the cape in your household, be sure to get a membership to your family’s favorite places. A membership is usually tiwce the cost of admission for a family of four. It makes no sense, really. Pay to enter twice or pay almost the same amount to go any time you want for a year. Hmmmm…check it out for yourself.

Hurry – the lights come down mid-January.

SuperMom and the Christmas Holiday Solution

What did you do on the Friday before Christmas? Many moms (Super, or otherwise) were busy cooking that last batch of cookies, or cleaning before all the company arrived or maybe even wrapping presents. Whatever it was, we all had long to do lists at that point. This SuperMom, however, decided to set aside that list and treat her kids to a fun day out, instead of a day plopped in front of the TV while mommy worked. No sense in creating a situation riff with arguments and inevitable time outs. I choose a different route; I loaded up the car with kids and snacks and made the trek to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix. That’s right. I picked a day when there was an overwhelming amount of work to be done and had fun instead. That’s the sign of a true SuperMom.

I also picked that particular Friday because it was either going to be empty (because everyone was getting ready for the holiday weekend) or crazy busy (because everyone had the same idea as this SuperMom). It was empty! Yea! It is always more fun to explore a new place when there are not crowds of people sharing the experience with you. Maybe that’s just me. It is so less stressful to keep track (and count) of all your kids when there aren’t other people in the way. No lines. No fighting. Just excited little ones, racing from display to display and having a blast!

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am far from perfect. I totally forgot to take pictures. We’ll just have to go back. Soon.

Supermom and the Half Day Dilemma

Half days. As a kid, they rule. As an adult, they can be tough to juggle with a busy schedule. My kids attend a charter school that has half days every Friday. Every. Single. Friday. Rather than try to fight it and deal with a house full of wound up, bored children, I work it for all I’ve got.

I plan a special day every Friday. My kids look forward to it all week because where we go is almost always a surprise. Sometimes I find a park in a nearby city that we’ve never tried. Sometimes we head to the zoo; we squeeze every bit of value out of that annual membership. Even the one Friday when everyone was under the weather, we stopped by Sonic for ice cream in the drive-thru and then headed home for fresh nail polish and a movie.

On a recent “Half Day Friday”, this Supermom took everyone to the Arizona Museum of Natural History. I initially planned this because I have a dinosaur nut living in my house but it was fun for everyone and truly one of the best museums I have ever been to. From the three-story indoor waterfall, to panning for gold in the enclosed patio to the multitude of dinosaur skeletons and fossils, it was awesome. There were even tubs containing pieces of giant floor puzzles so the kids (and parents) could take a break and play for a few minutes before continuing on their adventure of discovery.

And, yes. I got the all-important, “You are the best mom every” … bonus!

The Evolution of a Supermom

Supermom. The name says it all. Supermoms can do anything. They run circles around dads and kids and bosses. They are, in fact, superhuman. You may not see the pink “S” emblazoned on their chest, their cape may be hidden from view but they quietly keep their little corner of the world spinning. They may even take over for Atlas when he needs a potty break.

Faster than a speeding minivan, more powerful than a stubborn two year old’s temper tantrum and able to leap tall buildings in stiletto heels. Supermom is all that and then some. She rocks the house and the office. She remembers every school function, every show & tell and every game, match and meet. She kisses boo-boos and bolsters crumpled egos. She is an ever-present cheerleader, an all-knowing homework and spelling bee assistant and an omnipotent fighter of monsters under the bed.

How does she do it all? She works through colds that put strong men down. Germs, lack of sleep and throbbing headaches have no power over her. The sight of blood, poop and vomit do not ruffle her strong, yet loving demeanor. She always finds time to read a book, make some cookies and wash a favorite sweater.

In this blog, we will explore the adventures of the Supermom in all of us. Whether stay-at-home, work-at-home or work-outside-the-home, each and every mom has her Supermom moments. Her “I did it” days. Her days when she hears those famous words, “Mom, you are the BEST mom ever!” Let’s celebrate those days, those little victories when we get it all done. Sure, there are days when the minutes until bedtime cannot tick by fast enough and that bottle of white wine is popped opened faster than you can say “Spa Vacation”. Every mom has those moments, too. The Supermom moments outweigh them. Hands down.