Cartoons are a weakness of mine. I love to watch them with my children. We have our favorite ones-- Sponge Bob; Fosters Home for Imaginary Creatures; Finneus & Ferb; Jimmy Neutron and The Justice League. The Justice League is great because it has ALL the superheroes-- so you can get your superhero fix with just one show.
I have always been a Wonder Woman fan. I even dressed up like her for Halloween when I was a kid. My costume was awesome! It came complete with the lasso of truth, the crown she wears and the indestructible bracelets. I felt indestructible when I was in my costume . . . like I could accomplish anything I set my mind too. (thanks Mom for making it for me!) 
I watched the TV show religiously-- Lynda Carter was fantastic as Wonder Woman. How many of us twirled, trying to change into her? I know I did.
When I was a kid, Wonder Woman was fighting the evil-doers-- saving us from ourselves. She lassoed people with her lasso of truth, and immediately everyone was honest. When she was around, there was no deception.
Today? Well. I think the term wonder woman has a taken a different tone.
You know the wonder woman I am talking about, right? The wonder woman who looks amazing all the time. She is the wonder woman whose home is never dirty, and is decorated not only to the nines, but those decorations change monthly. This version of wonder has children that never smart-mouth, fight with their siblings or throw fits. They can read by the age of four and are always clean. She is the PTA President, the neighborhood block captain, and the leader of the local women's organization. She volunteers for not only the week of scout camp, but girls camp too. She reads her scriptures daily, exercises religiously, and makes everything from scratch. One would never know she had seven kids--naturally-- because her belly is as flat as a 17 year old's, and her breasts are round and perky.
I tried for years after I was married and having my babies to be THAT wonder woman. But, my kids were fighting, my house was a mess, and my breasts were so not perky. I could hardly keep my head above water. How did our modern wonder woman do it all? I was mystified. I wanted to BE wonder woman, but it just wasn't happening.
It clicked with me, after my 3rd baby, that I already was a wonder woman of sorts--- just not the one that Society was touting. I can not do it all, nor should I try. I will never be a fashion diva, wearing the latest greatest styles. My home will never be decorated monthly, and I will never be the high powered executive. That is not who I am, and that is OK.
I am Me, a Mother. I am raising little people to be their own version of super. I can teach my children about the lasso of truth, and the indestructible bracelet . . . it just will not be the way society wants.
I have been abundantly blessed with over-the-top levels of hormones in my home. I have three beautiful, talented, and smart daughters. When I look at my daughters I see the struggles they will be facing. I understand those struggles. I know that they will want to compare all their weaknesses to everyone else's strengths. I know that they will want to compare and contrast everyone to themselves . . . and my beautiful, talented, smart daughters will think they are less than others.
I want my beautiful, talented, smart daughters to realize that they ARE, right now, the version of Wonder Woman from my youth. They inspire me to be better. They inspire me to not deceive and to be truthful. They do have those indestructible bracelets -- we all do -- the knowledge that God loves them and they have divine worth. If they sear that knowledge into their brains, into their hearts, then they will be indestructible and nothing will stop them.
I want my daughters to know that they do not have to be the Wonder Woman that society taunts them with. They can be whomever and whatever they choose. The world is there for their taking. I want them to know that they can be not only their version of Wonder Woman, but also Wonderful Women.
This post is a part of Scribbits July write away contest.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Wonder Woman. Have you seen her?
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40 monkeys jumping on the bed:
What a great post! I hope you win!
This is perfect. I love it. We so need to all have this attitude as mothers. Especially if we have daughters. We really are wonder woman. A child of God warrants that. I love that you shared your feelings of how you have refined your definition of it too. And you conclusion is a very solid and real foundation of truth.
We all had delusions of what the perfect woman looks like and does. But quickly we realize there is a price that comes with that. We don't take the time to do whats important and enjoy the little joys of life.
Thanks for this post and your girls are very lucky to have a mother like you.
My daughter wants to comment on your blog sometimes. Is that okay with you?
Absolutely Jan. Tell your beautiful Maddie to comment away! I have commented on her blog. I hope thats ok.
What an absolutely perfect thought. I hope to raise wonderful women, too.
I love it! That's what I hope for my daughter, too -- that she can grow up to be whatever and whoever she wants to be. And to be the best for HER, not for someone else.
P.S. I love Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, too!
Wonderful post. I hope you win too. I am going to have my daughters read this blog too. You said it better than I ever could. They are WONDERFUL.
Every SINGLE time I log into your blog, I come away inspired! You are totally WONDER WOMAN!
I have also idolized Wonder Woman, too! (And my whole family watches the Justice League, faithfully)
We kindof have a "super" fetish going on over here.
A lovely post--and laws, let's talk about Lynda Carter. That woman was WONDERful!
Love this post. Great reminders for all of us.
I loved Wonder Woman as a kid as well. I was her for Halloween in Kindergarten, and refused to bob for apples so that my tin foil tiara would not get wet.
Thanks for making me think about daughters and how we should raise them. I have five sons, and just had my first daughter a little over six weeks ago, so I am new to this. I hope I can help her to be confident and good about herself.
A and MEN!
i love spongebob too.
i think Merrianne is a Wonder Woman! i would love to see her in that outfit too!
((Spencer is crazy!))
I think it is GREAT that you want your daughters to believe in themselves!! That is SO important this day & Age.
You seem like a WONDER WOMAN to me!
Looks like this one hit a nerve! I think all of us are Wonder Woman. There's always someone better and some one not as good, so embrace who you are! It's confidence that makes superheroes!
I, too, always leave your blog inspired. As you know I have 1 child, a son. I can only hope that the woman he marries has been given all the wonderful love and encouragement that your daughters have and will continue to receive from you, their "Wonder Woman". Thanks for ispiring me once again! I, too, hope you win!!
Dionna
I love this post!! Things started clicking for me after my third child, too, about what kind of mom I am and that it's OK that I am not the "ideal" everything - I can be my own kind of wonder woman. Thanks!!
When I was a teenager people would tell me that I looked like Wonder Woman because I have light blue eyes and dark brown hair like Lynda Carter. Those compliments always made me feel good, but now after a few years of experience in this world, like you, I am more interested in helping my daughters and myself to be wonderful women of God in our unique and individual ways. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us today. I have been uplifted!
First off, hello sexy wonder woman legs! Woo Hoo!! I totally agree with everything you said. I think that I learned at an early age that there was no way I can be wonder woman, so instead I am just me. My house is messy, I run, teach dance, blog, and sometimes work onp otty training Adessa. I am not a wonder woman, but for the most part I am a happy one. Way to teach your daughters about being themselves!
That's so right--you ARE. Just by doing what you do and I'm glad to hear you say that. Thanks for making us all feel better.
What a beautiful post. It was said so eloquently and I really appreciate what you are saying, it is so hard feeling that there is something you should be, only it is not real. Especially when we fail to realise that it is not real.
Thanks for visiting my new blog and leaving my first comment, it was exciting for me.
I have a silver cuff bracelet my husband bought me for our tenth anniversary, and whenever I wear it, I feel like wonder woman. More powerful, big-haired and busty than I actually am.
What a wonderful post - congratulations on your win.
A great post. That sums it up ever so nicely. :)
Congrats on your win at Scribbit. You ever-so-deserve it!
Jolanthe
Congrats on your win!
I've got three daughters too. This gave me great food for thought for when they hit those teen years.
Congratulations on your win. I only have one son (no daughters), but your post was moving, none the less.
Hi there, I am so glad this one the contest. It'simply fabulous! Two questions, can I put a link on my blog to this post? And better yet do you mind if I add your blog to my blog list at Housewife Hysteria? THanks for the great read.
whooops, i see that i left a word out up there. jeez, it should say "this one WON the contest". Better go have another cup of coffee!
wow! this won my vote too! i have to say, this post brought tears to my eyes. and i hope that one day your wonderful daughters get to read this incredible story about the true wonder woman who lives right in their own home.
Well said and congrats!
Congrats on your win. Your outlook and point of view are very inspiring. Well said.
Congratulations, that was beautiful. You should put THAT into a safe-keep box that you might already have for them, or in their special baby albums... Such a special memory of you for them, and a great reminder to us mothers who have sometimes wished we could do something greater, or more special than what we are already doing... We are blessed!!!
That says it all! Thanks for reminding us.
Great post, wonderfully stated.
You're so right -- I need to help my daughter see that she's a Wonder Woman, and a Wonderful Woman, right now.
Congratulations!
You start me out with a silly picture and they end me up with these words, "They inspire me to be better" makes me realize I need a sense of humor when I get caught in the comparison trap and look for what and who inspires me right around me. Congratulations on winning!
What a wonderful post - congratulations to a deserved winner.
Great post - congrats! It really touches on the subject that so many of us (women/moms) struggle with every day. Very well written!
Wow, what a great post! I enjoyed reading it. Partly because my husband's nickname for me is "wonder woman". Supposed to be our family secret until my son announced it in Primary years ago :-) I was mortified! Anyway --I don't fit the description of "wonder woman" in any shape or form. I'm not even your typical fine LDS woman. Not by a long shot. But I like myself most of the time, and I know heavenly father loves me all of the time. Thanks again for this post. you sound like a wonderful woman.
Congratulations!!! I love your post!! You have so beautifully reminded us that we all have "wonder" in us and that we all wield it in different ways! Thanks for such a touching story, I loved it! :-)
That is so beautiful! I can so relate!
What a great post! I'm visiting from BSU! Nice to "meet" you. I look forward to reading more! :)
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