Wonder Woman. Have you seen her?

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 Friends; Phineas & 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 3^rd 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 originally posted on July 8, 2008. It was the winner of Scribbits July Write Away Contest*

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