The Fourth Trimester Blog

I didn’t think I would become a supermom. It’s a funny term, I think, in that most supermoms don’t think of themselves as heroic, or “super.” They mostly just focus on doing their job, taking care of their families. They just happen to be doing many different things at once.

I know a lot of supermoms like this … many of whom, like me, work from home. Recently my publisher asked me, “How do you do it all?” Which is ironic, because this was mere moments before I went to see I Don’t Know How She Does It. (SJP helps me do it all! I must admit, some days SJPs voiceovers help narrate my day.)

Inherently, the problem with Supermom is the need/desire/want to do it all, and to do it all by ourselves. It’s a fine line between awesome life juggler and whiny silly martyr. So when do we ask for help?

Many of my girlfriends here in Florida, the land of the displaced, are in the same family boat. Little to no family nearby, very young or first children, trying to figure out how to work, stay home and balance life with our families. So when I need an extra hand, who better understands? But at the same time, I feel guilty, knowing that in order to help me, said supermom friend is actually cutting way into her own super schedule.

And my recent absence from this blog, due to an upcoming move out of state, leaves me even more in the lurch than ever before. Can I work, mommy, wife, clean out a house and manage the details of a huge move. In four weeks?

So I did what any good supermom would do. I hired the teenager from across the street to come over and play with Max for a couple of hours a few times a week. Today is her first visit. And in typical supermom fashion, I immediately start listing. Clean the spare bathroom, clear off the dining room table, clean up the toys? Clear table before babysitter gets here. Oh, and fold the laundry. No, just grab the vacuum, some plastic bags and head straight for your walk-in closet. Or maybe we should call the property manager first ….🙂