Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Superwoman?

A few posts back I was naming a few of my inadequacies and my cousin commented "What are you talking about Natalie? You are like superwoman from what I have been reading..." While I appreciated the complement, it made me laugh. I am not a superwoman. I am so so far from that. Superwomen do not find graham crackers in their bras at the end of the day. Superwomen think about important things like politics and world peace. Right now, my thoughts hover around my next chance at sleep, chocolate and trying to keep my baby from peeing all over me. Superwomen brush their teeth before noon. Superwomen don't have to move 7 loads of laundry off of their beds in order to sleep at night. I definitely don't feel like superwoman. I do certain things well, and fail miserably at others. Just like every woman.

I have a good friend who told me once that she doesn't read blogs because they make her feel inadequate. That amazed me as just being around this woman makes me feel inadequate. She seems so together. I guess I can see her point though. You read 10 cooking blogs and at the end, instead of being inspired, it reminds you how mundane your menu is. You read 5 style blogs and suddenly your wardrobe is embarrassing. You read your favorite commentary blogs and it makes you realize how you can never articulate yourself that well. You read a few mommy blogs and you start thinking how you never make bird cages out of Popsicle sticks with your kids and you never embellish your daughter's t-shirts with handmade flowers.

I can see how blogging could make someone feel inadequate. However, I don't see blogging that way. I figure that the girls who have great style blogs probably are looking at the cooking blogs wishing they could cook. The crafty bloggers are reading the commentary blogs and wishing they knew how to write. The commentary bloggers are surrounded by chaos as they write their thoughts on life in between reading blogs on organization.

We are women. We have talents and we have failings. I am a far cry from a super anything, but I am trying to be a super Natalie. My blog is just a small extension of that effort. A place to acknowledge the things I enjoy and the things that I think about. Blogs can allow us to show parts of ourselves that may have no other medium to be shared. I am inspired my my friend Amy's garden and the way she shares that experience with her sons. I am in awe (and yes, slightly jealous) of my friend Randi's ability to capture her family on film. I am entertained my my friend Katie's continual sass, style and wit. I could fill pages of the things that I enjoy when I read other women's blogs. What I like the most is that they show parts of a woman that we otherwise might never get to see. Instead of the days when women were hidden away in the kitchen, we can be everywhere. Instead of being alone, we can be united. Even in our kitchens if we choose. (Just don't use blogging as an opportunity to judge and criticise. It kind of defeats the purpose. Way too high school.)

I'm just saying, I like what you are all posting. It makes me happy that there are more superwomen/total failures out there...just like me.

16 comments:

Valeta said...

And here I was feeling like a failure reading about all the things you have managed to do while caring for a newborn.

I guess we are all just awesome in our own way. :D

{amy k.} said...

well said.... I might have to post a link to this post on my blog if that would be okay with you. I find myself comparing myself to all of these incredible, talented, knowledgable women (yourself included) and have to remind myself, just like you said, I'm just trying to be the best me I can and we all have our own strengths and talents and if we can all share and have a little rub off on each other along the way then I think we'll be successful!

Rach said...

I love this post!! I'm just listening to " I am a Mother" by Jane Clayson Johnson and your post fits right into that.
Thanks for reminding us about what we should really be doing.

kristi lee said...

you said it perfectly!

Cynthia said...

I am expecting a boy this fall and my Mother in law found these. I thought they might come in handy for you... since you had mentioned you are trying to avoid getting tinkled on heehee

http://www.uncommongoods.com/item/item.jsp?itemId=13271

The Linabooty's said...

I constantly debate over quitting the blog world over lack of sincerity. Thank you for this post maybe there is hope out there:)

Nama said...

I love this post! I do feel quite inadequate sometimes when I read others' blogs, but overall, I do feel so inspired by what other women bring to the table, whatever it may be. We're all working on ourselves, our lives, and I think it's quite fun to blog to process and then find friends along the way. :)

Randi said...

that was so well put. i needed that today. thanks nat.

:)

Kelli said...

I found your blog from according to Kelly and it's lovely. This is a great post!

jaquelyn {mama thoughts} said...

I think my blog-reading is a little different, because I'm only 18, not married, no kids...most of the blogs I read are moms with cute kids. =) So it doesn't ever make me feel bad, really, because I'm not in that kind of situation. Thanks for the sweet and insightful post, Natalie! =)

Tiffany said...

That was a lovely post and something I needed to read. Thank you for sharing your words and inspiration with me today.

amydear said...

I totally agree. I love reading about everyone else's successes and trials. And I get great ideas! I'm always sad when people stop blogging or say that their writing/photos/whatever aren't good enough.

Bernadette Villanueva said...

Hi Natalie, I'm just a new follower. Just want to say that I think you're an awesome mom & an awesome woman! And yes, we have our own talents, and I think the best way to feel complete is to share & learn from others too =)

Unknown said...

Well, I confess. The only reason why I said that you are superwoman because you are!!!! I only get to see you every other year if I am lucky. So, your blog is like I get to visit with you all the time. It is so much fun to see how and what you are doing. I am one of those women that you were talking about the looks into the world of another in evny and happiness at the same time. After all we are family!

Tracy DeLuca said...

This post made me feel better. Thank you!

Tracy DeLuca said...

Of course, my word verification was "stiest". Is that some commentary on my housekeeping skills? LMAO

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