What's Your Super Power?

I am coming off of a somewhat rocky couple of weeks that I described to my friend best by comparing myself to one of the ladies who carries full baskets over her shoulder on a pole, only I was having a hard time lifting the load.

 While I was picking my son up from school today I noticed a little saying that really affected me. My friend's daughter is in the same class as my son and I noticed that she had a license plate frame that said "I'M RAISING A CHILD WITH AUTISM. WHAT IS  YOUR SUPER POWER?" Immediately my mind started racing. Raising a special needs child really is one hell of a super power. Raising kids in general is super enough (believe me I know I have a typically developing son too) but the constant work and attention that go into helping our children get on a more standard path is literally exhausting. Extremely rewarding too no doubt but we sure do earn our good nights sleep.. just kidding I haven't slept one night in 6.5 years but we absolutely earn our keep.
Having said this, I realized as I drove home still thinking about those words, that so many things we do on a daily basis are really super powers but we are so hard on ourselves or have such high expectations that we don't celebrate our worth nearly enough.

I thought about little things that each of us are good at and how everyone has their own set of unique skills that enhance their super-ness and make them so special. I realized that we all should really take a moment to make a list of all the super skills that we possess. I don't know about wearing a sandwich board with your list but honestly I think it may not be a bad idea. Why don't we celebrate the little things we have to offer more often? Why don't we realize that our little skills set us apart from everyone else and that they aren't really that little after all?

I decided to come home and make a list of my top super powers and then ask everyone I know to make a list of their top 3 super powers. Don't be shy. Brag about yourself. It's really time. You don't have to stop at 3 but you can't stop at 2 ;). Here is my list of super powers 1-3.

1. I am raising two amazing children. My son with special needs has a lot of work left to do but he is thriving and he  makes me proud everyday. My typically developing son inspires me everyday, makes me laugh constantly and has proven to me without a doubt that I may not be good at everything but I have motherhood down pat.


2. I make/host an amazing brunch and bake delicious French toast casserole. My nephew is turning 16 next month and 6 months ago he requested that I make it for him on his birthday. That is quite the compliment.

3. My inner cheerleader never takes a day off when it comes to lifting my own spirits or cheering up a friend or family member. There are of course some days when I say she is operating with a sprained ankle but regardless, she is always there to cheer. I don't like to see other people feeling down and I don't like to feel down myself so this inner cheerleader gets her pom poms out the minute negativity is present and she doesn't stop until there are smiles all around.


So that's my list of super powers. What are your super powers?!