NYC Moms: Tips From A New Power Mom

January 21, 2010

Tips From A New Power Mom

As 2010 approached, I made two resolutions. I usually don't even make one. The first, exercise more (I know a cliche). The second, eat well (egad, another awful cliche). The most horrible part is I capped off all these cliches, with a final cliche cherry on the top--I have accomplished neither resolution #1 nor #2. So, that makes for a demoralizing beginning to 2010. Now I sit with my non-exercised rump at my desk eating a Reese's cupcake (a mini one. Could I be on the road to resolution #2?). Digging my resolution hole a bit deeper, I resolved (not an official resolution, more of a thought with purpose) to write my New York City Moms Blog entry the first week of 2010! Yeah! Get a head start. Well, that didn't happen either. My explanation: it isn't nice to depress others. So, I saved my dear readers (hi, Mom!) from the potential contagion of my lack of resolution.

I remember being in my 20's and flying back to New York City in an airplane listening to my Tony Robbins tapes. Here I am years later, without my resolutions and he is now Anthony Robbins with Robbins Research International. I don't think he'll be asking me for any product testimony. After TR (extra big letters because he's tall), I moved onto the kinder/gentler Chicken Soup for the Soul. Now they have Chicken Soup for the Soul - Power Moms. Back then, I knew that by the time I was married and had children I'd have it together. I'd be a power mom (sounds invigorating!) I would get up and smile in the mirror and have neat hair (counterintuitive). "Good Morning, Power Mom!" I would be seizing the day with my children and maybe balancing a career (note to self: buy new edition of The Artist's Way). There would be no piles in my life: laundry, stuff, junk, to be handled, bills, cute stuff, pants, wires of various kinds etc.,. I guess I thought I would be a very resolved person at this point. I would have clear and definite purpose. How could this not be? How does Tony Robbins have the Robbins Research International and I haven't put a bra on yet and it's 12:30PM. Where is my publicist? Oh, yes. Well, I won't sit by the wayside any longer. I will be resolved. I will offer advice and tips (need to finish cupcake first) because according to Nielsen's description, I am already a Power Mom and I haven't done a blessed thing today. The PM does it all--the house, the kids, the shopping (yummy!), the job, the bills but what does she do to them? Isn't neglect an act even if it is the absence of an act? If your child was neglected to be called on today, didn't something happen?? So, here is my first list of Tips as a New Power Mom. Maybe someday, there will be a little girl on an airplane somewhere listening to my tips on tape!

Tips and Advice from A Neophyte Power Mom

1) Staying up at night worrying about every catastrophe that can befall you, your husband, children, parents, siblings, community, city (or town for those of you with a fireplace), politicians, country, world, earth -- does not do anything except make the Power Mom look very tired and old, not a good way to start the Power Mom Day!

2) Walking, even to the kitchen, car etc.,. is exercise. You are moving your body! This is not open to interpretation. If you are aggravated and walking you may also be sweating. Good for you!

3) Not showering, while not to be a regular Power Mom practice, does save water. Go, enviro-Mom!

4) Piles are a way of organizing one's possessions. Imagine a world without piles? Why, it would be chaos. Think of piles as lumpy, misshapen "files".

5) Do you ever think, 'Hey, why make my bed when I will only sleep in it again?' Or, do you get bogged down by the Sisyphus-ian repetition of everyday acts. Me, too! And I am a self-appointed Power Mom! It's okay. Don't keep doing things over and over again. That's for Monoto-mom.

6) Does being an aspiring Power Mom make me a regular and frequent Hippo-crate with my children? Do I ask them to finish tasks and bathe? Yes! Every Power Mom needs minions. To be explored further at a later date. Power Mom is getting sleepy from complications due to tip #1.

7) Although this seems unrelated and untimely, many PMs find the holidays exhausting. It isn't just from trimming trees and dusting off menorahs. It's from the teacher gifts and winter concerts (barump-a-bum-bum), blinking lights and smiling. These are crazy-making. Just keep saying, "Power Mom must get to January 1st!" over and over again. January 1, will come. It will be cold as hell for many of us, but it will come and you get to start all over.