Super Woman: How Does She Do It? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

Super Woman: How Does She Do It?

Why we can stop believing that anyone is actually "doing it all"

28
Super Woman: How Does She Do It?
Unsplash

How does she do it?

We've all asked that question in our minds. Scrolling through social media, we see countless images of all the things other moms and other women are doing.

How does she make Halloween costumes like that for her kids? (That one is fresh for me because I can't sew, so I bought a princess Elsa dress for my 10-month-old at Target. Halloween 2016: check!)

How does she cook meals like that every night?

How does she work outside the home and still have a clean house and time to do creative things with her children?

How does she do such a good job making time for her friends? How does she have so many friends?

How does she throw such great parties?

How does she make time for date nights with her husband?

How does she afford such nice things?

How does she make time to make amazing Pinterest-worthy crafts?

How is she in such good shape? When the heck does she have time to work out?

And on and on and on we go. The thing is, each of us know that we ourselves aren't doing it all. We are doing some things, but not all things. I work part time, but I only have one baby right now and I have tons of help with childcare from family. I also don't cook as much as I "should," I am not great at making time for exercise, and I can't remember the last time I deep cleaned my house.

We are quick to admit our own shortcomings and the places we feel like we are failing, but we are even quicker to assume that everyone else has no shortcomings. That maybe they ARE the one person who can do it all, and do it all well. As much as I love Instagram and Facebook, I have to remember that those things give us purposefully edited images of whatever we want each other to see. Our home, our family, our meals, our adventures, and even sometimes our less glamorous moments just so people know we are "real." Because I think somewhere inside of us, we post those occasional "I am a hot mess" pictures in hopes that someone will comment, "GIRL. Been there," or "My Monday was awful too!" We so badly want to know that we aren't the only one struggling to balance everything.

So maybe the next time we see "her," whoever she is, we can start coming to more gracious, realistic conclusions and stop resenting the fact that our life doesn't look like that. Maybe we can admit that all of us have different capacities and, yes, some women really do have a God-given ability to juggle more things well. I always marvel at those women. But I know its a real thing because I've known some women who have an incredible capacity to have their hands in many things at once. My capacity is different. Larger than some, perhaps, but smaller than many others. And that is okay.

It's not that we should or shouldn't be doing more or less. But it sure doesn't take much for us to downward spiral quickly into the comparison trap.

We see a picture of our friends having a lazy day at home. I should rest more. I wish I could rest more. Gosh I hate that I have chores to do. Why do I keep making myself so busy? We see a picture of a family at a zoo. We should go to the zoo. Or do something, anything besides watch Netflix. Why am I such a lazy butt? I should get off the couch. We see a picture of a friend out to eat at a girls night. I should have a girls night. Why haven't my friends invited me to a girls night? I don't have money for girls night, I'm trying to be good with my budget. We see a picture of a family eating a home cooked meal. I should cook more often. We eat out too much. That mom is so good at meal planning. I should meal plan. But I'm too tired to cook.

Sometimes when I, out of the blue, suggest a random family activity to my husband like "Hey we should go to the pumpkin patch," he asks, "Who just posted a picture of themselves at the pumpkin patch?" He knows me too well.

We're all making sacrifices and, when necessary, shortcuts. We are all doing some things but none of us are doing everything. Let's applaud and celebrate each other when we see another woman thriving in whatever "yeses" she has said in her current season. I love social media as much as the next girl, but the best understanding I gain of someone else's life and that someone gains of mine is face to face. In my home. Over coffee. At my Bible study study.

We can just breathe a big sigh of relief the next time a wave of "How does she..." hits us and remember, not one of us is doing it all. We can't, and we don't have to.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

177777
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

4836
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

450944
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22469
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments