 My daughter, learning to be her own Superhero "It is not important who I am underneath. But what I do defines me." ~quote from Batman Begins There is a certain joy found in being valued, especially by your grown children. I don't even know how to describe it specifically, but I know it doesn't feel like other kinds of joy; not the joy you get when you receive the perfect gift, or the taste of a flawless bite on your palette. Knowing you are valued feels like warmth wrapped around your soul, a hug to the part of you that houses your self-worth. Here's the ultimate example of what I mean. Earlier, while I was putting myself together for the day, my youngest daughter (who is twenty-one) calls me. "Hi, Mom. I just need to ask you a question." I pause in putting on mascara. "Sure," I say. "Shoot." "Is an encyclopedia a credible source for research?" she asks. "Not really, no, but it depends," I answer. "What? Why?" she wants to know. I go on to explain that much of the information in encyclopedias is out of date and has given way to more current and accurate sources, however using them to show certain things (and here I offer her several "for instances") could be credible, as long as they are not her only source. She listens patiently, and interjects in various places. When I'm done she explains the reason behind her question. She has just completed a presentation in one of her college classes on the merits of Batman verses Superman (of which we are both staunchly in the Batman camp), and the DC Comics Encyclopedia was one of her sources. I delighted in listening to her explain her thought process and describe her presentation. But the true things that gave me pure joy were she had very sound logic in all of her arguments, and she valued my opinion on the matter. My girls have reached the age where they want to figure out things on their own. I confess, I miss the days when I was the Superhero in their world. I miss when they'd climb up into my lap and I'd solve everything for them, often with kisses and less profound lines of reasoning. Today, I am happy that they have not completely outgrown their Mom. Maybe I won't donate my cape to Goodwill just yet. On a side note, I'm still a little bummed that Batman didn't marry me. I could have been quite a catch! Oh, well! 
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About The Author
I grew up in rural North Carolina. When I was only nineteen, I moved away and became a military wife. My only aspiration at that tender time in my life was to create an adult life that "fixed" all of the "injustices" of my childhood. Secretly, however, I wanted to reach for the sky! I wanted to be a writer and find ways to "save the world" (my mother used to say, "You have Save the World Syndrome".). Mostly, I wanted to matter. Archives
August 2021
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