My Photo

Grab your dream button

Power of Moms

Related Posts Widget for Blogs by LinkWithin

« Stephanie Soper: Portrait of an Artist | Main | Emily Anthon: Suiting up and Showing Up »

June 22, 2009

Comments

I absolutely see that I am happiest when I am going forward with my roles and dreams with the support of my family, and ALSO play Robin to them as they forge their own paths. I love this analogy.
Also, Allyson, I'm so glad you shared your path to a healthier diet in so candidly. It makes me appreciate my garden & want to have more health-related dialogue in our family. It's something we rarely address, but clearly should be discussing more often. Thanks for sharing!

I just love this analogy. Thank you so much for sharing it. I'm filing it away for inspiration in the future when it's time for me to put on my cape.

I like this metaphor! Sometimes I feel like I'm my own hero and supervillain rolled up into one.

I think the key here is that there are LOTS of different types of heroes. Robin's heroics are no less important than Batman's - just different. Look at your own heroic acts and be proud.

The day I met you, I also met with four other incredible women. I walked away remembering that very phrase and thinking the most about you. Honestly it has motivated and inspired me. I don't know why it has been so surprising for me to learn that my family will happily take on the Robin role when I want to be the Batman. I never thought to assume that I could be the achiever when I have stewardship over so much involving each one of them. It's liberating. But not natural to me yet. This post is a great reminder. Thanks!

Yes I loved the metaphor too. And I agree with Matt those both are types of heros. We tend to think of the main character as the hero but what would Macbeth have been without Macduff. Juxtaposed beside one another you see the complete picture.

I love this post! Those are some great analogies, and the picture of Batman is perfect. I've never even considered my life in those terms; maybe it's time to look at it...

I have a good male friend who shared with me that recently he told his wife, "You have to take time for yourself deliberately, because we will never give it to you willingly." What a gift! What a great partner!

I think that many of us, particularly moms, are on autopilot in regards to being Robin. It's like our default position. It's fantastic that we have others to remind us that at certain times, being Batman is essential to our health and personal growth.

i loved this! i am trying to find a balance between being a robin and being a batman. it's hard sometimes to know how much time and energy to devote to each role. all i know for sure is that they are both important. thank you for reminding us all of this.

as a complete aside--i checked out your blog and think it is WONDERFUL. i am so interested in CSA's and organic locally grown or produced foods. i live in cambridge and want to join a csa do you have any advice about choosing one?

Allyson: I agree, women are so often defined by their relationships to others. (I wrote an essay on the topic last year. It's on my blog if you're interested.) Having a career often becomes someone's identity, but when your career is managing a home as a stay-at-home mom, your job title becomes Junior's mom, John's wife, etc. You can start to feel, 'What happened to me?' You are right that what we do every day is heroic. Lots of people can't handle caring for kids all day. (Luisa: You're right, too. The day to day can be a tug-of-war between being a superhero and a supervillian!)

Batman was my hero growing up, so I really like your metaphor. Championing my children's causes is my life now, but as long as I'm championing, I know I'll be able to move on when my children are more independent.

Alyson, Thanks for helping me get some batman back into my life after surviving bedrest, preemie twins, and the first year after. Those ridiculously early (and cold) training runs and the climactic half-marathon jump-started me on some essential Batman behavior. Good for my body, good for my soul (and therefore, in an amazing Robin-like bonus, also good for all those who live with me!). I'm hooked on running (my mother-in-law says maybe it's because I've never had so much to run away from!) and it remains a gift of health and sanity and social fulfillment I give myself dutifully. I owe it all to my super hero inspiration, you, running next to me until I was able to fly on my own.

I couldn't help but think of a piece I recently heard on NPR when I read this. See "Giving Ed McMahon His Due," http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105825636.

Perhaps filling the role of a sidekick makes you even more qualified to be the hero. I very much agree with Alyson that being Batman makes you a better Robin; how does being Robin make you a better Batman?

I thought I wrote a comment some time ago, but realize it must have never went through.

I am overjoyed by your comments and it feels good to be heard and understood.

Teresa, your question is one of the keys left untouched, thank you for ask in it. Being a good Robin has shaped and further honed my perspective of the world. It is my Robin work that has allowed me the training ground to develop more Batman-like characteristics.

Thank you so much for all of your comments. Mercedes, you can go to www.localharvest.org to find a farmer's market, CSA, or organic u-pick fields in your area.

The comments to this entry are closed.

About this blog

  • When I took a sabbatical from Wall Street to pursue a different dream and help others live theirs, I learned that women in the U.S. may be placated, even pampered, but because we aren't dreaming, we are also desperate and depressed. Drawing on a variety of sources, ranging from academic studies to pop culture, dare to dream encourages us to dream. And then to act on our dreams.

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
Bookmark and Share

Tweet, tweet...

    follow me on Twitter