Mother’s Day: what motherhood has done to me Superpowers.

This year, Mother’s Day will be a bit different for many mothers.

Some women won’t be able to be reunited with their children for Mother’s Day. For those spending the quarantine with their offspring, they will probably celebrate with a big brunch or lunch. Which hopefully, their children will prepare. If that’s your case, you will need a few hours to clean after them. But you know what they say; it’s the intention that counts, right?

The bond between mother and child is something that goes beyond time and space. No matter whether together or in different parts of the world. And because Mother’s Day is just around the corner, it got me thinking about what motherhood does to a woman. Some points are clichés, others are cheesy, but motherhood has given me superpowers, and not all of them welcome, I must say.

Invisibility I

From the moment the world knew I was pregnant, I ceased to exist as a woman and became invisible. Suddenly, people I had never met in my life thought it would be alright to pat my tummy. As a matter of fact, even my closest friends only asked me about the baby.

Invisibility II

When my daughter was born, I kept being invisible to the world, with only a few exceptions. For example, one friend came to visit bringing a present for my daughter, and one for myself. How thankful I was to hear her say what I had felt so many times but didn’t dare to say out loud; that nobody thinks about the mothers.

Cyborg

This one is a big cliché, I know. But as soon as I heard the first little sound coming out of my daughter’s mouth before I had even seen her, I understood what it meant to have one’s heart beating outside oneself.

Super feelings

I’d felt love before motherhood, of course. But the love of a mother is something so overwhelming that all I had felt before seemed now feeble comparing. Sorry, loved ones.

License to be rude (and kill, if needed)

As a new mother, I automatically got (from myself) a license to be rude. Suddenly, I was telling people off and saying no without feeling bad about it. Stranger wanting to pinch my baby’s cheeks? Move away, lady! Woman asking to hold my baby? No way, Jose.

2.0

Becoming a mother has made me want to become a better version of myself. Like any other mother, I wish my daughter the best in life. And that includes having a good human being as a parent. Which doesn’t mean that I’ve improved much; just ask her, and she’ll tell you how annoying I am.

Super-empathy

Motherhood has made me see my own mother with new eyes. All I was experiencing, the lack of sleep, the worries, but also the unparalleled joy and love, she’d already gone through it all. And I could then understand what, at times, had felt somewhat suffocating.

Time travel

Being the mother of a teenager gives me to power to travel back in time. I can relive the excitement and the fun of being a teen every time I see her with friends, giggling and getting ready for a party, or when I listen to all about it the next day. But I must also relive the pain and difficulties that the teenage years can bring. In these moments, I wish I could make it all better with a kiss, like when she was a little girl. So, being a mother is a constant work in progress but certainly the most rewarding of all.

To all the Super-Moms out there, I wish you a happy Mother’s Day!

Christine Schönburg, Jewellery Editor.