Redefining The Notion Of “ Super Mom”—All You by Kathy Ireland (NAPSA)—Every day as I watch my three children grow, I reflect on my most important career choice—the day I became a mom. Like other women, I’ve struggled to balance work,life, home and family, but the good newsis there is a solution. First is to forget trying to be a “Super Mom.” These are moms whotry to be all things to all people and come up short in the process. Today’s moms have learnedto prioritize, focusing not only on our families but on taking care of ourselves. Our lives come in seasons, and I find that when I’m stretched too thin, I’m not effective at anything. Taking time for myself is a win-win for everybody. As moms, once we haveourpri- There are simple things moms can do to keep love at the forefront of family relationships, says Kathy Ireland, model and motherof three. are some simple things moms can do to keep love at the forefront of write down one reason why they appreciate each other. Write your veyed moms and found that 95 percent of us agree that taking time for ourselves makes us a better mother. Still, 44 percent said that spending time with their family is the best stress relief. The survey also identified a new breed of mothers—“Signature Moms.” These are moms who have their own way of parenting and expressing love to their children—whether it’s by volunteering at school, attending extracurricular games andactivities or taking a much-deserved “10 easy ways to say I love you” have helped me daily, and I hope they will do the samefor you. 1. Slip a handmade valentine or a simple note into your child’s lunch box. 2. Take a walk together in the woods or your favorite park. 38. Jot down a line from your favorite poem. Share it with family members. 4. Kiss your kids good night, but also every chance you get. 5. Read a chapter book together. 6. Makeit a priority to have family dinnertime together—no matter how busy the schedule. 7. Turn off the TV. Have a pizza night and watch a movie together. 8. Have a picnic in the park after the soccer game, instead of attach them to a batch of your favorite cookies. Let every family memberfind his/her own special cookies. 10. Help your kids write a letter to a family member who lives far away. Write the first few lines of a story and instruct the recipi- To celebrate today’s Signature Momsandhelp set priorities, here way home. 9. Have each family member orities in line, we can then be more productive in all areas of our lives. For me, these include my faith, my family and then of being of service through volunteer work. I think we can haveit all, just not all at once. To find out more about how moms balance their busylives, Sharpie, a trusted mom tool, sur- mom break. their family relationships. These stopping for a fast meal on the reasons on a tag and useribbon to ent to write the next, and then return the letter. Your story can continue indefinitely. For more information on the survey, visit sharpie.com or kathyireland.com. Kathy Ireland is a supermodel turned entrepreneur and mother of three. She serves as an ambassador for Sharpie’s Autographs for Education campaign, which each year collects 1 million signatures in exchange for $1 million in funds and supplies for schools nationwide. You can enter the 2006 cam- paign for a chance to win supplies, scholarships and funds for your school by visiting sharpie.com.
