Everyday Heroes and Role Models for our Daughters

I sat here thinking about how there are so many amazing moms out there doing fantastic things both big and small, donating their time, fund-raising for charities, volunteering, working through adversity, struggling with disease, inventing, creating, and producing. I thought of the many inspiring women who work as scientists, political activists, artists, dancers, Olympic athletes, writers, environmentalists, brain surgeons, judges or lawyers. And I realized I didn’t want to nominate a single one of them.

As a mom with two young daughters self-esteem and role models are topics that are constantly on my mind. According to research done by Dove, only 9% of Canadian girls between the ages of 10-17 are most comfortable using the term “beautiful” to describe their looks. A positive role model can make a world of difference by helping a girl develop a positive relationship with beauty and encourage her to achieve her full potential. When girls feel they have a role model, they are less likely to let anxiety about looks hold them back.

However, I think the role models that have the biggest impact on my daughters’ lives are the simple every day ones. Now I’m not saying I don’t want my girls to grow up one day and invent a new way to travel, cure cancer, or dance in the Winnipeg ballet. But to me, the heart of the Dove Celebrate Mom Contest is celebrating the simple everyday heroes, the plain Janes, the everyday role models, those that handle the daily grind with grace and verve.

So with all of that in mind, I would like to nominate my mom. She has done absolutely nothing of great significance with her life. She is however an amazing woman, and a fantastic grandmother and I couldn’t imagine a better role model for my daughters. We are blessed to have her in our lives.

My mom who as the eldest of six children has always had a big heart and a helping nature.

My mom and her sister. (Mom’s the one on the right.)

My mom who over the years has worked as a florist, a hotel receptionist, a toy store clerk, a short order cook, and a furnitire salesman.

My mom who stayed at home with us kids, in a time when many of her peers were working. And looking back I know she often lamented her lack of freedom, stuck at home with three kids and no car, making due with the same clothes for ten years at a time; living life in stained clothes and dealing with boogies, diapers and skinned knees while teaching us to sew and cook and play.

My mom who strongly believes in providing trucks for little girls and dolls for little boys.

My mom who has always taught me that the best way to be beautiful is to be healthy and to be comfortable with yourself.

My mom who is the handy-man in the family, and the one I call when I have a plumbing problem or need to borrow a wrench.

My mom who stepped in and tried to take over the family business after my dad has hospitalized with congestive heart failure, only to discover that the business was failing, and after years of trying to make it work and slipping further into debt she had to make the heart-wrenching decision to dismantle and sell everything off.

My mom who is always there for me, always ready to listen or to lend a helping hand.

My mom who is always eager to spend time with her grandkids, gives them 100% of her attention and is willing to get down and get dirty playing in the grass with them.

My mom who stepped in and took over as the major bread winner, when my dad’s various medical conditions forced him into early retirement.

My mom who at the age of 56  had the courage to go “back to school”, taking classes and training to be a certified Financial Assistant.

My mom who is simply beautiful inside and out.  She has never let the daily grind grind her down. She is my hero, and I am so proud to have her as a role model for my daughters.

Who is your hero?

Check out more stories about amazing role model moms on YummyMummyClub.ca: www.yummymummyclub.ca/family/mummy/celebrate-­‐a-­‐mom-­‐in-­‐your-­‐life