If I had a superpower…
Photo by Xavi Cabrera on Unsplash
Once, many years ago (when I was in my teens), I was asked what superpower I would have if I could pick anything in the world.
Invisibility, flying and mind-reading were favourite options. But then I realised: I didn’t want to feel more invisible, flying would freak me out and, honestly, I didn’t want to know what was going on in people’s minds all the time.
The question remained there, floating at the back of my mind. Then, eventually, it came to me – probably as a result of some teenage drama.
This one stuck with me and I am tempted to use it as my default answer whenever someone asks. Of course, no one has asked in a while as it’s not really a conversation that crops up at work or between mummies.
But children - they think about these things very seriously and without boundaries.
“This reminded me in the superpower I had wished for in my teens: to make people feel the pure consequences of their actions.”
And recently, that question came from my daughter. We were discussing cool superpowers. She listed many options that included invisibility and teleportation. We concluded that teleportation would be amazing and it would avoid a lot of time wasted in traffic.
Then she said: “And I would want all the people to be happy”.
This reminded me in the superpower I had wished for in my teens: to make people feel the pure consequences of their actions. By ‘feel the pure consequences’ I mean the unfiltered, powerful emotions that actions bring with them. So, for example, if someone bullied someone, my superpower would make the bully feel the pain created by his or her words or actions - intensely.
Sounds dramatic. But my thinking was that this would lead to real I-will-never-do-that-again repentance and the world would be a better place. And more people would be happy. This would have another side to it, as consequences also bring about positive feelings. So those people who do good things would also feel the consequences and understand their value.
I guess now, as an adult and mummy, I often dream of other (more selfish) superpowers. Like being able to lengthen the day just for me: to have more time to fit in what I really want to do (like write a blog post or take a long bath), ease the mad rushing from one thing to another, be in the moment without constantly thinking of the next steps.
“While these mummies might not be able to teleport and be in two places within seconds, they can multitask and cook while helping with homework, handling laundry and mapping out what needs to be done tomorrow. Which brings me to time travel. Many mummies I know travel into “tomorrow” to plan what needs to be prepared, packed, washed etc.”
But hold on a second. The more I think about superpowers, the more I realise that I know many mummies (and daddies) who have them… the human, real version of superpowers.
Many are mind readers. They know what their child is thinking or feeling. They have X-Ray vision and can detect a cold with one glance. They also have telepathy through which, with one look, they transmit a message to their child that can range from “mind you dare” to “I know you’re upset”.
Of course, there is also supersmell that detects soiled nappies. And while these mummies might not be able to teleport and be in two places within seconds, they can multitask and cook while helping with homework, handling laundry and mapping out what needs to be done tomorrow. Which brings me to time travel. Many mummies I know travel into “tomorrow” to plan what needs to be prepared, packed, washed etc.
And, while they might not actually fly, if something happens to their child – like a nasty fall - they get to their child in split seconds. Some amazing parents I know conjure up their super-strength to fight battles on behalf of their sons and daughters who are facing an injustice such as bullying or exclusion. And many can also shapeshift and transform from mother, to employee, wife, daughter, sister.
And of course, on occasions like Christmas, Easter and whenever a tooth falls out… they sprinkle some magic into their children’s lives.
Super, right?