Searching for Super Woman

OK – don’t laugh but I used to consider cleaning the house a “workout.”
Lifting countless laundry baskets – weight lifting; going up and down the stairs putting things away – stair master; vacuuming the upstairs and downstairs – a workout.
The house we are renting is on the market – meaning a real estate agent could call at any moment and ask to show the house – so I have been dedicated – until recently – to keeping it spotless. I spent lots and lots of time cleaning.
It was pointed out to me – by one, two or possibly three sarcastic members of my family – that cleaning was not working out.

This month, I started exercising – walking/jogging. What I discovered is by adding exercise – I have less time to clean. The house is never a complete disaster but it was common to find basketball and running shoes in the great room; bathrooms needing a cleaning; laundry needing to be washed and folded; floors needing to be swept or vacuumed; beds left unmade…

Today, my husband and I spent three hours cleaning – our kids added an hour each – a total of eight hours cleaning a house before a real estate arrived to show the house today.

As I furiously cleaned to meet the deadline, I wondered “where is super woman? And why am I not her? Why can’t I do it all?

Every day, women are bombarded with messages from the advertisers about how we have to be super women – cook gourmet meals, decorate superbly, have gorgeous hair and skin, be a financial wiz, exercise, be a size 4, take care of the kids and husband all while working a full-time job. Not to mention the time we are to dedicate helping our parents, volunteering … all this without the help of a gardener, housekeeper or nanny.  

Here’s what I don’t get? As women, we know it’s impossible to be super woman yet many of us still believe if we just work a little harder, try a little more that we can achieve it.

And when we don’t live up to expectations, we feel guilty and in my case that means turning to chocolate to feel better.

 I met several women last week who apologized profusely for their house being a mess – even though they work full time, care for their family… And there house wasn’t really a mess – just didn’t look like the ads we’ve seen in magazines or the homes on television.

So what’s the answer – is it possible to do it all? Is it settling if we can do one thing but not another? As women, why are we understanding of other women when their house isn’t clean but less understanding of ourselves?

Any advice? Does super woman exist? Post a comment and let me know what you think.