My 20-year old who lives across town with college roommates asked me last week if we could go to Costco because she was out of bread. I used to spend a lot of money there when she and her sister were at home. But now the portion sizes are so large there’s hardly anything I can buy that won’t spoil before I use it or take up too much space for my own sanity.

I keep my membership for the olive oil, tuna, and apparently beach towel swagger.

I hadn’t told my daughter beach towels were on sale during the car ride but just past the cereal aisle she spotted them. In-gasp of breath: “Oh, can we get one of those?” Meaning, “Will you buy that for me?”

“Sure,” I said. “I actually have a coupon for that.”

“That’s one of my favorite memories from childhood, Mom,” she said. “When out of the blue you would bring home new beach towels for us.” Read more…

Will you be celebrating Mother’s Day – with your Mom or with you as the Mom?  What does it take to be a great Mom – a super Mom?

As mothers, we ask a lot of ourselves and other people do, too.  I find many of the people in my life need my Mom skills – listening, empathy, caring, and problem-solving.  Those skills are also needed in the larger community, where traditional leadership styles in politics and business are failing.  Bringing collaborative skills to leadership is a trend and a good one.  A more collaborative, less combative approach to problem-solving is key to preventing our world from self-destructing.  Every time one of us takes a stand for peace, or advocates for those who cannot speak for themselves such as the young child, we help back away from the brink of destroying our selves and our world.

What can you do this Mother’s Day to contibute?  You can undertake personal acts of kindness, generosity, and love.  You can say something when someone tells a racist or sexist joke.  You can contribute your time or money to an organization working for peace and social justice.

Two of my favorite Mom-friendly organizations are Moms Rising and Mothers Acting Up.  See below for a fun link from Mom’s Rising – where I am named world’s greatest mom.  You can be a super mom too – if you support this great organization http://action.momsrising.org/go/889?first=Cynthia&last=Brown&akid=2705.218298._l29fs&t=3.

Also, visit the website for Mothers Acting Up and hear about their great work. www.mothersactingup.org

Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms and all those women working for a more humane and just world.