Is there really such a thing as a “supermom?” Merriam-Webster’s thinks so . . .
. . . and so do I. Sometimes you come across women who embody the ‘supermom’ title. However, who they are as women transcends the title of “Mom” in every sense of the word and you see them for the remarkable women that they are. Women like Karen McMeo.
Karen is a supermom . . . and so much more. And it just so happens she’s rockin’ midlife like the star that she is.
You wanna know what midlife looks like?
Karen McMeo
Karen McMeo, an Editorial Tracking Manager for a peer-reviewed scholarly journal, is 46 years young. She juggles a lot of balls in her day-to-day life, but she manages to keep it all together. This phenomenal and educated woman (she has her Bachelors and Masters in English) knows what it feels like to be a supermom and she lives it every day.
With a 16-year old special needs daughter who requires full support with her daily living skills, Karen balances motherhood with the demands of work, being a divorced/single parent and reveling in the life she has crafted for herself. She doesn’t, however, allow her career to be her end-all and be-all.
“I work to live. Life is much more satisfying,” she says.
Although life may have its ebbs and flows, Karen still finds time to embrace her time away from the office. Exploring the culinary landscape and trying different restaurants is a favorite pastime of hers, as are catching a movie, embracing her inner wanderlust by traveling, keeping fit through exercise, taking in a play, reading and writing. Five years ago, Karen began taking salsa lessons and, occasionally, she can be found tearing up the dance floor with her Latin dance moves.
Most recently, Karen was a guest on the “Ask Steve” segment of the Steve Harvey Show, where she asked him about his now-infamous blunder at the Miss Universe pageant.
The Parental Nest
For a parent, caring for their child is a lifelong job. As children get older, that doesn’t stop a mother and/or father from having the desire to nurture their offspring. However, parents with children still living at home may secretly look forward to the day when they can call themselves empty nesters and breathe a collective “Phew!” Be that as it may, Karen has some misgivings which are well-founded.
“For me, being an empty nester will mean that my daughter will have transitioned to a group home and that I am no longer able to care for her. So, for me the concept of being an empty nester invokes more a sense of fear than anything else, so I really am not prepared for that yet.”
Despite her apprehensions, Karen’s track record of facing adversity and rising above it leads one to believe that she will address her trepidations head on. Challenges are a part of life. What matters, however, is how we handle these obstacles and barriers. Karen tackles one of her biggest challenges – the realization that she is at the ‘half-way’ point in her life – with a positive mindset.
“In order to combat any anxieties about that, I try to keep an attitude of gratitude for all that I have and all that I have been able to do.”
So what did she do to celebrate her milestone 40th birthday? She and her best friend went to Italy, where, among other things, Karen took a cooking class in Florence where she prepared an appetizer, main dish and dessert.
“We were given a booklet of the recipes, and I still have yet to recreate any of them.”
That, however, doesn’t mean that Karen doesn’t follow through. In fact, she’s not done moving forward in life.
“I still have lots of goals to accomplish, and taking steps to achieve those goals keeps me focused and excited about my future.”
And the future looks immensely promising for Karen. Like so many other women who are taking charge in their lives, living out their dreams and running their universe, Karen has also grabbed the reins and is making things happen.
“I’m in the process of planning my reinvention. I finally started my own editing business and have started creative writing again. I recently completed an essay, and I am in the research and planning stages for my next book.”
She’s doing it. Karen is handling life just like a supermom. But she’s so much more than a mom. She’s a phenomenal career woman, she’s a conqueror, she’s a woman who turns her dreams into a reality. She’s you. She’s me. She’s every woman who overcame and kept it rolling. She’s also happy with the woman that she has become in midlife.
“When I look back at all of the challenges that I’ve overcome, I realize that I’m a strong, resourceful, and resilient woman. I’ve not only survived, I’ve thrived.”
As she continues to thrive, Karen has a few words of encouragement for other women in midlife.
“One of my favorite quotes is from the writer Audre Lourde, ‘If I didn’t define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive.’ My advice: Strive to be the best you that you can be.”
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Entreprenuer. Author. Conqueror. Positive. Mother. Friend.
She’s more than a title. But along with that title, you’ll find a woman coming into her own. If you want to know what a woman with fortitude looks like, take a peek at Karen. Even with challenges in life, she still remains strong and standing tall.
When it comes to Karen McMeo, this is what midlife looks like.
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WHERE TO FIND KAREN ON THE WEB:
For editing services, click over to Karen’s new business, KPMD Editors Etc. You can purchase her book, “Sincerely Yours: Letters from the Heart
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If you believe you or someone you know should be featured in “This is What Midlife Looks Like,” please don’t hesitate to contact me and let me know.
