There is so much I love here, Jess!! I love that your daughter identified kindness as her superpower, that you took an intuitive leap and designed these fun and empowering capes to share each superpower, that you always honor your own authenticity. You are amazing!!
I am in awe of the children who can identify their superpower at such a young age. I don't think I could have done it. I was too far inside myself at that age to even know who I was,. The work you are doing is so important - and so you!!
I hear that too, Cathy, that I may not have been able to identify my superpower as a child. In fact, I'm positive I couldn't, but I do think an adult that was close to me could have helped me figure that out, or at least made me feel like some of the things I was struggling with were actually strengths. I hope that the inspiration in these capes is for adults and kids alike - for all of us to question what our superpower might be, and then to help each other define and own that.
I love this essay and the fact that your daughter holds kindness as her superpower. So wonderful! The capes are adorable. My 17-year-old daughter, who is too "cool" for the capes would've adored them at 7.
But I think I will ask her what her superpower is. Who knows what this question will reveal?
I asked her today, and she wondered whether I was asking whether I was referring to a power she had that could help save the world, or just a positive attribute. I repeated the question, and she was a bit stumped due to overthinking the requirements of this assignment. She must've thought the question intriguing because she asked a member of the family, "What is your superpower?"
Oooh…so interesting that she separated something that could save the world and her own personality. I wonder at what age we stop believing WE could save the world just with our own powers. I hope the question keeps percolating throughout your family over the next few days. Thank you 🙏 for sharing!
Jess, this is such a rich and deep topic, as I do more reflection from a personal perspective. I’ve been thinking about it since I read this a couple hours ago. As a kid, I developed a superpower as a coping mechanism, it was kind of a survival thing-having to do it on my own. It was my art. My family didn’t have the means, both emotionally or financially to support me within my kiddo-journey of becoming an artist. So I figured it out on my own and went on to become a fine artist in my earlier adult years. It gave me recognition with my peers and rippled through my life as accolades. It made me feel good in many ways. On deeper reflection, however, and allowing the words of this post to swirl around in the grey soup (my brain), what comes forward is thinking about superpowers as a quality of our essence, of our inner world, that spark that either can define us, or an intrinsic quality that might, at first glance, might be glossed over, that ends up being powerful when acknowledged and embodied. Lots to think about here. Such a beautiful, powerful piece! xx
Thank you for such thoughtful reflection, Rhaine. I can totally see that some of the superpowers we identify and use as kids are actually survival tools. I did the same after my parents divorce...my dedication, responsibility, and problem solving skills became mini superpowers as I took over many of the parental roles while my mom got herself together. I think you hit on something with the acknowledgement of that power as a force for good, as a strength, as something unique and special. That's really how I see the capes - as a tangible sign to little people that the thing they feel inside and channel when they need it is a positive source of power, and something so special to just them.
There is so much I love here, Jess!! I love that your daughter identified kindness as her superpower, that you took an intuitive leap and designed these fun and empowering capes to share each superpower, that you always honor your own authenticity. You are amazing!!
I am in awe of the children who can identify their superpower at such a young age. I don't think I could have done it. I was too far inside myself at that age to even know who I was,. The work you are doing is so important - and so you!!
I hear that too, Cathy, that I may not have been able to identify my superpower as a child. In fact, I'm positive I couldn't, but I do think an adult that was close to me could have helped me figure that out, or at least made me feel like some of the things I was struggling with were actually strengths. I hope that the inspiration in these capes is for adults and kids alike - for all of us to question what our superpower might be, and then to help each other define and own that.
I had the feeling reading this that parents would learn as much as their children. It's a wonderful thing you have done!
This is magic Jess! I love the full circle adventure that weaves self, family, work, and life through creative expression.
Jess,
I love this essay and the fact that your daughter holds kindness as her superpower. So wonderful! The capes are adorable. My 17-year-old daughter, who is too "cool" for the capes would've adored them at 7.
But I think I will ask her what her superpower is. Who knows what this question will reveal?
Oh, what a wonderful conversation to have with her! If you feel comfortable doing so, I'd love it if you'd share what she said.
Hi Jess,
I asked her today, and she wondered whether I was asking whether I was referring to a power she had that could help save the world, or just a positive attribute. I repeated the question, and she was a bit stumped due to overthinking the requirements of this assignment. She must've thought the question intriguing because she asked a member of the family, "What is your superpower?"
Oooh…so interesting that she separated something that could save the world and her own personality. I wonder at what age we stop believing WE could save the world just with our own powers. I hope the question keeps percolating throughout your family over the next few days. Thank you 🙏 for sharing!
Jess, this is such a rich and deep topic, as I do more reflection from a personal perspective. I’ve been thinking about it since I read this a couple hours ago. As a kid, I developed a superpower as a coping mechanism, it was kind of a survival thing-having to do it on my own. It was my art. My family didn’t have the means, both emotionally or financially to support me within my kiddo-journey of becoming an artist. So I figured it out on my own and went on to become a fine artist in my earlier adult years. It gave me recognition with my peers and rippled through my life as accolades. It made me feel good in many ways. On deeper reflection, however, and allowing the words of this post to swirl around in the grey soup (my brain), what comes forward is thinking about superpowers as a quality of our essence, of our inner world, that spark that either can define us, or an intrinsic quality that might, at first glance, might be glossed over, that ends up being powerful when acknowledged and embodied. Lots to think about here. Such a beautiful, powerful piece! xx
Thank you for such thoughtful reflection, Rhaine. I can totally see that some of the superpowers we identify and use as kids are actually survival tools. I did the same after my parents divorce...my dedication, responsibility, and problem solving skills became mini superpowers as I took over many of the parental roles while my mom got herself together. I think you hit on something with the acknowledgement of that power as a force for good, as a strength, as something unique and special. That's really how I see the capes - as a tangible sign to little people that the thing they feel inside and channel when they need it is a positive source of power, and something so special to just them.