Redefining The Notion Of "Super Mom" - All You Need Is Love

Every day as I watch my three children grow, I reflect on my most important career choice - the day I became a Dad. Like other working parents, I've struggled to balance work, life, home, and family, but the good news is there is a solution.

The first is to forget trying to be a "Super Mom" or "Super Dad". These parents try to be all things to all people and come up short in the process. Today's parents have learned to prioritize, focusing not only on our families but on taking care of ourselves. Our lives come in seasons, and I find that when I'm stretched too thin, I'm not effective at anything. Taking time for myself is a win-win for everybody.

As parents, once we have our priorities in line, we can be more productive in all areas of our lives. For me, these include my family, my friends, music, and being outdoors. I think we can have it all, just not all at once.

To find out more about how parents balance their busy lives, Sharpie, a trusted mom tool, surveyed moms and found that 95 percent of moms agree that taking time for yourselves makes you a better mother. Still, 44 percent said that spending time with their family is the best stress relief.

The survey also identified a new breed of mothers - "Signature Moms." These are moms who have their own way of parenting and expressing love to their children, whether it's by volunteering at school, attending extracurricular games and activities, or taking a much-deserved mom break.

To celebrate today's Signature Moms and help set priorities, here are some simple things parents can do to keep love at the forefront of their family relationships. These "10 easy ways to say I love you" have helped me daily, and I hope they will do the same for you.

1. Slip a handmade valentine or a simple note into your child's lunch box.

2. Take a walk together in the woods or your favorite park.

3. Jot down a line from your favorite poem. Share it with family members.

4. Kiss your kids good night, and also every chance you get.

5. Read a chapter of a book together.

6. Make it a priority to have family dinnertime together, no matter how busy the schedule.

7. Turn off the TV. Have a pizza night and watch the moon together.

8. Have a picnic in the park after the soccer game instead of stopping for a fast meal on the way home.

9. Have each family member write down one reason why they appreciate each other. Write your reasons on a tag and use a ribbon to attach them to a batch of your favorite cookies. Let every family member find their own special cookies.

10. Help your kids write a letter to a family member who lives far away. Write the first few lines of a story, instruct the recipient to write the next, and return the letter. Your story can continue indefinitely. You can send these back and forth by email, but regular mail is more magical!