This is one parenting story that I’m pretty dang proud of.

Ever since Frozen 2 came out (damn you, Elsa) Avery has been obsessed with the idea of having "powers.” She asked the Easter bunny to give her powers for Easter (???), she asks me what powers I want all the time (for the record - to be able to fly and to keep flowers alive forever), and she is conspiring with her besties to somehow get Santa to bring them all powers for Christmas. I have to admit I've only encouraged her.

The other night Avery and her dad were butting heads, and Avery came downstairs begging me to put her to bed. She said that Papi always fights with her (not true) and that she already knew bedtime would be bad if Papi put her to bed.

“Avery,” I said, “remember how you have powers?”

“Yeah mama,” she said.

“Well honey,” I said, “YOU are incredibly powerful, and your brain is THE most powerful part of you. It's so powerful, in fact, that all you have to do is DECIDE you're going to have a good night with Papi, and you will.”

She watched me with the kind of awe that only our babies, who still think the world of us, ever do. A little smile crept into the corners of her mouth.

“That's all I have to do?” she asked.

“Oh yes,” I told her, “you will not BELIEVE how powerful you are until you see it happen!”

“Ok, mama,” she said, “I got this.”

And she threw me a hug and galloped back up the stairs.

The next morning Avery came downstairs and announced:

“MAMA, GUESS WHAT?! I HAVE POWERS!! I decided Papi and I were going to have a good night and we did! All because of me!”

We create our own realities every day. Use your super powers, mamas, and teach your kids that that magic is inside of them, too.