Never missing a beat

My superpower is teaching my baby to get into the groove. The latest adorable video clip of my 10-month-old that’s making the rounds among friends and family shows her rocking out to the cartoonish ’80s hit “Walk the Dinosaur” by the band Was (Not Was). Though she can’t yet walk, the girl can dance, and she has an ear for music; so I’m making it my business to encourage her to appreciate not just the Beatles, Motown or even Cocomelon, but to embrace the cheese and kick out the jam regardless of the source of the music. Whenever the rhythm strikes, I hope she’ll go with it — and that an open spirit will guide her wherever she goes. — Melonyce McAfee, senior staff editor

Sixth sense

Since becoming a mother, I’m able to pick up on small hints of illness in my daughter. Things I would never have noticed with another human being before motherhood. It’s not based on maternal instinct or some motherly spidey sense but the mere fact that we are constantly around each other. It has made me hyper aware of slight changes in her behavior or demeanor. This “skill” has made me confident about what to do next and advocate for her in medical situations. I know no one knows her like I do. — Tiffanie Graham, staff photo editor

Finding the joy, always

I have a new-mom pep talk I always share when I find out someone is about to become a parent: Ignore the people who talk about only how tough it is. Parenting is fun, interesting, joyful and expansive. I think as a culture we overemphasize the challenges of parenting. Why don’t we talk about how parenting can make you stronger, happier, more organized, more focused? I’ve made great new friends (other parents, teachers, coaches, students) because of my daughter, and most important, I’ve learned so much from her. I think my super strength as a mom has been that I’ve always focused on the joy of it, which makes the “work” part of parenting a lot easier. I was a single parent and while it wasn’t always easy, I loved every minute. My daughter is in college now, and while she still needs her mom, she’s also this amazing, interesting young woman, and I feel so lucky to know her. — Tara Parker-Pope, columnist

Changing, always

It’s 7:30 p.m. and I’m in the bathroom belting out a jazzy tune and some hastily made-up lyrics that I dubbed “The Germ Song.” Our 4-year-old enthusiastically brushes her teeth to the rhythm of my vocals, sweeping away all of the cavity-causing bad guys. “That’s a bop,” my wife says from the doorway. She’s impressed, and so am I — but not because of my improv skills. We’re amazed that — for once — neither of us had to coax our daughter to brush. As mothers, we are also chameleons, inhabiting other personas or characters. We play, yes, but we’re doing something else at the same time: getting through the bedtime routine; resolving our daughter’s fears; or exploring the world. — Christina Caron, reporter

My inner goof

As a child, I had a cassette tape of comedic fairy tales; they were mixed-up versions of classic stories, told in the voice of a moose. I memorized them, moose accent and all. Now, I cannot remember when the deadline to sign up my fifth grader for middle-school math class is (or was, welp), what time my kindergartner’s T-ball game starts tomorrow or so many other parents’ names. But those silly tales are lodged in my brain — and when I tell them, my kids crack up. Since they were babies, I have also been doing ridiculous dances to make them laugh. “Do the ‘Mommy dance,’” they say sometimes. Moms get a bad rap for not being the “fun parent” in heterosexual couples. But kids are hilarious, and laughing with my daughters is my saving grace. In my house, when all else fails, or when I am simply failing at doing things, being funny is how I turn it around. — Farah Miller, editorial director