I keep a picture of Elastigirl, aka Mrs. Incredible on, my refrigerator. I love her. She and Nancy Drew are my heroes. They are both so flexible, so adept at finding success in any situation.

One of my favorite movie lines comes from “The Incredibles.” The airplane carrying Mrs. Incredible (who is also a pilot) and her two children is shot down. As the children are falling and screaming, Mrs. Incredible reaches down and grabs them with her elastic-like hands, then turns the rest of her body into a parachute. Stunned silent, the children look up to see what has saved them. Their mother calmly calls out, “Brace yourselves!”

She’s mom! She’s Elastigirl! She’s incredible!

I’m looking in the mirror lately and seeing a crease between my eyes. I should probably get Botox or something (not going to happen), but I’ve been thinking about how that crease got there. What am I thinking about when I make that frowny face? Have I become a pinched, uptight person without realizing it?

I practiced making a look that made the crease deeper, and guess what? It’s my Evil Eye look. After five children and one husband, I’ve gotten pretty good at it. It usually gets results, gets my point across. But apparently the trick’s on me. “Don’t make that face, it’s going to stick like that!” Well, that’s just what happened.

So, looking in the mirror, I tried a few alternatives. Turns out my “Do you really think that’s a good idea?” look, and twisting my mouth into an “Oh, that’s just great!” look have also left their marks. More frown lines and pinched mouth lines. What can a mother do?

If I could go back 18 years, I think I would try this: Train the children and husband to respond with trepidation to a blank, serene poker face. This would alleviate the frown lines. Smile lines, on the other hand, are always attractive (I think), so while they would never see my displeasure, they would know when I’m smiling that all is well. There’s a beauty tip.

What does this have to do with Mrs. Incredible? Hmm, I’m not sure. I guess I want being a Super Mom to be easy. Just wanting to and making an effort should do it.

Want to be a mom who is reliable, efficient, fun, not a doormat, and not off her rocker? Also one who helps with math homework? These are reasonable desires. Seems like they should be rewarded with success — or at least a feeling of success — and no facial creases. I’m sure Elastigirl does not have any creases.

My goal for 2011 is to smile more, or bigger maybe. If I can’t do anything about the frown lines, at least I can make deeper smile lines to draw away the attention.

Also, I think I need a new glasses prescription. I’ve developed some sort of astigmatism where my eyeballs roll every time my teenagers speak (she said, wearing her most serene poker face).

Reach columnist Denise Roundy at dirkroundy@yahoo.com.