International Women’s Day.
I’m gonna be honest.
When I woke up, I did not know that today was International Women’s Day (even though I wrote about it here last year). I have a hard time keeping track of more than Christmas and birthdays (this is a slight exaggeration…but just slightly).
Every morning I wake up to the sounds of birds singing. No, really! It’s just that they come from my phone. I use the bedtime setting on the iPhone 7plus and one of the choices is birdsong. Although, sometimes there are also real birds singing. One weekend, I wondered why I had set an alarm and realized that it truly was the birds outside singing me awake.
I digress.
I usually take a quick scan to see what came through on my Instagram overnight, before rolling out of bed to make some coffee. One of my lovely Instagram friends, Cate, who lives in beautiful Italy, had tagged me in a post wishing a Happy Women’s Day.
History of the day.
You can read all about how the day came to be, here. I was surprised to learn that the day had been around since the early 1900s.
I have watched the movie, The Suffragettes, which I think was eye-opening for me. And while it specifically refers to those women in the U.K., the same call for rights was taking place in the United States. You can see that on this timeline that I found on the National Women’s History Museum website.
By the time I was born in the late ’70s in the United States, there were many rights which had been fought for and won. And I, being on the receiving end of those benefits, took the hard work done by those before me for granted.
Most of my college was covered through an academic scholarship and financial aid. But one scholarship, which I used for books, was through a Women’s Club. I knew I was eligible because I was a female and why it was important to promote females pursuing an education. I was 16 and naive about the world. I didn’t understand the depth of its purpose.
At that time, I did not have aspirations to change the world.
My biggest prayer was to become a mother.
And I became one. To three different loves of my life.
What it meant to have a daughter.
The last one, my only daughter.
And I began to think about her future and what her life should be able to look like.
That she should be free to choose to become whoever and whatever her heart desires.
To dream big dreams. To set her sights on the stars. To achieve her goals.
That there should be no limitations to what she can achieve solely because she is a female.
I want her to be more than I ever imagined that I could be. I think that is the wish on any mother’s heart… for any child, they have… male or female.
I pondered my dreams for her in this post.
And then I wrote a love letter for her 13th birthday, pouring out my heart’s wishes for her to always stay true to herself.
No matter who the world says she should be.
Because it will try!
Dream Big.
I love that she has dreams that I never dreamed.
She has been a soccer player since she was 7. You might remember from this post that this year was going to be a big change due to a decision on age brackets by U.S. Youth Soccer. I won’t address my thoughts on it all, but will just say that having major upheaval and a complete change to your known and comfortable existence…. is not the best thing for a 13-year-old female.
Or any 13-year-old for that matter!
Our oldest son was 13 when we moved here and it took him a while to find his “tribe” and enjoy living here.
Last year the girlie was a manager for the middle school soccer team and this year is eligible to play. So this spring, on top of her travel team, she will play for the middle school.
And I will be the willing chauffeur, because as it says in the photo above… I love watching her do what she loves.
In my Friday Faves, I shared how she wants to become an Engineer. I realize she is young and that may change, but I am grateful that she was born into a time and place where that dream is possible.
So today, I am grateful to all of those who have fought, and continue to fight, for a woman to be seen as an equal.
Let your light shine!
Amy
Please note: Since the fact that Women’s Rights, unfortunately, deal with politics, instead of just being a natural part of life, I realize some people may want to make political statements. I prefer love, light, and kindness. I don’t discuss politics on here and any negative, name-calling or hateful comments will be removed.
Thank you SO much for not making this political. Men and women aren’t political. Men and women aren’t the same, either, for which I’m thankful each day! But men and women can be equal in many ways. I was fortunate because my mom was a strong, independent woman who also played sports, so i was never told I couldn’t do something because I was a girl. She and my dad have a wonderful relationship, full of the necessary give and take of a marriage, but full of respect for the talents and abilities of the other. What a blessing!
janet
That is a blessing indeed Janet! I think men and women complement each others strengths and weaknesses in most scenarios.
I was also fortunate in the fact that I was never told I couldn’t do something “because I was a girl”. I think that’s why it baffles my mind so much that such a reality exists. And to not be paid the same for the same exact work just seems surreal.
I did not come from a sports family, but I could change my own tire, remove and replace spark plugs, check the oil, and push start a standard shift car when it was flooded. 🙂
There were quite a few “traditional” roles in the home where I grew up and there are plenty in my marriage.
But it’s nice to know that is by choice vs expectation or requirement.
My highest respect for your Mom
And my Mom was too the same attitude though she is no more with me
Thank you and I’m sorry to hear that your mother is no longer with you. It sounds like you must have many great memories to cherish.
Love the quote graphic at the bottom. I think my mom raised a fire breather. 🙂
Then you are lucky indeed!! 🙂
Love the quote…LOVE the post. Great job on raising a fire breather. <3
Thanks so much! 🙂
Awesome quote! Love the layout of this post with the Instagram pictures. Happy Woman’s Day to you and your daughter.
Thanks so much Steve! 🙂
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Congrats on the move. I’ll be over to check it out. 🙂
Aw Thank you! 2 new posts are up today and would probably have 1 or 2 tomorrow too! Giveaway would be up soon! Hope you can email subscribe so we can keep connected, girl! Here is my new site http://herlostmango.com/
A lovely post, Amy. Although my love for my two sons is without limit, I feel a hole where a daughter might have been.
I love both the “I am the Storm” quote and “breathing fire”. That is our hope for our children, regardless of gender <3
Thank you Joanne!
I love those quotes too. And they are quite applicable to males and females. 🙂
I have those same wishes for my boys as well. I think we always wish for the stars for our children….as we should. <3
In my mind there was never a limit, because I am a woman. My brothers, and after I got married my hubby – were my best friends. Only know I wouldn’t like to be a man, because I never could have had the experience of being pregnant and delivering a baby:) I realize my views I could become who I wanted to, have to do with that I grew up in Holland. and I never felt belittled because I was a girl.
I do think though that on this side of the pond, some women never got over feeling a victim, and keep the blame and rage they have towards men, alive. They can overcome this though, and after a few years of therapy lead a much happier life than before.
Never had a doubt whether my now adult daughters- would make it in life. They are independent women who have a strong sense of responsibility.
I never felt that there were limitations on what I could do, but I have known women who were discouraged from careers that were “typically male”.
I wouldn’t want to be a man either! lol. There’s definitely something to be said about the magic of having a life growing inside of you that I would never want to have missed out on.
It’s great that your daughters are strong, independent women. All of the women I surround myself with are raising their daughters to be independent thinkers 🙂
Beautiful post!
Thank you 🙂
Touching and inspiring, thats what this post is!
<3
Thank you so much! 🙂