I’m not going to write anything special for International Women’s Day.
Instead, I’m going to write something unspecial, a simple recollection of the past week’s events here.
Wednesday, last week
I find Lainey at the kitchen table, watching a documentary on Eunice Shriver from my laptop. She has chosen her as the subject of her Hall of Americans project, due at the end of the year. I help her take notes, pausing the video so she can have time to write down Eunice’s accomplishments. We start and stop the video a number of times as Lainey’s pencil moves across the paper. “Pause it again,” she says as she copies the words on her page: Eunice Shriver turned her anger into a call for action. And again to copy the words Maria Shriver spoke about her mother: “When my uncle was president, he had one person just to manage all her ideas, all of her energy, all of the things that she wanted him to accomplish.”
Sunday morning
I arrive at my friend’s house early in the morning to take photos of the scars from her recent surgery–the first step in a journey of big decisions and proactive healthcare after a positive BRCA test, a family history of breast cancer and a lifetime of fearing that what happened to women she loves could happen to her. We drink mimosas at her kitchen counter, and tears run down my cheeks as I listen to her stories–the hours of research she’s put in, the doubt that’s haunted her about life-altering choices and ultimately the strength she’s possessed as she’s made her decisions. We find the room with the best light, she slips out of her clothes and I click the shutter as she stands tall in the morning light and bares her scars. I offer no direction but take her lead. She raises her arm like Rosie the Riveter and makes a fist.
“Can you get a shot of my bracelets?” she asks.
I zoom in on the trio of bracelets hugging her left wrist, making sure the words are in focus: Trust the Journey. One Day at a Time. Breathe.
Before I leave, I hug her. “I’m so proud of you,” I tell her.
I hug her husband too. “I love how you are supporting her,” I tell him.
Sunday night
My living room swells with girls and their mamas, all in pajamas and wearing fancy jewels. We eat popcorn and laugh and hold up “Love It!” signs as Oscar nominees walk the red carpet on the television. We gush over necklines and hairstyles, comment on lipstick and heels and I make a mental note about how much fun it is to share silly things I love with my daughter. She disagrees with me on Nicole Kidman’s blue dress but we both think the silvery blue tulle on Emily Blunt is simply ethereal.
Monday morning
I start a new book about raising strong girls and finish 50 pages in one sitting. I’m startled to read things like “Is my daughter overweight?” was Googled 70% more times than “Is my son overweight?” last year. I highlight sentence after sentence, making promises to myself that I will model self acceptance and create a home environment that never equates success with perfection.
Monday evening
I run over to my neighbor’s to say hi and end up staying for a small celebration at her kitchen counter upon hearing news that the real estate deal she’s been working so hard on for months finally closed.
Tuesday morning
I publish a post about women friendship after interviewing my best friend.
I call my friend Claire to see if she’s nailed down a wedding date, but she can’t talk long because she’s in Washington D.C., speaking about grief. She texts me a photo of her standing next to Jon Stewart.
I call my sister for parenting advice.
Wednesday morning
My friend Liz launches her organization’s fourth 3-21 Pledge to raise money for people with Down syndrome to attend college. We talk briefly on the phone before she launches it.
“You ready to do this again?”
“I was born ready,” she says.
She started her organization five years ago with a little dream and, by the end of this year, will have raised over half a million dollars and awarded scholarships to more than 150 young people with big dreams. Read more here.
Thursday morning
I text a mom at our school to see if we can borrow her daughter’s copy of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. She loved it so much she asked for Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls II for her birthday last weekend–stories of extraordinary women from the past and present, changing history.
Later today, I have lunch plans with a new friend I met at a restaurant two weeks ago. She has a story I can’t wait to hear. She called me yesterday, warning me she would be interviewing me at lunch. “I’ll only tell you my story if you tell me yours too,” I told her.
There are extraordinary women all around us. They are running organizations, writing books, making lunches, rocking babies, running races, walking runways, holding hands. They are making headlines in our media, but more important, they are creating movements, changing lives and writing significant stories in their communities and in their homes.
Happy International Women’s Day, friends.
A few of my favorite things about women and by women:
- Please tell me you’ve read or watched this. I think it’s still the most relatable thing I’ve ever read about women.
- An old Women Crush Wednesday interview on hitting rock bottom, finding your voice and struggling as a single mom, from a woman who inspires me every day.
- This empowering print for a little girl’s room.
- Put this book on your coffee table, pick it up every night to read a passage, and you’ll soon have 200 more inspiring women’s stories under your belt.
- Or read a story from this book to your daughter every night, and you’ll have these stories tucked away together.
Bev Olfert says
have you seen this?! Right up your alley! Role model barbies!
Mattel Releases New Role Model Dolls for Women’s History Month
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/barbie-mattel-shero-womens-history-month-2018-256501
So great!
Kelle says
I saw this yesterday. LOVE!
Kathy says
Your post today nearly brought me to tears! YES YES YES to all of it!! You are such a powerful, positive voice in this crazy world ; thank you for all you share.
Have a wonderful day!
Julie says
This may have been one of my favorite posts you have ever written Kelle…and I’ve read them all. I am a mom to 5 and 3 year old girls…and often feel overwhelmed with all they have ahead of them. But it begins (and ends really) with all this day to day stuff, the beauty of a moment, a conversation, a touch…thank you.
Rosanna says
As a mom to a one and a half year old girl (and a five year old boy) I think a lot about what kind of woman I want my girl to grow up to be. This is great food for thought.
Love the picture of your girls with the wildflowers!
MELISSA says
Have you read In the Company of Women? I think you would love it!
https://www.amazon.com/Company-Women-Inspiration-Artists-Entrepreneurs-ebook/dp/B01BEGV5DY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520545329&sr=8-1&keywords=in+the+company+of+women
Micah | Home faith family says
I love the Jennifer Valley print you linked to and the message the picture shares about the power girls have in themselves.
Women play such an important role in so many lives. Moreso, these roles and deeds won’t make the main news, but they will change the course of history.
Jane says
Beyond the pink moon is the best private Facebook group for BRCA positive people. I was able to walk through the research, surgeries, a million questions, alone, thanks to them. They are a goldmine of information, experience, and support including patients, Drs, nurses and… People who care!
Suzanne W says
I run a business and I am raising three children, two of them girls. As I grow more and more confident about my career in an industry that is predominantly male, I realize the inequality between men and women still exists. Even though I want all my children to be independent and strong, I especially focus on the girls because I think in general, we fight how we are hard-wired. Our nurturing (soft) side can often contradict our spirit of fight. My hope is that my daughters will recognize their caring nature, but not back down when pursuing what is right and just.
Kelle says
Love this Suzanne.
Susan Levitch says
Loved this post!
Just in case you haven’t seen this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Rad-American-Women-Trailblazers-Visionaries/dp/0872866831
Darcy Troutman says
My kids are getting older and I don’t read this blog as much as I used to – but I still love checking in. A fabulous post, that left me teary-eyed for no particular reason – other than sometimes greatness rests in the most ordinary of moments. Thank you!
I’m sure you’ve read this article – https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/how-the-mom-internet-became-a-spotless-sponsored-void/2018/01/26/072b46ac-01d6-11e8-bb03-722769454f82_story.html?utm_term=.6f00610ffde4
but thanks so much for continuing to write a blog that is relatable and honest and inspiring when everyone else has gone to instagram (and yes, I admit, that I too have mostly gone to instagram, even though I hate it).