I know this title will throw off some people, but
bear with me a little bit. It’s no secret that a majority of the male
population around the world, and especially, in the Middle East consider women
as second class citizens, or worse, property. We only have to look at certain
cultures and religions to see this caveman mentality at work. These men are
idiots, but this post isn’t about the people who live in a box. This post is
for mothers, but more specifically for mothers of daughters.
The best gift a mother can give her daughter is a
sense of worth. Now you would think that most mothers today are doing this, and
the majority does. But, I’ve noticed something troubling recently, not only
within my own family structure, but with acquaintances.
I am a post war baby and, my generation grew up to
protest the wrongs committed by our government on its people. I marched for
civil rights, I burned many a bra for women’s liberation and, I protested the
Vietnam War. You would think I had my shit together, right? Not really.
I am a product of immigrant parents. There were
social mores that had to be followed: Children spoke only when spoken to; girls
didn’t go to college, this was reserved for the sons of the family; girls were
expected to get married, have children and, wait on their husbands.
My mother, who was years ahead of her time, was very
outspoken, but she did not teach her daughters to speak out in their defense. I’m
not sure why, especially since she was such a rebel, herself. When I was
younger, I tried to avoid confrontation. And, because I wasn’t taught how to
deal with conflicts I often found myself giving in to the will of others. I
usually kept my opinions to myself. Then, I had my daughter.
I don’t think I did this purposely, but I encouraged
my daughter to be outspoken; to speak her mind; to stand strong in her
convictions. I didn’t create a monster or a brat, but instead, I helped my
daughter, who is the sweetest person on God’s earth, to know she had worth.
My daughter knows her value and, she is priceless. I
often wish that I could be more like her. I try and please everyone and keep
the peace. That is not a bad thing, but sometimes, my feelings get stored in a
box for the better of the team. My daughter once stood up to a biker and told
him off so elegantly that she left the poor slob, speechless. He had insulted
her sons. While I tried to calm everyone down, she stood her ground. She knows
her worth.
I guess what I’m trying to say to all you mothers of
daughters is this: we are goddesses; it is our destiny to create more
goddesses. Give your daughter a sense of her true value.
