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It’s good to have your own blog on Mother’s Day…..
I am not proud to admit this, but I forgot to buy my mother a card for today. I did send her beautiful flowers for her birthday earlier this week, so I am not a complete shit, just a little shit. It’s good to have a blog on Mother’s Day, so I can use this space to tell her how amazing she is. One of my most treasured memories of my Mom is her racing down the hall of the rehab center, on crutches from a crushed ankle, screaming for them not to let me out. She had found the money to make sure I could stay. She would & did anything and everything to get her daughter back. My only job each and everyday is stay back. Happy Mother’s Day Mom, at least for today, I am back. I love you.
To my sister, Happy Mother’s Day. I have watched you give everything you have to raise some really amazing children! You went without, so your kids did not. You did a great deal of personal work to make sure that you bring your best to them, and you do. Thank you for sharing them with me. They are the biggest and brightest spots in my life, and I love them like my own. You know what that has meant to me. I am eternally grateful. I love you.
To my cousins, Happy Mother’s Day. Cousins are your first friends, and I watch in awe as my childhood friends have grown into amazing mothers. Your children are as beautiful, talented and as fun as you are. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of their journey. To my cousins who have only furry kids, thanks for sharing them. I am a big fan of the furry kind as you well know. I love you guys!
To my aunts, Happy Mother’s Day. All of you have brought your unique gifts to our family, and contributed to the people we are today. Because of your love and guidance, we all turned out pretty good. Thank you for always being there. I love you.
To my friends, our fantastic readers, Happy Mother’s Day. I watch and share your journey. I enjoy each and every story on Facebook, each picture and video of their achievements, and the absolute funny things they say. Thank you for brightening my day. I love you.
To all the women who have lost children. There are no words. I love you.
To all the women who are trying to conceive. Our diligent prayer is that your much prayed for blessing comes your way soon. Happy Mother’s Day. We love and support you.
To all women who are pregnant. We wish you health, safety, love and kindness. Happy Mother’s Day. We honor you.
To all the women whose mother is no longer with us here on earth. Know that she is never, ever that far from you, for she created your heart and that is where she will remain.
To all the women, who like me, the Universe did not grant children. For all the times we endured those painful words that we are incomplete, that we do not understand the meaning of true love, or we are somehow less because we have not experienced motherhood, may there be peace today. I know that in our heads and hearts there was never a doubt that we were going to be mothers, but God had other plans. We are childless mothers. Happy Mother’s Day to all of you from the child that lives in your soul. I love you. And to one of you in particular, today I give you a written voice and my eternal friendship.
Finally, to Becky, Happy Mother’s Day. It’s been an honor to be part of your idea and your life. This year you shared your beautiful children with us and your family journey. You truly are one of the most caring mothers on the planet. Thank you for everything! I love you.
Lá na Máithreacha Sona daoibh (Happy Mother’s day),
Kathleen
Dear Ms. Sandberg: No disrespect.. but it just isn’t that easy to “lean in”.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa ~ (Photo credit: **Mary**)
There has been much talk generated by Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook and the author of the book, “Lean In”. I will preface this blog post by saying that I have not read or purchased the book on principle. She does not need my money and I am having difficulty embracing her and her story. She has a Harvard undergraduate degree and a Harvard MBA. She was the Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Treasury for 5 years. She worked at Google, and attends parties where she can meet people like Mark Zuckerberg.
Here is my truth, and I suspect the truth for the majority of the working women in this country. I didn’t go to Harvard. I graduated from Elmhurst College. Great school, but the U.S. Treasury, Google and Facebook aren’t holding open interviews for COO or CFO’s on campus. The only job I might be able to get in Washington DC is a paralegal job, and even then, I suspect you have to know someone, so that still leaves me out. And the people at the parties I go to spend much of their time chasing their children, wiping their hands and faces, arguing sports and politics, or falling asleep in the chair for a variety of reasons.
I know some of the most amazing and strong women on the planet, and you know what, they work because they have to work. They have mortgages, tuitions, car payments, utility and credit card bills. Some are single mothers, others are the primary breadwinners. Often they are working in male dominated places that if they decided to “lean in” they may just get fired and then how will they keep the roof over their children’s heads? If they do not or cannot “lean in” , it is not because they are underachievers, hardly! They don’t do it because no matter how much they love their career, they love the reason they work more.
Sheryl’s “Lean In” idea is contributing to the constant message that is being sent to us, the majority, that “no matter how hard I try, I can’t ever get anything right!”. Sheryl can leave her office at 5 pm because if she gets fired, she has a $30 million dollar nest egg. She can “lean in” because a termination on her resume is just a hiccup, not a barrier to ever finding work again. The truth is that Sheryl has the education, resources and opportunities that we can only dream of, and those are things that allow her to boldly “lean in” with little or no fear of the consequences. I do not begrudge her in anyway, in fact, I am always thrilled when a women rises to a power position. However, simply stated, we are not afforded the same luxury.
During all of this researching and writing, a thought occurred me. Would we be more likely to “lean in” if we knew we were going to be supported, especially from our female co-workers? Would we have more energy to “lean in” if we didn’t always feel like we are in constant competition with one another? What would encouraging another woman to follow her dream look like in the workplace? How can I empower you, because ultimately that is how I become empowered?
Stay tuned …. There is a social movement being created right in this very space! What are your thoughts about “lean in” and what ideas do you have to support women in the workplace? Please let us know. We look forward to the journey!
Peace,
Fee
