I'll never forget waiting in line in a woman's restroom to witness one of the greatest examples of feminine strength and resiliency. A little girl, no older than four, took her turn to use the stalled toilet, with Mom grabbing the stall door from behind, to slow it and hold it closed. The little girl came right back out of the stall like a bull from a rodeo pen, reclaimed the door's control all to herself, and exclaimed to her Mother and all in the bathroom: "NO, MOM! I can do it MYSELF!"
The Mom turned beet red, and after looking to the floor, looked up at me and apologized for her daughter's public behavior. I countered with an absolute additional: "NO!"
I told the young mother that what we had all just witnessed was one of the best examples
of feminine assertive behavior that I had ever seen! I shared with all,
that it took years for me to get to that level of strength and confidence. Instead of shame,
this young lady should be applauded, and will make one heck of a CEO someday!
In not to dissimilar a case, I recall a parking lot driving lesson with my oldest. She had always back seat driver encouraged me to 'pull up' to the next parking spot, so leaving the lot could be an easier task.
Of course, as old horses do, I plodded off in my same parking lot pattern I had for years, until that one magical day, when she was behind the wheel.
She was turning right into the angled parking spot when ahead of her appeared an opening like all the beaming lights of heaven itself. She had almost caught herself in the same child like intonation, to tell me to pull forward, when I could see the lightening bolt recognition on her face and in her eyes that SHE was in control this time.
Without missing a beat, my oldest exclaimed; "I'M PULLING THROUGH!" and she did!
I don't know who had more of a rush, her or me, to witness that Rosa Parks moment of strength, and newfound freedom.
'You've always had the power to go back to
was told, after much trepidation.
You can be who you want to be and not be ashamed or guilty, you have the right to be loved, happy, and not hurt or frightened by others, is what I told myself. (there was no glowing bubble that popped)
Years of walls, structures and confines for women that we must knock down ourselves, with the sledgehammers of our self bolstered lives.
It's no wonder when we see a young woman already making that huge step, (the one that terrified us for years), with all the gusto of an Olympic Star, that we have to smile to ourselves and know,
things are going to be ok.
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