No matter which decision you make as a woman or a wife and especially as a Mother, it appears to be met by opposition of some sorts at every turn. SAHM, WAHM, breastfeeding and formula, school or home school, public or private, plastic surgery or au natural, Botox or bangs.Today’s world is one of speaking up, of giving your opinion or stating your beliefs no matter whether you are talking to a friend or a complete stranger. In years of old, there was more of a reserve. Conversations behind closed doors, disapproval through a look or maybe a hushed whisper.
What a far cry from the world we live in today, where every thought is online, opinions leap out from magazines, and ideas bombard you from every newscast. No peace even to be found at a grocery store checkout line as you are assaulted from every angle.
Celebrities, marital discord, latest fad diets, plastic surgery and enough advice on how to make yourself younger, prettier, more desirable – it makes one want to crawl back into bed and stay there.
On the other hand, this is a time where the world is at our fingertips. Our resources for information are almost limitless. Have a question and you can have it answered in seconds. Need support for education, for marriage, for divorce, infertility, loss – it is there at the touch of a button. Of course this truly depends on your circumstances, it remains contingent on where you live and how you are raised. Here, in the US, where we are currently residing, we have freedom, liberty, opportunity – we can use these available resources for good.Â
For surely the issues that appear to pit women against each other are issues that should be set aside when you look at the global issues surrounding women’s health, infant mortality, gender discrimination and countless more.
The fact there are still countries where women do not have the right to vote and honor killings remain in existence, can only make one ashamed of the recent magazine cover uproar.
I am rearing two girls who have been blessed with an education, healthcare, and a safe home where they have been sheltered and protected. And as in the story of The Lorax, when I think of who I speak for, I speak for my children. But I recognise that as a parent in this world today, it is my calling to have my children connected and engaged in the world they will inherit.
This Summer we will travel to Nicaragua to volunteer with an organisation called Outreach 360, and if all goes according to plan, we will return to the Dominican Republic in the Fall.
We don’t need another vacation at a resort, or a shopping trip to another city, but we do need to be of service.
I want this to be a gift to them since who knows where their destiny may lie, the world today is their oyster … I am raising girls in a country where they have the opportunity to make a difference. They have the potential to change the world, it just takes one small step at a time.
What do you teach your children?
This is an original post to World Moms Blog from our South African, ex-pat mother of two in Florida, Nicole. You can find more of Nicole’s writing and musings on her personal blog:Â By Word of Mouth Musings.
Image designed by the author.
Maturity in all its forms.
We are counting the days and feel so fortunate to have this opportunity, this gift – teaching our children about the needs of others is probably one of the greatest lessons we can teach them!
Oh Nicole, as always you speak to my heart. I am doing what I can each week to teach my boys to leave the world better than they found it. In my religion we learn “It is not your job to finish the work of fixing the world, but neither may you stop trying.”
I just love that quote. It is so important for us to teach our children to be giving, the world and its children need all the help it can get. When our children have grown up never wanting, we need to open their hearts to those who have not been as fortunate. Thank you Dr G!
You are a true inspiration, Nicole! 🙂
As you probably know better than most, in South Africa we have almost daily “storms in a teacup”. That said, I have reason to be very optimistic about the future. My daughter’s generation are known as the “Born Frees” (born post 1994 and the demise of the Apartheid laws). I have had the privilege to know a large number of teens for whom volunteering to (for example) paint a school for underprivileged children is as “normal” as meeting at the mall!
There is no greater satisfaction than that of knowing that you have raised children who CHOOSE to make a positive difference in the world. 🙂
I have never heard of the expression ‘born free’ andlove what it represents. I remember the election well, the vision of people who had lined up under a hot sun for hours and hours to be heard, will stay with me always. It breaks my heart that here in the United States, more people are concerned on voting in a tv show than they are voting for a president.
I can’t wait to hear all about your trip. I think, it’s a wonderful thing you are doing and I’m sure your girls will appreciate and embrace what you are trying to teach them.
Thank you so much for sharing here today … I hope that we are able to lead our children down a giving road. It would be the greatest gift of all xxx
re-posted! thanks for the thoughts!
Thank you so very much for sharing with your friends – so very much appreciated.Together we can all make a difference – yes, step by step, and as women I hope side by side!
Speaking of decisions, how about the decision to not have any children at all, which is one that I’ve made. I am very much content with helping to raise my niece and nephew (who desperately need a positive role model in their lives because my brother can be a schmuck but we’ll leave that for another day, another story! LOL). It took me a long while to get comfortable sharing that with people because you know…people can be very judgmental. I would get flack (from no one but moms of course) about not having children.
I love to mentor girl teens and am happy to help other moms, especially my single mom friends, with their children. As you’ve mentioned, we all have the opportunity to help raise responsible children, even if they are not our own.
I’m sure your kids know how blessed they are and are happy to have you as their mom (and they still have to meet their Tee Tee 😉 )
Love the Maya Angelou quote!
~Kesha
Anyone who tries to make a difference in the life of another … be it man, woman or child … even taking care of the animals – counts. Everyone needs a champion, and any person who has you by their side dear Kesha, is so very blessed indeed. No one needs to have given birth or raised a child to be a voice or an advocate for those less fortunate, you just have to have a heart .. .and like yours, have it in the right place. You are a blessing to all who know you, and your light, and positive attitude glows and enriches everyone you meet. Never feel judged my dear, you are truly a gift!
Humbled by your words…love you!!!
Considering the overpopulation crisis most of us don’t like to think about, your choice not to have children should be commended and not judged! If anything, people like me, who only ever wanted to have biological kids, are the ones who should be judged for putting personal desires ahead of the greater good! Thank you for your choice, Kesha – it mitigates my bringing 2 more into this world. God Bless.
I love this. I was convicted of same sentiment. I told my children, this summer we are going to decide a project a week — helping someone. It’s a small start but I hope it will change all our attitudes.
A small start, that is all it takes. One small step in the right direction shows our children where our heart is. We teach by our actions, not by our words … glad your heart is in the right place xxx
Nicole,
You are amazing. I am speechless. We all talk big about things we are doing, but you are taking your family on a plane, flying overseas, and actually doing HUGE things to help people. I can’t wait to hear more about your adventures with Outreach 360! and you are PHENOMENAL! xoxoxox
Oh Erin, thank you … we are truly the ones blessed to have this opportunity. Being a part of something that wants to do good, bring about change, the blessings are all ours to be able to hopefully make a difference. I believe the greatest difference will be in our own lives – it will be a gift.
Nicole,
I am looking forward to the day when my girls are a little bigger, and we can do a family service trip. I can’t wait to hear all about yours! I love what you are doing. Keep it up!
Powerful post!
Jen 🙂
Thank you Jennifer, we are truly very thrilled to have this opportunity to be involved … maybe we will all do good together one day!
Love this!! I will promptly be researching Outreach 360! My oldest is 13 and informed me last month that he would like to forgo the trip to italy we were planning to fundraise for (an educational tour for the both of us) and head to Cambodia with our church to an orphanage where we sponsor a child.
Don’t you love when they want to serve? Just pleases my heart.
Hey mama, you sound as though you have one great kid there and you are teaching him well … good job, your heart is in the right place and clearly the apple did not fall far from the tree xxx
I think that is wonderful that you are taking your girls to Nicaragua. I,too, want my kids to know how blessed they are and how they can use their blessings to make a difference in this world. Living in Nigeria is a constant reminder of how truly blessed we are and there are so many small ways we can make a difference. My son is only 6 but he is starting to realize when we see people starving along the streets here that they are truly hungry and have no food( my daughter is only 4 and doesn’t quite understand everything she sees yet). He is starting to realize how much he has and has even donated some of his toys to the local charities here. It has been an eye opening experience for me to see first hand how much need there is in the world through working with a local charity here. Sometimes when we are so blessed with the basic needs of life we forget about so many in the world who need so much. Thanks for sharing your story.:) Meredith:)
How wonderful that your son already has an awareness at such a tender age – clearly you are teaching him well!