When my sister, cousins, and I were younger and we disagreed with a male member of the family, my Nana used to laugh and tell us "Boys are stupid." Though you may question her choice of words, and, as a child, I certainly thought this was outrageously silly, the message she conveyed is now clear. Nana taught us that we don't need a man's permission or approval; in fact, she taught us the best way to get what we want is to go out and get it for ourselves.
Our grandmothers are our strongest female role models because they know who they are. Young mothers in their twenties and thirties are still evolving, learning who they are as women, wives, and mothers. Grandmothers have already discovered the values and morals that they stand by, the secrets to a long and happy marriage, and the tricks to make a baby fall asleep exactly when you want her to fall asleep. My grandmother readily shared these secrets but the key to her relationships with us is that she never passed judgement and never pushed advice on us. She would listen carefully and nod along as we shared our story. There was nothing that could shock or upset her; in her 83 years on this Earth, 63 years as a wife, 62 years as a mother, 36 years as a grandmother, and 6 years as a great-grandmother she'd heard it all and loved us anyway.
Each one of the women in my family has achieved great success and, of course, some setbacks in both our personal and professional lives. Each time, we have carried ourselves with grace and dignity and used the confidence my Nana instilled in us to enjoy our achievements or brush ourselves off and try again.
Tutor's Tip: Make sure your daughters spend lots of time with their grandmothers- it will shape who they become as women.
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