I have a bias towards women – I tend to allow them more leeway and sometimes make excuses for them, at least secretly. Each day one hears tales of extraordinary women, who unhesitatingly embark on seemingly impossible journeys and then display remarkable fortitude and ingenuity in the travel. I am particularly fascinated by the roles that generations of strong women (are there any other kind?) play within families.
I dwell upon the connection I had with my mother and how it evolved over the years. This provides insight on my bond with my own daughter and how it grows stronger every day. From this vantage point, I can look back toward what I remember of my mom’s relationship with her mother while also viewing the beginnings of my daughter’s relationship with her precious little girl!
My perspective reveals a pattern that is wonderfully reassuring. I see each mother morph from commanding to mellow, as she willingly relinquishes authority. I see each daughter soften from combative, even competitive, to thoughtful and caring. I see the unmistakable pride each mom feels to see each daughter come into her own. I see those ‘aha’ moments of empathy, as daughters appreciate the challenges of managing families and raising children! Most of all, I see a strong foundation that supports a stronger edifice, both weathered gradually by the changing seasons and the passage of time…
