International Womens Day

With all the #internationalwomensday posts I feel proud stand in MY home and declare that I am a strong, intelligent, educated woman who chose to leave behind mainstream workforce and be available for my family.

I CHOSE to spend time nurturing, providing, loving, teaching, disciplining my daughter in order to prepare her for the next few years of her life.

I CHOSE to become the primary source of cleaning, cooking and home management because I wanted to provide a safe, clean, comfortable place for my husband to come home to.

I CHOSE to let go of my personal income because the money I was earning paled in comparison to the life lessons I needed to teach my daughter.

I CHOSE to begin coaching young women in pageants because I wanted them to see what an intelligent, educated, confident, service-driven woman can do. Because I wanted to provide a counterpoint to what most young ladies have to see as "role models."

I CHOSE this life for this and sooooooo many more reasons. That is a PRIVILEGE that was hard-fought and earned. We struggled and worked hard, saved and planned to be where we are today. Not everyone chooses this life and that is PERFECTLY FINE. Some women want to work out of the home and that is awesome. it is incredible that we have the choice for either.

So today I celebrate my ability to live my life as I choose without fear of persecution. Just like the many men, in my life, that I respect.