I am Oona's grandma! She's not quite 2 weeks old an already I am thinking of her life and how we must teach her to use her voice, be strong, and stand up for herself. How hard it is, for so many women today, to know how to speak up for what they need. Some try and are so assertive they bite. Instead of being able to take charge of their own life they somehow want to boss the world around and expect it to bow to their needs. Somehow they confuse empowerment with POWER. Perhaps sometimes we need to bare teeth. Just as we need to cry or even howl we are born with all our emotions. I hoped I raised my own kids to know this. This is their birthright. There are times to be quiet and meditate but there are also times to be enraged. I think too many of us end up sick, dying from lack of song, lack of using our voice.
So, for our Oona, I pray she finds her voice and never surrenders it. Be it writing, song, or voice....I pray she always stands for what is right for her. I hope that others, the wise and kind, will guide her when she does not know. Mostly, I hope she questions the world when it fails her and does not sit by passively accepting less than she deserves. It can be hard work being a woman. For now she's a baby girl with a grandma who wants better for her than she had for herself. For now we will give her love to build her strength and character. I have a feeling Oona will teach me to forgive. She will help me know when to fight and when to let go. I am honored to be Oona's grandma. I am in love again.
