Women’s History Month 2019

My mother was probably my biggest influence, but not because she was in the workforce. She was born in 1939 so she was brought up to be a housewife, but that’s why she inspired me. She always wanted more for her kids.

When she was just 16 she left Scotland and came to America by herself. She did this because she wanted more for her family. She didn’t want her kids to work in a factory when they grew up. Not that there is anything wrong with working in a factory, but she wanted more and worked very hard to get it.

When I was a young child she told me: “You will go to college; you will have a career; you don’t have a choice”. I remember that very well. She got a little plaque for me that said, “Don’t tell your daughter to marry a doctor or lawyer. Tell her she could be one”. That plaque hung in my bedroom all the way through the time that I left for college.

The other women in my family were also big influences on my life. Most of these women were reliant on husbands, and they taught me at a young age that I didn’t want to rely on anyone else. I saw too many cases where things did not work out in a relationship, and if one partner (typically the woman) did not have any income he/she was left to hope that his or her ex did the right thing, but they don’t always. I saw a lot of that growing up, so I worked very hard to get success for myself.

Mothers- Since my daughter was born, I’ve realized the important role that mothers play. I am impressed by everything that both working and stay-at-home moms do. I’m particularly impressed by moms of children with disabilities; it is a high-calling.

My grandmothers- Both sets of my grandparents are immigrants. They immigrated to Canada from The Netherlands in the 1950s with young families, not knowing any people or the language. They did not have an easy time or many opportunities when they arrived.  They were sponsored by local farmers for manual labour and lived in poor conditions. I often think about their courage, values, and resilience.

I am inspired every day by my daughter.  She is not even three years old, but she has already shown me that she is strong, determined and fearless.  She knows what she wants and she pushes for it (she is a toddler after all).  Young kids are unapologetic about who they are, they haven’t yet been shaped by societal norms into thinking that they should be a certain way.  She reminds me of the importance of being true to yourself and not being afraid to push through barriers.  She inspires me to be better, not only as a woman, but as a human being.

My great-grandmother Ellen Henry made the trip from Ireland to Boston on her own at the age of 20 with $10 in her pocket. She ended up in Salem, Massachusetts where she found work as a Nanny for the children of a prominent Doctor, while still using her talent at lace making which she had studied in Ireland. After meeting her husband at a farewell party for some friends returning to Ireland, she married and made New York her home, raising six children who inherited her strong sense of moral values, hard work and perseverance.  Her daughter, my Grandmother, worked for the FBI during World War II and raised seven children while working in my grandfather’s law practice. I admire my Great Grandmother for her courage, love of family and independence; values she passed down to the next generations of women.

I also enjoy reading about women who have helped to shape our nation. Abigail Adams was a favorite from my elementary school days when I first learned she was the second First Lady of the United States and mother of our 6^th president John Quincy Adams. As I advanced in my education, I had the privilege of reading original letters written by Abigail to her husband John during the revolution. She was one of the first advocates of women’s right to education, women’s property rights and abolition of slavery. She supported America’s independence and instructed her husband to “Remember the Ladies” when he was drafting the New Code of Laws as part of the second Continental Congress.