Soul to soul, heart to heart why am I feared and you are loved?
There have been times over my motherhood journey that I have asked this question, time and time again.
I remember asking this question when my son was two and I was passed up for promotion because I was a single mother and apparently “I wouldn’t have been able to commit to the hours needed” so my offer was withdrawn.
I asked this question again when I worked tirelessly for a company changing their whole culture and practices so it was safe for them to grow without them being penalised because of their outdated practices and unfair behaviours.
After working so hard and proving my worth I thought it was only right I asked for a promotion, but again being a single mother meant I didn’t have access to the same success ladder as other mothers, because I have “too much commitment” being a single mother.
I walk into a supermarket and I see a mother stressed beyond return screaming at her child because she is so exhausted by the constant battle of getting her child to listen that she is no longer able to think clearly. That mixed in with the pressure coming from the staring eyes, the raised eyebrows and the not so silent “she needs to control that child”
I think it again and I wonder when did I sign up for this hierarchy system amongst mothers?
When did this really start?
She is better than me, I’m better than her, we all have a womb, right?
And we all created life so why is she above me and I am below her in society?
Did it start with the perception that single mothers are less responsible?
Did it start with the glances between each other and the raised eyebrows as we judge another mother for her parenting skills?
I really don’t know but what I do know is when we practice the ability to disconnect ourselves from another mother’s journey and speak more negativity by way of judgement into her experiences, we widen the ability for us to raise children that are able to accept themselves as a whole.
I recognise we will not all raise the same child, with the same behaviours and we will not all have same circumstance or situations, but as a mother, we all have the opportunity to shape society by the wisdom, the love and the vision we impart in our children.
With this level of responsibility and dedication, we are also able to teach our children to accept themselves as they succeed in changing the world.
Let’s not keep signing up for this hierarchy system, let’s give each other the confidence to lead the next generation to their greatness through building a society of mothers that are willing to raise each other so that we can raise our children together.
Create Empower Overcome, be a CEOMOM.