“I wish I was a boy, Grandma.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Boys don’t get their monthly thing and they don’t have to birth babies.”
I remember thinking the same thing. I also remember how unfair the world seemed, growing up in the era of Women’s Lib, recognizing the broad stroke of inequality.
I didn’t have any pat answer in the moment. After she left, I wished I’d said the things no one ever said to me:
Life is about choices. You don’t have to do anything.
All experience is valid.
We cannot know why we are born a certain way, but if we are patient and trusting, we will come to find purpose.
Everyone struggles; it is the nature of life. What we do with the struggle is what makes a difference.
Not all pain is physical. Enduring pain gives us strength.
The joy you will experience will far outweigh the pain.
It is easy to fear what we don’t understand; in time, your perspective will change.
Give life a chance.
(For Reena’s Exploration Challenge: If Only I Knew…)
One Woman's Quest II 
Beautifully expressed.
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Thanks so much.
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I love your openness in sharing this, a real life issue and a moments ahead fro connection. I like your thinking as you’ve expressed it – grounded and heartfelt, and I agree with wisewoman. (as an aside, lol, there is a court case in the UK in process where the first man to give birth ectopic/caesarian, who is having to fight to be registered legally as the father!!!)
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Isn’t that interesting – it is reassuring/ intriguing that society continues to have new issues to contend with. Thanks.
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Yes, and, my pleasure.
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Good reflections … perhaps you will read this to her! I remember thinking girls were disadvantaged, that I didn’t like the messiness and restrictions (BOYS could go w/o their shirts on hot summer days!). Looking back from an aged perspective, I’m pretty sure nothing said to me in my early teens would’ve registered as anything more than criticism of my criticisms. That said, I wish the whole matter had been less hush-hush … that I’d had the umph to instigate discussion like my own daughter did years later. Sounds like your granddaughter is open to discussion – a good thing!
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Yes, she is open to discussion at 8 – loves to discuss. Hope we can keep those lines open. Thanks Jazz.
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This is really beautiful and true V.J.! What your wrote would make a nice letter for your granddaughter! I wish someone had wrote a letter of such great wisdom to me to help me through life! She is so blessed to have you! š ā¤
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That is a good idea. Thanks!
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