Womyns History month 3.15.2024

This month is a great opportunity to celebrate all womyn but the person I most want to recognize and celebrate is my Mother.

In the 50’s-60’s when my mom was starting higher education womyn were not encouraged to be in the workforce. If they decided to work they had a few options…nurse, secretary, or teacher. My mother went to nursing school and lived away from home, which was not normal. My grandfather was mortified that she was in the same city but not living at home. My mother graduated with a nursing degree and started her life. She was an ER nurse and worked the 3-11 shift. She got married and had 4 kids 2 years apart except for my little sis (kid #5) who was 8 years behind my brother. Mom worked, cooked, grocery shopped, repaired bumps and scrapes, shuttled each one of us back and forth, supported, soothed, and cheered each one of us on. What a task. She volunteered at the Jesuit Retreat House, went on backpacking trips in Colorado, and managed our large family gatherings. As we kids aged she eventually left the ER world and transitioned into Hospice. At 50 she went back to school and received her BS in nursing and then at 55 decided to go for an MBA. My mother in her second (third or fourth?) act as the director of Hospice of Medina County built an amazing inpatient facility to provide beautiful end-of-life care for patients and families. What a track record! Today she is retired and travels as well as teaches classes at ILR. Her most recent class is “Speaking Truth to Power: Significant Women in Christianity” which is a history class about bad-assed women who were strong powerful, full of knowledge, compassionate, and stood up to the religious institutions that were trampling over everyone’s rights.

What I admire most about my Mom is that she keeps learning, pivots, has great empathy, loves her family fiercely, believes that we can do anything no matter what loves fun and adventure, and always has a shoulder to lean/cry on.

My Mom teaches me that I can do anything if I focus on it (like going back to school) and to continue to learn which creates a better understanding of the world around me. She also teaches me to stand up for what I believe in and to seek truth, help others, develop empathy, and be of service.

I am grateful to have such a powerful example of a strong womyn.

Who has been a strong influence in your life?

Happy Womyn’s History Month Ladies.

With Love

Pam