After a few days away from home and from Green Mamma too, it is good to be back. To start the week off right, I thought I’d return to one of my favorite posts: gratitude Sunday. My word for this week is hope, and gosh, considering my own life and what is going on around the country and the world, a little bit of hope sounds like something we could all use more of right now. Here are a few things I am hopeful for:
a stronger economy . . .
leaders who I (and the rest of our country) can believe in (and who don’t pander to us as though we were ignorant fools) . . .
an end to the war in Iraq
how about no more war
no more violence
no more grudges to be held
appreciation for all human beings, not just the rich ones, the powerful ones, the ones we notice
that women across the world have access to an education
safe schools (where there are no guns, bullying, harassment)
a clean environment
clean air
clean water
humane treatment of animals
respect for our neighbors’ choices (so long as they do no harm)
that my bulbs sprout next spring (since I have no idea what I’m doing as I plant them)
that my daughter, my husband, my mother, my sister, my nephew, my extended family, my friends stay healthy (and happy would be nice too)
that I have many healthy children (and pleasant pregnancies . . . a girl can dream)
that I get to see my daughter (and other children too) ride a bike, tie shoes, graduate high school and college, and maybe even get married
and that I remember that right now there is a lot to be had (and grateful for) in the moment I am in, looking at my daughter’s plump cheeks and big eyes, and watching her dad gaze at her, so in love.
{ 7 comments }
Beautiful post! I love it. I wish all of those things for you as well. For some reason, I can’t get your blog to link properly on my favorites list. I must be doing something wrong.
I am in complete utter agreement!
MaryLea, thank you! I will try my best to figure out how you may list the Green Mamma URL under your favorites.
Prasanna, since we have talked about many of the ideas (and hopes listed here), I imagined that several would resonate with you. I’m glad that they did. =)
I agree with a lot of what you wrote, about safe schools, a better economy, a clean environment, no more wars… and access to education for women. I was just speaking about the importance of women’s education throughout the world to my students today. It leads to better quality of life for the whole family and helps to lower the fertility rate in countries where overpopulation is a big problem.
That makes sense (that education lowers fertility rates). At the same time, what I love about more recent generations of women who are educated is that we have the choice to be educated for our children’s sake. Right now I am reading the Stay at Home Parents Survival Guide, which discusses the role that education played in the feminist movement in our country (and surely across the world). One argument is that while feminism was great for women who had already had their children (or had chosen not to have children) because these women could pursue their educations and a career. Unfortunately, this ideal leaves our children out of the equation.
I support all people having access to an education, and I think it is especially important for women who have children to be educated (these women are, afterall, their children’s first teachers). A nation with educated women (thus educated mothers) may be better off than a nation who does not believe in educating its women.
Interesting thoughts. I know there are many folks who feel that feminism is the downfall of the American family. I like to think that we can have it all, though. I can be a good wife, daughter, sister, teacher, and (someday) mother, all at the same time.
Yes, we all have to hope for all of these wondrous things! How can you not have hope when you look into the beautiful, wondering eyes of your dear daughter?
Thanks for sharing!………….Ruth
Comments on this entry are closed.