Strength is sacrifice

I consider myself someone who believes in the core values of feminism. 

Empowerment, justice, quality education and equality for all women.

However, I find myself grimacing at the way feminism has been represented.

I often see that many 'feminist' say they advocate for choices for women, yet they seem to only affirm one type of feminism.

The career- focused, man bashing "I don't need anyone but me" woman.

This is the woman who chooses to pursue a career instead of family all in the name of 'feminism'.

I'm not saying that women shouldn't pursue a career, but I am saying that choosing the life of a career woman doesn't make you any more 'feminist' than those women who choose to spend their days at home with their young.

Ironically, it seems to me that the institution of  feminism slashes at the core qualities that make womanhood so powerful.

Somehow women give power to men when they choose marriage and the taking of the man's last name.

Somehow women give power to men when women opt out of epidurals and other processes that make childbirth 'easier'. 

And women once again give power to men when they choose to stay at home with their children rather than further their careers.

Why is it such an either/or topic?

I have found my greatest empowerment in the observing the strength of my body during pregnancy and childbirth and I continue to be empowered in the daily grind of motherhood and wife-hood.

Too often I hear women slandering the inherently powerful aspects of womanhood all in the name of 'equality'.

To so many a feminist is someone who seeks to find power in what has traditionally been a 'mans world'.

And that makes the rest of us who opt out of the competition of the career world to focus on family,
women of weakness.

I find this shameful.

All other females in the animal kingdom seek FIRST the betterment of their young.

It's what comes naturally to them.

Why can't feminism include advocating for what inherently makes us women.

The ability to bear children and to mother them.

This is not to say that those who choose to not bear children or those who for some reason are incapable of bearing children are any less 'woman'.

I'm more advocating to re-think what makes a woman strong, powerful and truly feminist.

 I believe women have a strength and power that is uniquely and inherently ours. 

It does not go away if we choose to leave the world of careers and it does not go away if we choose to step into this world either.

We don't lose this power when we choose marriage or family.

We don't lose this power when we rely on our husbands for happiness or even financial stability!

We don't lose this power when we spend our days covered in baby slobber scrubbing cloth diapers and nursing our babe.
To fully live in a way that empowers you as a woman, you have to make sacrifices.
Too often I see "feminism" place priority on the needs/wants of the woman.
I fully believe that a woman's strength is most evident when she let's her compassion guide her to make to sacrifices for her family, community, etc.

I want to continue to advocate for equality for all women.

But I don't want this to be limited to women being equal to men in the work/political/educational world.

I also want women to truly live in equality with other women.

In our pursuits to be seen and treated as equals with the opposite gender, let us not cause division among ourselves.

Feminism is about the empowerment of ALL women --- 

regardless of political stance, religion or marital status.
I want to see feminism affirm the power and importance of the woman who is shaking up the political world, the woman who is saving lives in Afghanistan by offering quality medical care and the woman who lives in a small Midwestern town who is loving on her community and spends her days caring for her young.
The power of woman can be seen when she stands before the world as a powerful political leader making good changes in our world and it can also be seen when she stands before her children as a mother, loving them with a gentle ferociousness and powerfully caring for them.

That's equality.

A day in the life

One thing I've always known about myself is that I appreciate the little moments that make a day.

I have begun to do this even more through my new experience in motherhood.

We give too many moments the title of mundane.

Several times I have missed out on the joy of laughter and adoration because the moment seemed empty.

No moment is empty.

Each moment plays a role in the story of our lives and I don't want to miss out on even the smallest of moments.

This video brings me so much happiness.

First of all, it reminds me of my dog Zero.

Secondly, I find it amazing how much fun these dogs have discovered. 

I hope I can have as much fun in each moment as they dogs are having.
I think most people would enjoy life more if they took the time to truly experience everyday life. Those little often obnoxious moments is what makes each family unique and a little crazy.

I just want to share some very small stories that make my life what it is and makes my family who we are.

1. Zero and I are jogging partners and if there is snow on the ground, he has to stop jogging and roll in the snow at least 3 different times during our run.

2. Just last night during one of Emery's night time feedings, Ben woke up with us. Ben commented on how Emery's nursing sounds very similar to a zombie attack. This really is a great description of the noises she makes!

3. Zero is ALWAYS in the way. He is always at our feet in the kitchen and walking right in front of us whenever we are going out the door. Recently he found the most annoying things to do. Whenever Ben or I are stretching after one of our runs, Zero is right there biting at our every movement, trying to lay in our lap, licking our sweat or doing whatever obnoxious thing he can do to be in the way. We often yell at him when he does it, but we wouldn't want him to change. 

4. Ben and I just rearranged our furniture and now we have to walk around our futon to sit down on it. We must have put it in the most dangerous place. Several times now Ben and I have hit our leg on the corner of the futon as we go to sit down. We have shared in laughter at each other's pain.
5. Emery is already plotting schemes against her parents, or so it seems. She waits until we change her out of a wet diaper to a clean one and then she poops. We are using clothe diapers and she makes sure we have laundry everyday.
6. Ben is often wrestling with Zero to move him from Ben's side of the bed or spot on the couch.
7. Anymore Ben and I rarely find a moment for the two of us. Either Emery or Zero are in need of something, so we often find ourselves in 1 minute rests between the madness trying to just be together. We have found a few daily rituals that at least allow us to be together and laugh together.

These are just a few moments and experiences that create the fun, often chaotic Edwards home.