Well, it’s day 18 of NaBloPoMo and today’s writing prompt is as follows:
What do you hope people remember about you after you’re gone?
I really love this question, actually, because it makes me dissect my dreams just a little further than usual. I mean, I’m great with giving the standard answers – I want people to remember I was a kind person. I want them to remember I loved my family to death. I want them to remember I was a good wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and so on. But really…when it comes down to the real truth…I want people to remember me as a pioneer mom who changed the world.
As moms, we may sometimes feel a little overwhelmed and stifled in our abilities to do great things, but it always helps to look at other moms who have done just that as inspiration. Here are a just a few lesser-known pioneer moms who have changed the world. They might not be household names, but we experience the impact they’ve had on our worlds each and every day!
Emma Willard
Emma Willard was a women’s rights advocate and mom who fought for equal education for girls and boys. She founded the first women’s school for higher education, Troy Female Seminary (now the Emma Willard School) in 1821.
Mary Harris Jones
Mary was a labor rights activist and mom of four who is best known for leading children in a strike against the textile mills in 1903. She and the strikers carried banners that said “We want to go to school!” from Kensington, PA to the home of President Theodore Roosevelt in Long Island, NY.
Daisy Bates
When the Supreme Court ruled that segregation among schools was no longer constitutional, Daisy Bates advocated for integration and helped identify the nine students who would be the first African-American students to attend Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.
She mentored and nurtured the students during this difficult time, striving to protect them from mobs and vicious threats.
Lois Gibbs
Lois was a mom who discovered that both her home and her son’s elementary school were built on a toxic waste dump. She lobbied for the creation of a federal act called the Superfund, which was designed to locate and clean up toxic waste sites throughout the US. The act was passed in 1980.
Candace Lightner
After one of her twin 13 year old daughters was killed by a drunk driver, Candice founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), one of the country’s largest activist organizations.
Leymah Gbowee
2011 Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee is a Liberian peace activist, social worker and women’s rights advocate. She was a young mother at the start of the Liberian Civil War and successfully led a nonviolent movement, bringing together Christian and Muslim women to play a pivotal role in ending the war 2003. Her historic achievement paved the way for the election of Africa’s first female head of state, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and launched a new wave of female activists worldwide.
So how can you make history? How do you join the ranks of these pioneer moms who have changed the world? Start with these steps:
- Form your team – Join forces with other like minded individuals, either through your personal network or through professional organizations that are aligned with your cause.
- Educate – Awareness is often the catapult for action. When people fully understand your cause and its ramifications (what’s in it for me?), they are more likely to become an ally in your fight.
- Share your story – Why is this important to you? Why do you want to make a difference with this particular cause? Your most compelling argument and reason for others to follow you is always your personal testimony. Attend public hearings, use social media, blogs, and other media channels to get the word out and spread your message.
- Be persistent – Change takes time and you will be faced with a lot of no’s and doors in your face. Continue to fight and be persistent until change happens.
Are you a mom who is changing the world? Share your story here!
This was a good read Ari! And those women did great things. I want to be known as woman who showed people it was ok to keep dreaming. Because dreams can come true at any age.
You will be, Bernetta, and you’re definitely on your way!
This is a very good article. These when saw a need and chose to do something about it. Instead of says why me; the said why not me. Beautiful!
– Oh wow. Oh wowowowow. This is befiuuatl and capital-R Romantic. I love it all and especially your black and whites. The one in front of the window is extra special. xo. Happy Valentine’s Day, Gladys!
Great read! You are right on about educating others being so important. My cause is bringing foreign language learning to at-risk kids. They are least likely to have access to foreign language learning. Cultural awareness and speaking more than one language will be critically important for the generation coming up. Though it doesn’t seem to be on the radar for our most vulnerable kids. I’m working hard to educate others and “rally troops” to bring this skill to ALL kids, not just the ones that can afford classes. Thanks for the post – inspiring.