To My Grandkids

Dear Astrid and Nadia:

I am writing to let you know that I believe someday, perhaps within your lifetime, there will be a woman President of the United States (POTUS). I hope you will help make that happen. We are living in a world where possibilities for women are expanding. Girls like yourselves are becoming more secure in their belief that their options are endless and their opportunities are vast.

At the same time, women and girls in many parts of the world are deprived of an education. Here and elsewhere, women and girls are trafficked and abused. Still, others are victimized by their husbands and sometimes by members of their own families. In my generation, these over-reaches and injustices were behind closed doors; in your generation they are now out in the open. That is a good start, but as women, you can change this through your leadership and by inspiring the leadership of others.

Your grandma, MaBett, was a role model for thousands of girls during her 40-year career as a fifth grade school teacher. She believed it was important to help other women achieve their highest potential. Women in my generation elevated one woman to be a vice presidential nominee and another as a presidential candidate. (BTW, we also burned our bras. But that’s another story.) I hope your generation will finally break the glass ceiling and in the process of doing this, make this world a kinder and gentler world.  XO