Women in my life

For the longest time I believed that my all-girls school and college education was a disadvantage. Add to that the fact that I grew up in a family of women–mum, sisters, aunt, cousins who stayed with us, and a father who travelled a lot.

Yesterday while sitting on a panel, to discuss women in leadership (bossy pants or nanny 101), one of the co-panellists spoke about the invisible rules.

It occurred to me at that point, much of my life those rules didn’t apply to me because of what I thought were the disadvantages. At school we played a lot of sports, we did some heavy-duty cleaning, there was no boy-thing girl-thing; at home, we were expected to know everything from changing the fuse wire to handling the spanners and screwdriver for tasks around the house. We were taught to live life, and manage it, without a thought that there were gender-based roles.

Of course at school and college we were all rather guy-crazy, getting quite excited at the sight of any young, passably presentable man on campus. But other than that, I grew up more or less gender blind/indifferent.

Still, because of how I grew up, the environment, the most important people in my life are women. I have  large, very large circle of women friends. But for me, these six seven (+1) below epitomise all things strong, charming and beautiful;  AND the fact that they seem to unconditionally love me, despite knowing the worst about me (oh yes!).

They never make me doubt the friendship, or feel insecure. For me (the big fat doubter that I am) this makes them truly precious.

I thank them for being in my life, and for making me believe I am important and loved.

Sangi: I pull her leg relentlessly. But don’t know what I would do without her around, quirks et al.

Teesu: My mad, mad buddy.

Kisara: Tomorrow I can go on a murderous rampage, and she will still find good things to say about me :)

Mythili: Who never hesitates to put me in my place, and doesn’t care much about sugar coating stuff for me.

My sisters. With each it’s a different dynamic, and together it’s wonderful. And though they are not my confidantes in everything, I know, tomorrow if I drop dead, my daughters will have the three ready mommies. Even if they come down on my like a tonne of bricks when I throw my tantrums, they just make my life seem so easy and rich.

There is one other person. R. But I do know she might object to her picture being here, or tease me about this melodramatic post. But you know who you are.

So Happy Women’s Day people, and I do hope my little women will grow up with all that I enjoyed and more.

 

Edit: My sis whose maths talent has improved vastly, pointed out that i had the number wrong!

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