"Head of Her Table - Matriarch In Training"
My father advised me while growing up to become an independent woman with my own career. He had possibly learned this from seeing others suffer, and wanted me to do better for myself. He told me not to trap myself. He helped me see things I couldn't see on my own, and I'm glad he prepared me well. He was constantly saying "when I'm dead..." and would end with some kind of life skill or lesson like teaching me how to change my own oil.
Throughout my life, my dad was always preparing me for his death so I could deal with life on my own. I didn't realize what a gift this would be, and even with those lessons, I wasn't prepared when he did go.
The lessons did empower me to get a good education and become an independent young lady. My bullies growing up created insecurities in me, however, and my father couldn't protect me from them. As I started to teach my daughter about confidence, it caused me to have to work on my Self. It pushed me to read books, study my own history and life events, educate myself, ask myself hard questions, and challenge my beliefs so that I could stretch, grow, and make changes to my thinking.
As I grow, I have created an "ideal" for myself based on the principles of my faith and using my past experiences. This image of my daughter depicts how I feel about the matriarch I want to become. She sits at the head of her own table, and wields her home.
To me, the Modern Matriarch has the power to set the tone of her own home. If she is kind and loving, the home and children are as well. If she is smart and hard-working, the home and children are as well. As she is, so is her home and her children.
To me, the modern matriarch is independent, but can also rely on others. She balances expectations of herself, her children, and her husband well. She wraps her relationships with love, encouragement, and generosity.
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