Building your portfolio-as a woman ; a little on 'motherhood': Is it a curse or a blessing? And what is your cause?

Building your portfolio ; a little on 'motherhood': Is it a curse or a blessing? What is your cause?

Last night,  I had to offer my comfort platter,a few choice words on a foreseen  departure,my hand,my touch,my silence.

Sometimes,Its the only proper way to relate to a mother's loss..

Its the only way to say you understand, that you know you can never fully understand what it feels like to mourn this kind of a loss,when your womb has never carried,yet you still mourn with her, for her loss...your silence and hers,in unison..relating to a deep seated kind of pain that runs in a mother's veins,piercing her grieving heart

that from time to time  you question if motherhood is a blessing or a curse...even though deep down you know..

You know motherhood isnt just about carrying a child to term,sometimes its giving birth to things we cannot touch,things we will never hold,to things we will give back to the universe

.that though you think by now,you ought to be used to death by now,used to saying 'i am sorry for your loss,' its one of those phrases that refuses to make itself comfortable.It remind you of a visiting child,who sits in a rich neighbour's house sofa with one buttock,lest he spoils the sofa covering...

It tastes bitter everytime,that if you could escape saying those words,you would,if you had a choice....but you have no choice,and you refuse to succumb to the idea that death,premature death is inevitable...and you dig deep in history ..and along the trenches you realise some have refused to say I am sorry

The brave hearted,the women who decided that though they cannot conquer physical death,there are other forms of death that they can conquer,the ones who decided gore ga  go ingwaelwe matsetse mo go bone.

they pursued and continue to pursue causes that benefit(ed) nations.

They kick out the phrase im sorry for your loss in another way.

By refusing to say:

''i'm sorry for your children's inability to grow up uneducated because you were born into poverty cannot afford their  school fees,''

''Im sorry to have your children succumb to obesity and its dire effects despite them being born in a country as developed as America,''

they kick out the words,''i'm sorry,your children cannot be recognised as yours in your own country  because they were born to a foreigner,''

''i'm sorry your refugee children will have no one to look after them because someone decided cold blooded war was the path to peace''

I AM SORRY...

Women,like you and me...shake this planet's im sorry.They change its story.They shape the future.Create a new history.Because they are tired of saying sorry...

The movers and shakers of past era's and our age.

i realise that embracing yourself and seeking to be the best YOU,YOU can be is perhaps the greatest way to inspire change in others.Sometimes your deeds drive change more than your words,and sometimes years after you have left your mark,someone sees your footprints and it inspires them.

Considering the era the Michelle Obama's,The Unity Dow's ,The Graca Machel's,the Chiepe's  were raised, im impressed by their ability  to go against the tide and make life changing decisions that give back to the universe  new stories that benefit more than just one child.

Contrary to popular belief, that a well accomplished woman doesn't make a great mom, my view is,a humble spirit that seeks to benefit more than one is great,be it residing in a man or woman.Women who embrace  the maternal instincts to nurture their children,to protect ,to see them grow into  young adults in safety, are great.

I am learning not to shy away from greatness..to be

The Dr Chiepe  who served our government for over 30 years in top positions and was instrumental in developing Botswana’s education system and is known to many as the woman who fought for the free education in Botswana. Which to me is as much a maternal instinct as it is a political cause.Mothers are the primary care givers,the first teacher most encounter in life.

The Michelle Robinson now Michelle Obama who was on the honor roll for four years, took advanced placement classes, was a member of the National Honor Society, and served as student council treasurer. She graduated in 1981 as the salutatorian of her class and today is the first lady of America,whose waged a battle ground for obesity,an affliction thats ravaging the USA.Her academic story says this is one woman to contend with.Ga go ingwaelwe matsetse...

The Unity Dow.I was also pleasantly surprised to learn that in 1991 Unity Dow co-founded the private Baobab Primary School in Gaborone .I knew the law aspect of Unity Dow and her author side but this perhaps goes to explain that she has had a deep seated love for education for some time.As a lawyer she earned acclaim for her stances on women's rights. She was the plaintiff in a case that allowed the children of women by foreign nationals to be considered Batswana where tradition, and prior precedent, stated nationality only descended from the father. She later became Botswana's first female High Court judge.


Graca Mandela fascinates me a lot,not because she is the only woman in history to have gotten married to two presidents but her fluency in 7 languages says a lot.Graça Machel née Graça Simbine is fluent in French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese ,German, English, as well as her native Shangaan language.7 languages...mmhh and the fact that she has been involved and even recognised by United Nations in recognition of her longstanding humanitarian work, particularly on behalf of refugee children says to me,our built,as women,is more of a blessing than a curse.


The more i read,the more i wondered,what did this people have in them to make them hunger for learning this much.Is it coincidence? Is it luck? Where they inspired by someone else.One thing i know is,i find a well read,well rounded person quiet fascinating,and they have engaging conversations that leave you unaware of time and craving for more conversations.

Being a woman,should not be seen as a hindrance to career pursuits,to political or humanitarian pursuits.If we recognise the same vulnerabilities we list as our weaknesses,we can always change them for strengths.We are born nurturers,protectors.We fight battles for our children,our families and if we integrate that with our careers,we bring a fresh perspective to the table..that only a woman can bring forth.


Build your portfolio:Because you are a woman.Be a credible storm withering brand,Because you are a woman.Build a nation.Because you are a woman.Being a woman,is a blessing.