I was going to change the world.
by LASH
(Oklahoma, USA)
Oklahoma Summertime
I am a widow, raising four boys.
Their father was the "stay at home" parent, while I worked a 60 hour a week job in politics.
Having grown up in Washington D.C. in the 70's involved in the "Woman's Movement", I have always been determined that I was master of my own fate.
I set out to become the first female President(at the very least).
Getting married and producing boy children was never in my plans, until I met a long tall Texan (who also thought I could do no wrong).
He agreed to be "Mr. Mom" while I followed my dreams.
The boys were even home schooled.
Then early one morning when our boys were 13, 11, 8 and 2 years old, my husband had a stroke and died.
With-in a week I realized how very much my universe had just been altered.
Nothing I had accomplished in the public forum meant anything, and all my plans for the future no longer existed.
I also realized the boy's world had been shaken even more than mine.
The baby barely knew who I was.
The older 2 were angry that it was the parent they knew well, and depended on most that was gone, and not the parent that was just there sometimes in the evening and week-ends.
For economic and saftey reasons, we moved from the big city to a small rural area.
The boys were enrolled in public school, and we had a year or two of major adjustments, but came thru it mostly sane and intact.
I learned that both of the older boys have exceptionally high I.Q.'s, and that the third child has a wisdom usually reserved for the very old. He is also always going to defend an underdog with every fiber of his being.
The baby retains the oddest information then feels it is his job to educate the world about these things. (Did you know the planet Uranus was originally named after King George of England?).
Each of the boys are unique and wonderful, and I sometimes wonder how they got that way. Was it good genetics? Could it have been the early upbringing and education they got from their Dad?
Surely it could not have just "happened" with a little guiding from me?
Last year, during the presidential election, I said to the boys at the dinner table "You know guys, I was going to be the first woman President, and change the world".
There was a moment of dead silence as they all four looked at me, then my oldest said "But Mom, you are changing the world - - - - one boy child at a time".
As I sat there looking into their faces I realized - I had been successful beyond anything I was ever able to dream of as a young woman.
I also realized that ALL parents are changing the world - - - - one child at a time.
This has been by far the greatest contribution I could have given to womankind.
