This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #StrengthHasNoGender #Cbias Here I’m sharing How to Celebrate Women’s History Month in a Personal Way. When I look back at the women in my family who have come before me, I can celebrate their hard-won wisdom and life-giving sacrifices in a way that is personal and meaningful; and share the story with my children, readers, family, and friends. Let’s share the stories of our “SHEros” and lift each other up!

I live in a household of all boys. There is me, my husband, and our two little boys. So teaching our children about the opposite sex falls on me as a mom. I happen to think that helping the boys understand a woman’s role, and helping them “see” a woman in action is a very important part of their upbringing. In addition to watching me, I also enjoy telling the boys stories about their grandmother, their great-grandmother, and their aunties, to give them lots of examples of how women make a difference in the world.

One of the things I am incredibly thankful for is that showing the boys how women are a major contributor in a family isn’t up to me alone. I have my mom and sisters to thank for their continual on-going involvement in the boy’s lives.

You see, I grew up in a household of all women. My parents divorced when I was 11 years old and my mom raised me and my two sisters as a single mom. Now, my dad was still in our lives and contributing to our support, but it was my mom that dealt with all the emotional ups and downs of three teenage ss [I’m sure you can just picture some of our struggles].

How to Celebrate Women’s History Month in a Personal Way

Now, one of the things I’m trained in is teaching. I’m a Certified Teacher in Early Childhood Education.  And if you want to celebrate Women’s History Month in a personal way, I encourage you to outline an important story from your background that highlights at least one woman in your family.

The following questions can help you set some goals for what you are trying to teach, and give you a framework for the story.

This article and these tips are inspired by the Strength Has No Gender™ initiative from Brawny®. Through this initiative, Brawny® hopes to empower women to share their stories of resilience. For the purposes of this initiative, I’m going to share a story about my favorite “SHEro” – my mom; and offer a few tips for others who want to celebrate Women’s History Month in a personal way through storytelling.

What is the Goal of the Story?

Before you select a story to share with children, or even grown adult members of your family, think about the objective or goal of the story. What did you learn from the hard-won wisdom of a woman in your family?

For instance, one thing I’ve learned from my mom, is that good things come to those who persevere and who do not give up.  My mom’s real dad abandoned my mom, her mother, and her brother in New York shortly after my mom was born. With not enough money to care for two kids, my grandmother had to send my mom away to live with her mother (my great-grandmother) in Puerto Rico. My mom lived there in a house with dirt floors and a heap of kids sleeping on a single mattress at night.

Sometime after my grandmother remarried, my mom was able to return to her mom and brother in Brooklyn. They lived in a very poor neighborhood and my mom’s brother got into trouble with drugs.

Somehow my mom survived the challenges that come with poverty and avoided the problems that plagued her brother. She became a software engineer and raised three girls; and is still an amazing and vibrant woman and grandmother today. She did not allow her past or her circumstances to define her – she made her own way. She is very much an inspiration to myself and my sisters – and to many others.

 What was going on at the time of the story? [Explain the political scenario.]

Even as early as age four, children begin to understand some complex social relationships. They start to grasp the concepts of jealousy, conflict, and not getting your way. Help set the stage for the story, by pointing out political factors, socioeconomic factors, relational issues, education, available resources and the like. These types of details will make the story more interesting and help you add a personal touch.

In my mom’s story of rising above her circumstances, the trend started with her own mother. My grandmother never learned how to drive a car, did not complete high school, nor did she ever learn much of the English language. Moving from Puerto Rico to New York in pursuit of a better life for her children, meant my grandmother had to live in a new environment that was outside of her comfort zone. But despite the language barrier, the socioeconomic status of my grandmother, and the poor living conditions they experienced in a Brooklyn slum, our family survived.

Create a Timeline for the Story

Start in the beginning, set the frame, and tell the story in the order it happened. Don’t go overboard with details, but instead share the relevant factors that influenced the outcome. Remember to include any details that help you share in a way that promotes the goal of your story.

In the story of my mom’s perseverance and trials, I always point out to our boys how good we have it. I want them to learn to not take for granted the heavy price their grandparents paid in getting us to this place where we can go to school with shoes and socks on our feet, and have a meal ready to eat at lunchtime.

Conclude with Lessons Learned

Once you tell the story, personalize it. Share what you learned from the story of a significant woman in your family. Ask your children, both young and old, what they learned in the story and how they can use that hard-won wisdom in their own lives. Help make the story one of legend in your family.

Where to find Brawny® Pick-a-Size 8 Giant Plus

You can find the Strength Has No Gender™ Brawny® Pick-a-Size 8 Giant Plus pack At Walmart for a limited time. Also, as a part GIRLS INC. PARTNERSHIP MODULE SHEROES OF TOMORROW initiative, Brawny® will donate a $100K and, will also give your SHEro stories to Girls Inc. to inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Let’s shape a better future and prove #StrengthHasNoGender

Need More Inspiration?

I found this story about Vanessa Casillas inspiring. Clearly, her work as a brick-layer has been only possible through overcoming adversity and lots of hard work. It’s a great story to share when you want to teach littles about Women’s History Month.

How do you Celebrate Women’s History Month?

Do you have an amazing story of perseverance, tenacity, or bravery from a woman in your family? Do you have tips to share about how to teach kids about Women’s History Month? Please leave a comment below and join the conversation. I love hearing from my readers.

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