A Letter to my daughter, Clare Francisca, on International Women's Day

 

My dearest daughter, Clare

Today is International Women’s Day. If you remember, I wrote you a letter last year to wish you and all women around the world a happy international women’s day. One thing that stood out in that letter was a quotation I used in another letter to Benedikt, your brother. In order to have respect and appreciation of all women around the world, it comes down to us – men. And this is what I wrote;

“No matter what, respect all women and mothers all over the world. They are our civilization. I had an opportunity to experience every stage of your mother when she was pregnant, from morning sickness to labor pains and childbirth. I was in the labor room. What I saw and experience completely changed and gave me a new perspective and more respect for all women and mothers. I looked back and thought of my mother who went to labor and had 13 children. Women and mothers are the most caring individuals on the planet”.

Clare, I had a privilege to have a real loving father and mother. My parents didn’t wait for the United Nations or any movement to treat their children equally without discriminating based on their gender. The way my father treated my mother – it was something of the highest degree of respect. All children got the same opportunities and were competing in academics and all other forms without looking into the eyes of one gender as superior to the other. How did my parents manage to do all these back in the 60s, 70s, and 80s? What if all parents did the same; I believe we would not be having even this discussion today because the world would be a better place. 

As your father, I am responsible for most things you do in your future. As Rudolf Steiner said, “In raising children, we need to continuously keep in mind how we can best create the most favorable environment for their imitative behavior. Everything done in the past regarding imitation must become more and more conscious and more and more consciously connected with the future”. The way I treat your mother, you, and your brother will have an impact on your relationships with the rest of the world. As I said, it all comes down to us – men, I need to raise your brother to respect you as his sister, respect his mother, and I have to do all these in a practical manner. If Benedikt sees me abusing his mother, he will learn that it’s okay for men to hit and abuse women – and ultimately producing something bad for our generation. I’m supposed to love my wife dearly and kids can learn and experience from the first-hand experience from the parents like I did from my parents.

I love you so much my little princess. I strongly believe your happiness and smile will help to bring happiness to millions of people around the world regardless of their gender.

 

Your loving Baba

Ernest B. Makulilo