the power of an empowered woman

I don't know where I got life skills from. I can’t exactly recall, but seeing my widowed mother make it was part of it. In our house there was no male figure and so there wasn't anyone standing in the way of what and how we lived and that made realise women could live alone and better than with men at times. All our decisions were final and were only for our benefit as my mother wanted us to become empowered and make it despite the lack of a male figure. Though I feel guilty saying it our life was contented and much better than I am sure it would have been with my father alive. We encountered other challenges but there was generally peace and we were free. There was no stress over where my father was and who he was with and what he would say about what we did. The values that we lived under were solid and moulded by strong Christian beliefs. We could never disappoint my mother and as other girls eloped or married young we went to school and passed with flying colours. We knew the importance of education and when she passed on and I went to live with my aunt I was able to see the difference. There was so much protocol about who sits where and who eats what piece of a chicken, and a lot of stress over what my uncle would think or say about certain issues. My aunt could not do things she knew were best for the family if my uncle said no and she missed on many chances to improve. Recently she has just started turning a blind eye and deaf ear and does what she wants and knows is best. I think this freedom has come with her recent acquisition of a degree at the age of 45 but it took 27 years of marriage to come. She is now living her life for her, she is happier and empowered and so are we. Education empowers girls and the long-time spend in school helps you mature such that when the time comes to make life decisions you are older and realise all the things just work out. In a relationship as an educated woman you can make decisions and there is respect from the partner. You are empowered to leave abusive relationships and also empower your children.