Women have a lot of respective roles to master, each one as important as the next. It is the unique twists and turns we take that make us who we are. We are our own unique manifestation of the expectations put upon us, and we do it well.
There are so many different labels to a woman. In one day, I’ve been different people. All unique. So unalike.
A mom? Yes, I am. But I’m my own breed. I jump in mud puddles. I encourage them to act silly and take chances. I dance in the middle of ShopRite if we hear someone say the magic word of the day. I put AC/DC's “Big Balls” on their iPods cause I know it cracks them up, and we just might have the most relaxed bedtime around.
However, I am also a firm disciplinarian when it comes to morals, ethics and respect. I am a teacher, and show them on a daily basis things to learn and grow from. My expectations have been great, and so have been the results.
I taught them both to read at 2 and had them counting in 5 different languages by 3. I am involved in the school and community and serve on several boards. I am the cool friend to hang with, and the old school nun.
(OK, maybe not a nun. But you get the point.)
Renee Antonelli Valente
I'm also Mrs. Valente. I am not the greatest wife who ever lived. The laundry doesn’t always get done and I can be extremely difficult to handle at times. I can be unreasonable, argumentative, and blunt. I don’t always have dinner on the table and have a tendency to belabor a point to death.
But I will defend my man to the death, support his every endeavor, and make him feel like a million bucks. I can wear a tool belt with the best of them, fix the molding, and cook you a gourmet meal. I’ll hang up on you if you ask me the wrong question at the wrong time, and I’ll cuddle with you after a long day at work. As a stay-at-home mom, I initially felt that I didn't contribute to the household. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I have been Renee the longest. Most of my longtime friends know her. She’s wacky and quirky and sees jokes in everything. She’s a little off-color and kinda shy and speaks her mind. She’s sweet and bitter and wild and cautious. She’s caviar and champagne, beer and peanuts. She’ll give you her last dollar and convince you to give her yours. She’ll cry for your pain, and cause you a bit of her own.
As a woman and a mother, I am many things…from mom to rock chick, wife to just plain-ol'-me -- and everything in between. I have to master many things to be good at this job. There's no vacation time, no weekends, no breaks.
There's no severance package, no stock options or bonuses. No sick days, personal days, or time off. I'm on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for life.
For no pay, we look upon our own world and see that every ounce of worry and sweat and tears we've shed is worth it. No one said life was going to be simple. But no one said it should be difficult, either. So when asked who I am, who I really am...well, that’s simple to answer. I am woman, for I am many.
