I first heard of the book Things I Will Tell My Daughter through a friend of mine. Being a mother of a three-and-a-half year old girl, I felt compelled to read it. It took me a couple of months to actually go ahead and buy the book and once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.
The 180 page book is filled with tidbits of wisdom that I felt were necessary lessons for any woman, whether or not you are a mother. Upon completion, I vowed to ensure that all women in my life read that book because it is a treasure and it helped me more than I can explain.
I read this book when I was at a point in my life where I was feeling very weak. I had been struggling with my self-confidence for a while. This in turn made me feel incapable of making and sticking to decisions. As I devoured the pages, I felt stronger, more empowered and ready to tackle all the challenges that had been bogging me down beforehand.
Ms Thatiah's advice on saying no and putting your needs ahead of others was the turning point in my life. When you build your life around giving without receiving anything in return, you are left completely drained, an empty shell. I had been watching my life and my dreams crumble before my eyes because I gave with all my heart and whatever little I received wasn't enough to refill my reservoir. I forgot how to prioritise my needs. All this changed when I read that book.
The book is filled with little anecdotes from Ms Thatiah's life, how she became a single mother at an early age and how she coped with society's judgement. She speaks about asking for and accepting help and the importance of a father figure in any child's life, be it a boy or a girl child.
She goes on to talk about other important issues like body image and femininity, feminism, friendship, money and career. It's a really handy book to have and to keep referring to. I don't think I have ever come across a book that covers so much on womanhood all in one place. And it only costs KSh. 500!!
She goes on to talk about other important issues like body image and femininity, feminism, friendship, money and career. It's a really handy book to have and to keep referring to. I don't think I have ever come across a book that covers so much on womanhood all in one place. And it only costs KSh. 500!!
It really is a gem of a book, one that I will keep in my library so that when she is old enough, Elly can also read it.
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Photo Credits: 1