of course I'm going to write about feminism after the Women's March

This was a good week. 

My daughter took her first steps! She has yet to take more than three steps at a time because, let's face it, crawling is about 10x as fast as walking at this point, but, lemme tell ya, that girl is GOIN' PLACES. 

I went to my first audition since having Brynlee! It felt so good to get back in the game. I've missed it! 

I taught my second Teens' Acting class of the session! 

I marched in the Sacramento Women's March! 

Having a baby has, in a lot of ways, been a very isolating experience for me. Between breastfeeding for her first five months of life, working from home, caring for her all day, living in the suburbs, I've felt very isolated from what's going on outside the walls of my little home. Now that Brynlee is a bit older and I don't feel the need to be attached to her all day, I’m thrilled to get back into the swing of doing what I love. 

But, I can't do this on my own. The fact that I need help is brought into sharp focus since having a baby. I couldn't do this without Ryan, who, without question, supports my goals and aspirations, takes care of our home and our little girl so well. I couldn't do this without Jaime and my mom and Thais and Auntie June who take such good care of Brynlee when I am not with her. I need Megan who swoops me up for pasta and Ladybird at the end of a really terrible day. I need Sean who reminds me to send an email about an upcoming audition. I need the people who see the potential I have as a teacher to give me opportunities to teach. Broadening who I am is made possible by the people in my life who understand and value that I am not just a mother, I am so many other incredible things.

I want my daughter to see those things. I want her to see how happy theatre makes my soul. I want her to see how much I love political science and staying engaged in what's going on in my country. I want her to see that I need alone time to do yoga and listen to podcasts and read. I want her to see me pursuing what gives me the most life so that she will want to do the same. 

That's why I march. That's what my feminism is all about. My feminism is about pursuing, without limitations, the depth of my personhood. It's about recognizing the value of every. other. human. around you. What they bring to the world and what value you can add to their existence. I couldn't live the life I'm living if it weren't for the generous, kind people in my life. My feminism is about this very thing. Extending generosity and kindness and inherent value towards everyone else, equally. 

I'm so thankful for the feminists in my life. Who actively, with their lives demonstrate that they believe in that equity. 

I need them. They need me. We need each other.