The Work We Shouldn’t Have to Do Alone

There’s something about a quiet moment on the patio that gives a person room to think. This week, I’ve been thinking about Wendy.

Wendy is Dave’s ex-wife and Lakelyn’s grandmother. She and I are close in age, and as we’ve talked, I’ve realized how much our professional experiences have in common. We’ve both known what it feels like to work hard, do a good job, and then wonder if being good at that job is the very thing keeping people from imagining us somewhere else.

So many women have had to prove themselves more than once: first to earn a seat at the table, then again when they’re ready for a bigger one. We’ve been underestimated, looked down on, or encouraged to stay exactly where we are because we’re dependable there. It can take a long time to realize that being capable of more doesn’t mean we have to wait for someone else to notice.

Wendy and I came to these experiences along different paths. But now we share something precious: Lakelyn. She gives us a reason to look beyond what we had to overcome and think about what we can make easier for her.

Lakelyn is growing up in a new generation. I don’t know exactly what the working world will look like when she’s ready to step into it. I do know I hope she won’t have to spend so much energy convincing people that she is capable, or asking permission to grow beyond the role where she first proved herself.

That starts with the women around her. We can tell her what we’ve learned. We can speak up when we see her potential. We can make room for her to try, to lead, and to change direction. And we can show her that women don’t have to compete for the one opportunity in the room. We can help open more doors.

Wendy and I may not have imagined this connection years ago. Life brought us into one another’s stories in an unexpected way, and Lakelyn gave that connection a new meaning. Maybe part of being her grandmothers is helping build a world where the next generation of women can spend less time proving they belong and more time discovering what they can do.

That’s a legacy worth working toward—together.