"As today [Nov. 19] is a sacred day dedicated to women, they should change themselves and help to change the men and the children. They should develop the qualities of sympathy, compassion, love and sacrifice. Study the lives of our great women, who were models of patience, fortitude, compassion and sacrifice. I desire that you should take up the reins of leadership and bring peace and prosperity to the nation by leading ideal lives."

(Sanathana Sarathi, Nov-Dec 1995, p.295)

"It is not my view that women should not get educated. They should have education. You may also take up jobs. But you should live up to the obligations and glory of womanhood. The first title given to a woman is 'Grihalakshmi' (the goddess of Home). A woman is expected to confer all prosperity, honor and good name on the home and the family. She is characterized as 'Grihalakshmi' and not 'Office-lakshmi.'

(Sanathana Sarathi, Dec. 1996, p.383)

Baba has talked about many great women in positions of high government and corporations, but has said that their most important job is parenting. My husband Bob and I always believed that the best place for a young mother is in the home with her children, and not in the work place; and, we did without many things so that we could enjoy the children. I was very fortunate to be a "stay-at-home-mom." I will share some glimpses of the joy that decision has brought to my life as I fulfilled that most important obligation of a woman.

One morning I was in the kitchen getting breakfast ready when I heard my young son, just two years old, call out, "Sugar, Mommy, sugar!" So, I grabbed him up and took him outside and said, "This is snow." I let him see it and feel it. What fun!

One day I had a hard time explaining today and tomorrow to him. I told him, "Today is Wednesday." Then the next day he said, "Today is Wednesday." I replied, "No, that was yesterday." It took a while, but I took time to explain the calendar to him.

Another son of mine would not fight! Even if other kids hit him he'd never hit back. He was very intuitive, brilliant, in fact. He wrote the technical manual for the world's largest computer. But more importantly, both boys did many service activities.

Our second son was sick for the first four years of his life and needed lots of tender loving care. I was glad to be home to care for him! Even before he started school, he would collect rocks of different colors and textures and save them in egg cartons. He spent a lot of time in libraries. While he was in high school, we went on many outings to find special rocks, and to libraries to see exhibits of rocks. Even at that age, college students wanted him to accompany them on field trips because he had an intuitive sense for where to dig and what they'd find. He is now a world-renowned geologist.

I made it a point to be home when the boys came home from school because that is when they are full of what went on in school. One day our younger son came home from crew practice (the team sport of rowing). It was the first day of the season. We asked how his day went and he replied, "When the team was carrying the shell (boat) over our heads to the water, some big goof just put his foot through the wharf. This threw everyone off-balance and the shell fell into the water!" His dad asked, "Who was the big goof?" "It was I!" came the good-humored reply.

Our home was a great meeting place. The large basement had a recreation room with a motorized ping-pong table, many games and a special chemistry lab. How glad I was to be there at home! On weekends we would often take them to the country to fish, swim, canoe, and to walk in the woods and learn about the animals, plants, trees - to just appreciate nature.

We taught our boys good manners from an early age. We taught them to take part in service activities, even if it was to just give away some of their toys. Most importantly, we taught them about God and spirituality. One day at the dinner table our older son was very quiet. His dad asked, "What is bothering you? You are so quiet." "Oh, nothing," he replied. This continued for a few minutes more before his father asked again, "Come on, Bob. What is going on?"

At this, our son just got up from the table, and brought his little radio to the table. He turned it to a station and said, "News." Then he turned to another one and said, "Music." Then he looked up and said, "There are radio waves out there. So, there must be thought waves, also. So, all the knowledge of the universe is out there. All we have to do is tap into it." Indeed he did, before he died at age 36, a very interesting young man.

I was blessed to be able to be at home with my boys, and it was also a choice we made. I would not trade those years for anything! After they were both in college, I began a career outside the home.

As I was sitting in an airport waiting area in late September this year, I observed a woman with her husband and two small girls (about four and six years old). The girls were very well behaved. At one point, the mother spilled some cereal on the floor. As she got up and began to pick it up, one of the girls began helping her without being asked to. I spoke to the woman to comment on how well behaved and helpful her daughters were. She was pleased and we soon began talking. She said she was an engineer who had a very good job. But suddenly she realized that time was flying by and that if she wanted to have children it was time to give up her job. She added, "I am in my forties now. I have the two girls and a third child on the way. And, I couldn't be happier!"

It was soon after this experience that I was asked to write for this Ladies' Day issue. I knew without a doubt what my theme would be.