Once upon a time, in a small town in the Canary Islands, there was a girl named Aída who greatly enjoyed spending afternoons talking with her father, Juan, who was very wise. This afternoon, he began to tell her about the importance of the upcoming Women's Day.
—Dad, why is March 8th so important? —Aída asked, curiously, as she sat beside him, watching the sun begin to set, painting the sky orange.
The father, with his sweet smile, looked at the girl and said:
—My daughter, that day is a day to remember all the work that women have done and continue to do. It's a day to honor their courage and the love with which they do things.
Aída frowned and asked her father: —But Dad, aren't we equal now?
Juan stroked her head and said:
—There are still barriers that make the path difficult for many women. Some do not have access to education, some are judged with violence. You know, Aída, the most important thing is to listen, listen to women, learn from them, and respect them. Every time you see a woman, remember that each one of them will be fighting for her place in the world.
Aída replied: —I promise you, Dad, that I will do everything I can to support the women I love and show respect to all those I know. And men are their companions and allies in this fight.
—I think, Dad, that at home I have the perfect example of what you've told me, of how you respect Mom and she respects you —Aída said, surprising her father with the maturity of her response—. Every day I see you kind and considerate with Mom, you always listen to her and value what she does. You do it with so much affection, Dad, that I don't know if you've realized that you do it. When you talk to my brother, you advise him to be kind and respectful to me. At home there are no differences, and thinking about it, Dad, I think we celebrate it every day at home.
—How beautiful, Aída! —said Juan—. What you just said, that's what Mom and I want. That you learn to live in a world where men and women respect each other. It's not about celebrating one day, but about recognizing their value every day, in every gesture, in every action. Respect and love have no gender, my daughter.
Aída dared to write a story for her school mentioning this topic.
In a pond surrounded by water lilies, the firefly friends shone brightly when night came. Aída sat at the edge of the pond, watching the flowers float serenely and the lights of the fireflies dance in the air. She thought that women were like water lilies, capable of resisting and flourishing even in the darkest ponds, and like fireflies, our actions illuminate the world, even if it sometimes takes time for us to be seen.
Today I celebrate you, my eternal light, my mother, my firefly.
For my students, remember that differences make us special, but equality unites us.
