Count Her In

There’s a woman at her kitchen table. She’s got an idea and it’s getting in the way. It won’t leave her alone. This dream. But the bath is running. And the mince is burning.

There’s a woman at a kitchen table on the phone.
Writing numbers on a piece of paper. Dates. Phone numbers. Duties.
She can do it. Yep, ‘count her in’.
She’d love to help.

There’s a woman at a kitchen table…listening.

There’s a woman at her kitchen table with a
suggestion. Something they haven’t thought of.
She might need to speak up.

There’s a woman at the kitchen table wondering
what if.

There’s a woman who thinks she might.

A woman who knows there’s a time for everything.
And now’s not the time.

There’s a woman at her kitchen table calculating
needs. Planning a response. Measuring success.
Rarely celebrating the wins.

There’s a woman sending messages.
How are you feeling? How did you go? Thinking of you. Can I do anything? What can I bring?

There’s a woman at a kitchen table searching
for space among the folded washing to place
her cup of tea.

There’s a woman waiting for permission. Smiling
and nodding. A woman hoping she’ll get the nudge.
A woman wishing someone would notice.

Now, there’s a woman changing.

A woman who knows she can.

And a woman who does.

The washing waits. The dinner spoils.

‘Count me in’, she says.

By Grace Brennan

The 2024 theme of International Women’s Day was “Count Her In: Invest in her, accelerate progress.”