International Women's Day: Celebrating the Women Who Shape Us

By Brooke Abbott Abron

Women are the architects of love, resilience, and community. Both Ashley (Giggles LA founder) and I were raised by strong, brilliant women who shaped not only our lives but the very essence of who we are. That strength is woven into the fabric of Giggles LA—an extension of the love, care, and determination passed down to us.

Though we are both proud boy moms, we know that women have always been the foundation of our families, our communities, and our world. We’ve seen it firsthand in the way our mothers, grandmothers, and aunties led with quiet power and unshakable grace. From the first lullaby whispered into tiny ears to the steady guidance of a grandmother’s wisdom, women shape the world in ways both seen and unseen.

On this International Women’s Day 2025, we celebrate them—the mothers, daughters, grandmothers, aunties, best friends, and mentors who lift us up, fight for us, and teach us what it means to show up with strength and love. Today, we honor the women who have paved the way, the ones standing beside us, and the girls we are raising to carry the torch forward.

The Power of Intergenerational Relationships

There’s something magical about the bond between generations of women. It’s in the way a mother passes down a cherished family recipe, or how an aunt teaches her niece to stand tall and speak her mind. It’s in the late-night talks between best friends, where one shares hard-earned wisdom, hoping to spare the other some heartache. It’s in the quiet strength of a grandmother who has weathered decades of change and still stands firm in her love and convictions.

Every woman carries within her the stories, lessons, and resilience of the women who came before. We are not just individuals—we are living, breathing testaments to the strength of our ancestors. Their sacrifices, their victories, their unwavering belief in a better tomorrow are embedded in our bones, guiding us forward.

Raising Future Leaders

The lessons we teach today shape the leaders of tomorrow—both our daughters and our sons. When we nurture curiosity, encourage confidence, and foster kindness, we are laying the foundation for a future built on respect, equality, and strength. Every bedtime story, every word of encouragement, every act of love plants a seed. These seeds grow into young women who will shape the world in their own right—whether in classrooms, boardrooms, or at home, raising the next generation.

But just as we pour into our girls, we must also be intentional in raising our boys to see, respect, and uplift strong women. As a mom, I know that shaping the future doesn’t just mean empowering our daughters—it also means teaching our sons to value the leadership, intelligence, and resilience of the women around them. We do this through education, by exposing them to stories of trailblazing women, and by modeling respect in our own daily lives.

When we show our boys that strength and compassion go hand in hand, that leadership isn’t defined by gender, and that a world where women thrive is a better world for everyone, we are raising men who will stand beside strong women—not in competition, but in collaboration.

Let’s teach all of our children to be fearless in their dreams, steadfast in their worth, and unwavering in their belief that every voice deserves to be heard. The future is brighter when we raise a generation that values strength, kindness, and respect in everyone—regardless of gender.

Learning from the Matriarchs

While we guide the next generation, we must also cherish the wisdom of those who have come before us. The matriarchs in our families—whether they be mothers, grandmothers, or wise women we’ve adopted along the way—hold lifetimes of knowledge and love. Their stories of perseverance, love, and survival offer us a roadmap for navigating our own journeys.

Take the time to sit and listen. Ask about their childhoods, their dreams, their struggles, and triumphs. There is so much to learn from their experiences, so much to gain from their laughter, and so much to honor in their legacies.

A Celebration of Sisterhood

International Women’s Day is not just about recognizing the famous names in history—it’s about celebrating the everyday heroes. The women who show up for us in ways big and small. The friend who listens without judgment. The sister who believes in us when we don’t believe in ourselves. The teacher who inspires. The colleague who advocates. The stranger who offers a kind word just when we need it most.

Sisterhood is a powerful force, one that transcends bloodlines and borders. When we support and uplift one another, we create ripples of change that extend far beyond what we can see.

Honoring the Women Who Shape Us

Today, take a moment to celebrate the women who have poured into you—the ones who have lifted you up, challenged you, and shaped you in ways both big and small. Honor the mothers, grandmothers, aunties, mentors, and friends who have loved you fiercely, led by example, and made you who you are. Their strength lives in you, their wisdom guides you, and their love continues to shape your journey. Take a beat, send a thank you, and let’s carry their legacy forward.

• Research Your Family’s Women: Take some time to learn about the women in your family by using tools like Ancestry.com, visiting local archives, or simply asking your mother or grandmother to share stories about the women who came before you. Discovering their journeys, challenges, and triumphs can provide insight into your own legacy.

• Celebrate with a Thoughtful Gathering: Organize a special meal—whether it’s a dinner, lunch, or brunch—to celebrate the women in your life. Include daughters, nieces, and young girls in the gathering so they can be part of a tradition of honoring and uplifting women. Share stories about influential women, both in your family and from history, as you break bread together.

• Write Letters of Gratitude: Take a moment to write a letter or a heartfelt message to the women who have impacted your life. Let them know how much their support, wisdom, and strength have meant to you. A handwritten note can be a deeply meaningful way to express love and appreciation.

• Support Women-Owned Businesses & Initiatives: Whether it's purchasing from a woman-owned small business, donating to a nonprofit supporting women, or amplifying the voices of female creators and leaders, find a way to uplift and support women in your community.

• Read & Share Stories of Women in History: Teach your children about extraordinary women who aren’t always included in history books. Their stories of resilience, courage, and innovation can serve as powerful lessons for the next generation.

Women in History to Explore with Your Children

International Women’s Day is also a perfect time to learn about remarkable women who aren’t always in the history books. Researching and celebrating these women and women of color with your children can inspire the next generation to dream bigger and fight for change. Here are a few women whose stories deserve to be told:

• Claudette Colvin – Before Rosa Parks, 15-year-old Claudette refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

• Bessie Coleman – The first African American and Native American woman to earn a pilot’s license, breaking racial and gender barriers in aviation.

• Yuriko Amemiya Kikuchi – A pioneering Japanese-American modern dancer and choreographer who revolutionized contemporary dance.

• Maggie Lena Walker – The first African American woman to charter a bank and serve as its president in the United States.

• Kalpana Chawla – An astronaut and the first woman of Indian origin to go to space, inspiring countless young girls in STEM.

• Lozen – An Apache warrior and medicine woman who fought alongside Geronimo to protect her people.

• Fannie Lou Hamer – A voting rights activist who played a critical role in the civil rights movement, despite facing extreme adversity.

• Rosalind Franklin – A pioneering scientist whose work with X-ray diffraction was instrumental in discovering the structure of DNA.

• Judith Love Cohen – An aerospace engineer who contribution to the Apollo space program included the Abort Guidance System which saved the stranded astronauts on the Apollo 13 mission. Cohen was a role model for women in STEM.

• Patsy Mink – The first woman of color in leadership who was elected to the U.S. Congress and co-author of Title IX, which transformed educational opportunities for women.

• Hedy Lamarr – An actress and inventor whose work in frequency-hopping technology helped the alliance during World War II and that eventually laid the foundation for modern wireless communications including WiFi.

Let’s celebrate the past, present, and future of womanhood. Let’s continue to pass down wisdom, resilience, and love. And let’s never stop lifting one another up—because when one woman rises, we all rise.

Happy International Women’s Day from all of us at Giggles LA. May we continue to honor, celebrate, and empower the women who make our world extraordinary.

Brooke Abbott Abron for Giggles LA: Known as Crazy Creole Mommy online, Brooke is a mom, advocate, activist, babywearing educator, and writer. As the founder of IBDMoms, she combines practical tips, mom advice, and evidence-based insights from her own lived experience to help families navigate both the joys and challenges of parenting.