Expectations And "Buts".

What are we, as women, expected to be?

Women are expected to age like fine wine but

Women are expected to never get work done

Women are expected to maintain their appearance but

Women are expected to not look for attention

Women are expected to have kids but

Women are expected to not have too many kids

Women are expected to work like they have no children but

Women are expected to parent like they have no job

Women are expected to work but

Women are expected to also stay at home

Women are expected to think like men but

Women are expected to not act like men

Women are expected to mother their partners but

Women are expected to not treat their partners like children

Women are expected to not depend on men for money but

Women are expected to not make more than their partner

Women are expected to not stay with an abusive partner but

Women are expected to not break up their family

Women are expected to have strict boundaries to not lead men on but

Women are expected to let men down easy

Women are expected to solve problems before they become problems but

Women are expected to not act like know it alls

Women are expected to not eat like "birds" but

Women are not expected to eat too much

Women are expected to not be underweight but

Women are expected to not be overweight

Women are expected to... (fill in the damn blank).

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So what are women expected to be?

Women are expected to be walking contradictions.

I have always loved the idea of not being what people expect me to be.

How do I do this?

I center myself around those who do not hold unattainable expectations for me.

I push myself to work hard and be the best individual to my liking.

I listen to those wiser than me but I listen to myself additionally.

I do not push other women to follow expectations I do not wish upon myself.

I do not push other men to follow expectations I do not wish upon myself.

There can be a healthy balance between living for yourself and doing life with others.

They key is to not put others' expectations solely above your happiness.

Do life for you. You can celebrate, please, and enjoy others, but make sure you're grounded in yourself.