(2/2) “After my first daughter I had six children. The second one was a son which made my in-laws happy. But the struggle to raise them and to look after the needs of the family continued. There was no time to sleep and no time to eat. Sometimes I felt like leaving everything and going some place in search for peace, but I had nowhere to go and I had no one to go to. Sometimes, I thought maybe life is not meant to be continued anymore. But immediately I would think about my children and tell myself that I have to live for them. They were my only hope. So I stayed and I raised all my children. There was no help, no one to ask how I felt, no one to wipe my tears. I endured everyday, hoping that my children will grow up and look after me. Do you recognise the power of women? Do you see this power in those proud men? Today, I am happy. My children have grown up and they love me. My married daughters come to visit me. My son looks after me. And when I sit and think of my past, it all feels like a dream.” (Saraswati Madhikarmi, Panauti 7, Kavre)