My daughter will know her heroes

She has heroes.

My daughter was born Aug. 3, 2017. She is by all accounts a happy, healthy little girl who her whole family loves. Every day I see her bright blue eyes that she luckily got from me look up and smile when she sees her mom and dad, my heart melts. Every roll, every laugh, and every struggle to crawl, I realize how lucky I am. She may not know it now, but her mother, grandmothers, aunt are her heroes.

But, there are monsters. Monsters that she doesn't know and her family and I will do everything we can to protect her from. We will check closets and under the bed and keep her night light on, but some monsters aren't found there.

I've read the harrowing details and stories from the likes of Kesha and Hollywood every day and see that these women fought and are now being heard, they are her heroes. To the girls who stood up and faced Larry Nassar in court, they are her heroes. To every women who stands up and fights off an abuser, who may be told to stop but persisted on, you are her hero.

Today, my daughter may not know who they are, but she will. I will make sure of it. She comes from a line of very strong women, her mom, aunt, grandmas, they are hers. To all the women who have stood up and fought. They are hers.

She has heroes.

Jordan Hare

North Liberty