Dear M,

It’s been quite a while since I’ve written to you, hasn’t it? Well, not to worry. It’s time to remedy that. This time I’m here to answer a question you asked me last night. 

Who is a fairy godmother?

You wanted me to tell you the Cinderella story, a story you had heard in your daycare and that’s when the fairy godmother made her appearance. And hence the question. At that point, I didn’t know how to explain it to you so I might have said some gibberish. But who is a fairy godmother really? I’m writing this down so that the next time I’m prepared. And as you may already know, I’m not that good with spoken works. But written ones, I can manage.

You know M, in your life you’ll come across many fairy godmothers. These are women who will be part of your life or whom you’ll meet fleetingly. Women who will take pleasure in your joy and in your well-being. Women who will bask in the glow of your victories. Sometimes it may be hard to find any but trust me when I say this, there will always be a woman in every path you take who will help you or simply rejoice with you in your every success. Yes, because she will know how hard you might have worked or if nothing else she will see a part of herself in you.

In fact, you have met many already. The women in your first daycare who cared for you, doted on you and loved you since you were 7 months old, they were your very first fairy godmothers. The teacher and staff in your current daycare, she is the fairy godmother who has seen the potential in you when it comes to dancing. I have seen how she has been encouraging you, selflessly too. Who are these women if not magical beings protecting you and loving you?

As you grow up and start school, I hope you meet more women such as those who create a positive impression on you, who inspire you. I know I have met a few in my life’s journey. Though if I can be honest with you, I would love it if every woman turned out to be a little bit of a fairy for the other. But that’s a utopian notion, isn’t it? Nevertheless, I have had my teachers who have always encouraged me. I have met a few women over the years at work who have if nothing else been happy with anything I have been able to achieve. In fact, have sulked with me when things didn’t go my way. Yes, that also counts you see.

You know, M, what’s magical about a fairy godmother in the real world? She may not turn a pumpkin into a carriage but she’ll be there for you. She’ll be your sister, your friend, your aunt, your colleague, your boss or just a bystander at the bus stop. But you will know them with the sincerity in their eyes when it comes to being there for another woman, even if for a second in passing. I cannot emphasise enough how important that is. Women supporting women. Or, women being there for women so that we never have to fit into any glass slippers.

You know, M, what’s magical about a fairy godmother in the real world? She may not turn a pumpkin into a carriage but she’ll be there for you. She’ll be your sister, your friend, your aunt, your colleague, your boss or just a bystander at the bus stop.

And M, I want you to grow up to be that support for women around you. You don’t have to move mountains, M. You just need to be there.

So, that’s a fairy godmother for you. That’s just a woman being there when another woman needs her.