My generation of women in Somalia is called the unmanageable ones because we are working mothers who are trying our best to be independent. I am different from my mother because she was a camel girl, meaning when she was young she took care of camels in the forest. Camel milk is free of sugar and fat and full of calcium. This makes anyone who is brought up drinking camel milk strong-boned. Those who care for camels also emerge as very good wrestlers. Because of her endurance and practice, my mother became an extraordinary wrestler herself. She was the best wrestler of her time; she actually had no equal, and men dreaded wrestling her. My mother never wrestled with us kids, and she never beat us. She was very kind and forgiving, and neighbors always complained that she was too lenient. But when she wanted something done she had a look that said, “You would rather do what I want you to.” The things she wanted us to do included washing ourselves, wearing clean clothes, having afternoon naps when not going to school, and in my case, washing my hair twice or thrice a week. We were to wake up early in the morning to prepare for school, and we were also to do our homework. My mother never went to school herself, but she wanted us to get the best education we could. I went to school and didn’t have to take care of animals. My mother would never have dreamt of going to university, but I earned a diploma in armed conflict at the University of Nairobi. About my husband. We fell in love and dated for almost three years before we got married. He is young, shy, handsome, kind, and gentle. He never raises his voice, and we have never fought. Of course we disagree, but we try to sort out our differences without annoying each other. On the other hand, I am very talkative compared with him; I do all the talking and he does most of the listening. Before we got married he was very quiet, but I have taught him to talk things out. We cope perfectly. Of course, I am not so very different from other wives in my community. I have to wake up early, make breakfast, and prepare my husband’s bath and his clothes, making sure he is well fed, bathed, and dressed. After work no matter what, I have to come home before him, cook a fresh, warm dinner, prepare his bedding and his bath, and do the rest of the chores. Do not forget, I also have a baby who needs my care and attention. With few exceptions, husbands in my community don’t change diapers or bathe babies. Well, I am a bit lucky because my husband loves our baby and helps me hold him at night, but he can’t help me during the day, so we have to hire a nanny. My challenge today with my fellow women is to see that Somali women and girls are given equal chances at all levels of education and participation in social events, even politics.   ______________________________________________________________________________