Come on, girls – we all have to dare to dream!

FromatheHrearet

What a week it has been for women.

Five new female faces in the Cabinet, a historic vote to allow women to become Bishops in the Church of England and the appointment of Ros Altman to encourage older people to work longer if they choose to, or to re-train for something they’ve always wanted to do.

How far we’ve come from 1928 when every woman in Britain got the right to vote.

There’s no stopping us now. Whether it’s in sport, business, politics or entertainment – women are on the rise and making their voices heard and their presence felt.

So many ways to enjoy being female – whether it’s staying home to raise your children, studying astrophysics, back-packing round the world or working at a job that challenges you.

We have so many opportunities we never had before. The glass ceiling has been shattered. When I was growing up I dreamed of being either Jo in Little Women or a reporter in a shiny red raincoat covering exciting stories.

At 18 sitting in a courtroom taking notes about petty crimes or listening to local councillors discussing a new bus shelter at their monthly meeting wasn’t really as dramatic as I’d hoped when I first read ‘Sally Baxter Girl Reporter‘ – but I did have the red mac!

I also dreamed about living in a country cottage covered in roses and having five children. As an only child that seemed to me to be an idyllic life. I’d bake delicious cakes and my children’s pals would gather round the big kitchen table to enjoy them.

The reality was aWimpy semi and a packet of biscuits after school.

But I never stopped dreaming. One day, I told myself, I’d go to university, read English and teach children to love books as much as I did.

The only studying I got around to was doing Higher history and having the satisfaction of getting better marks on my First World War essays than my oldest son who was in the same class.

Do you remember doodling in a notebook and wondering whether you’d be a brain surgeon, a lawyer, an actress, or a model likeTwiggy?

Chances are you ended up working as a clerk in the Civil Service or stocking shelves in the supermarket. But dreams are important. They keep us going and sometimes they come true.

Nicola Beneditti was determined to be a world famous musician and she is. Lulu told me that she knew as a child she’d make it as a singer because it was all she cared about.

When my daughter was born I knew I wanted her to have opportunities I never had. She’d go to university I told her on her first day in Primary One. Don’t think you can’t be a scientist or an engineer – no doors are closed to you – go for it.

She did get a science degree but her real talent lies in being a mum. And you know what, I’m so proud of that.

But it doesn’t stop her telling her three-year-old Emily – you can be an astronaut, a High Court judge or a newspaper editor. Emily insists she’ll be a Disney princess! The world is opening up for women and giving children roots and shoots, inspiring them to be all that they can be is hugely satisfying.

Everything is possible – and it starts with a dream.