24th January 2022. A day I can never forget.
I went to eat at Buka Hut at gbagada, just to treat myself and have a good day.
Halfway through, my PERIOD came unexpectedly… and I had no pad, no backup, nothing.
I didn’t even know.
After eating, I decided to get ice Cream, because why not spoil myself a little more?
As I stood up, I noticed people staring… but I didn’t understand why. It wasn’t until I got to the ice cream stand that a guy walked up to me quietly and said: “Excuse me… your backside is stained. Please, take my jacket to cover up.”
In that moment, I wanted the ground to open and swallow me. But his kindness… it calmed me.
No noise. No embarrassment. Just respect.
He gave me his jacket, wrapped it around me, and even offered to order me an Uber home.
I insisted on paying, but honestly, I was just grateful someone chose kindness over ridicule.
I asked how I’d return his jacket. He smiled and said, “Don’t worry about it.” But I took his number anyway…🥰
Today, that same man is my DARLING HUSBAND.😍
And funny enough, Buka Hut is still our favourite spot till today. ❤️
Sometimes, love doesn’t start with butterflies.🦋
Sometimes, it starts with kindness in your most vulnerable moment.✌🏼💖
Let me tell you about the picture in Frame 1.
In August 2017, as a litigation lawyer in Lagos, I had work to do that required me to be at the office during the weekend.
There was only one problem that weekend.
I had a 16 months old son, no nanny and no one to leave him with at home so I asked my boss if I could bring him with me and she was gracious enough to agree. While I was working, my son fell asleep and I had to lay him down on the floor beside my table.
In that moment, I took a picture of him sleeping and made a promise to myself that if I ever had my own firm, at some point in that journey, no woman working with me who had a caregiver emergency and needs to be at work will have to lay her baby on the floor.
That same day, I thought of my struggles as a breastfeeding mother in the workplace and promised again that no woman working with me who had a baby will ever have to struggle for a private space to use her breast pump at work, relieve her aching breast to focus and save some quality milk for her baby.
Frame 2
Today, we finished the renovation of our office building complete with a nursing room.
Litigation is tough for women.
The firm should not make it tougher.
Strichland LP has a nursing room and today, by the grace of God, I kept that promise.
❤️
#WomenInLitigation