My older child, Anna, has always been what her third grade teacher termed "her own personality" -- independent and often unconventional in her thinking. Even as a preschool child, she appreciated strong women -- ranging from fictional role models like
Molly McIntyre, the Little Women,
Daria, and Rosie the Riveter -- to real-life ones: Anne Frank, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Oprah. As her favorite and most influential teacher of all time, Mrs. Naszcyniec, told me, "You know you have a little feminist on your hands." That was fine by me.

Certainly, as a young adult, she has become a stronger, more independent person -- not backing down from those younger ideals. Nothing delights me more than to hear stories of her wisely met and maturely resolved challenges.
She is a role model for young women.
So, when I followed her Facebook postings detailing the anticipation of the Kitchenaid Artisan mixer delivery, I was mildly surprised to read about so domestic a purchase. Then came reports of experimental recipes. And free range, organic poultry. Mill ground oatmeal and farmers' market sausages.
The Martha Stewart Show. Decoupage even. A phase, like the Vegan periods in Athens?

No. More like a neo-feminist craft movement, she explained yesterday - a back to self-sufficiency and know-your/grow-your-own-ingredients lifestyle. And who is at the epicenter? Well, according to Anna, the domestic maven of mavens: Martha Stewart. Martha has taken on the food industry, believing that our reliance on prepared and over-meddled foods has contributed to a nation with poor health and environmental challenges. Currently, Anna is all about Martha. She is preparing a free-range, organic turkey for Thanksgiving dinner for her friends in North Carolina and is, of course, looking to Martha for instruction.
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A likely role model? Not so much in some important ways. A strong woman and someone to learn from? Certainly. So, is Anna channeling Martha? As Nancy Drew, one of my childhood fictional role models, might have said at such a suggestion, "Eeeps!"
POST THANKSGIVING UPDATE:
Martha Junior shared her organic free range turkey (virtually) with me, and was sure to say that the bird was not overdone, but had dark seasoning on it. I noticed that she took Martha Senior's advice and created an interesting presentation, complete with clementines and greenery. Note also, the Breast Cancer Awareness pink KitchenAid Artisan mixer in the background. She's looking proud...and sassy.
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