I have never had an abortion, but I would have if I had gotten pregnant.
I was in my early 20s and I experienced a “contraceptive malfunction.”
Thanks to my local Planned Parenthood, I had access to Plan B. Even after that, I still bought a bunch of pregnancy tests just to make sure.
At the time, I was college-educated, in a professional job, had family support and some financial resources and not a minor.
You know what else I was?
Someone who had plans, dreams and ambitions that did not involve being a mother.
I think motherhood is a beautiful experience that is incredibly hard even when a child is wanted and mothers have physical, emotional, financial and familial resources.
It is infinitely more so for women who don’t.
I am grateful to have had the choice and access to determine what I wanted to do with my own body and my own life.
Had I been someone’s mother I would most certainly not have moved to New York City, a city that I have been a proud resident of for 17 years and where I met my beloved.
I would most likely not have had the bandwidth to build a career as an ED and then as an entrepreneur both of which I am incredibly proud.
I would probably not have traveled to as many places on the planet and experienced all of the wonder of animals on the Serengeti, volcanic depths of the ocean, midnight champagne in Paris and dizzying heights of Macchu Picchu.
By not being someone’s mother in my 20s, I got to grow up and help hundreds of other mothers grow up their kids, which has been the greatest privilege of my life.
We might wonder about the road not taken, but I am grateful for the road I am on and freedom to have traveled it the way I wanted.
I am enraged that thousands of American women will no longer have determination over their own bodies, and their own roads. These women are disproportionately young, single and low-income.
As we head into July 4, let us remember that this country was founded on the principle of “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
I don’t remember an addendum that reads, “except if you have a uterus.”
It feels like the walls are closing in, decided by five people–four of whom don’t own the basic plumbing and four of whom were appointed by presidents who lost the popular vote.
Take action with me:
Get involved at the state level with The States Project.
Donate to Aid Access.
