I have been struggling with this diary since the Dobbs decision. Yes, it is so very personal.
You see, I had not one but two abortions. The first, I was in a relationship for just a few months. I decided I did not know where the relationship was going, and an accidental pregnancy was not the best way to find out.
I got pregnant again, and this time I told myself "Okay, now take responsibility. It's time to grow up". (I was in my late twenties). So we got married and I had my wonderful son, Kyle, who recently got married. I love my new daughter-in-law.
The marriage, putting it mildly, was not the best. Verbal and emotional abuse turned physical. I was using birth control that obviously failed; I got pregnant again. I had another decision to make. Did I want to bring another child into an abusive marriage? Absolutely not. It was hard enough on my one young son. I couldn't do this to another.
I was lucky. I had the support of my family. Many others are not so lucky. I now think of my wonderful daughter-in-law, my nieces and great nieces who are having their decisions taken away from them by old white men who have NO idea of what having to make decisions like these can do to a woman. It breaks my heart.
I have lived with these decisions all my life. I have no regrets. I have a wonderful new family with my son and daughter-in-law. I only hope that the young women now, if they are faced with these decisions, can make them with themselves, their physicians, and their significant others, if appropriate.