This week is the big March for Life down in Washington, D.C.-you may have heard of it.
Almost every year, I have attended some of the events in D.C. surrounding the March, including a huge conference put on every year by Students for Life of America. I’ve attended primarily as a representative for the organization I used to work for, Feminists for Life of America, which focuses on woman-centered solutions for pregnancy and parenting. Primarily, making choosing life a more practical option for women facing unplanned pregnancies.
Which, as most of you know, is where I’m at. I am a pro-life person-it’s hard to do the work that I’ve done as a labor and delivery nurse and not realize that there is a separate human life in there. Dress a 19-week baby who has died in the womb and then come talk to me if that’s a human being deserving of a chance.
But more than any debate about abortion, I really, really just want us to be real about what it actually takes for a woman facing unplanned pregnancy to do to choose to continue with her pregnancy. It’s an incredibly scary and overwhelming place to be and as I saw firsthand, talk about whether abortion is wrong or right doesn’t necessarily cut it.
I wanted to go to the conference and the March this year and connect with some of the people I admire who are working to make a difference, but for a variety of different reasons, like I couldn’t afford to go, I had to work at the hospital this weekend, our cars both broke down, and my babies were sick, it didn’t work out for me.
It’s been hard for me to see everything that’s been going on there this week. I feel like with my book now out on Amazon, the conference would have been an amazing opportunity to connect with people who could really use my book to help other women facing unplanned pregnancies.
I feel a bit like a sham, an impostor.
What do I really know about helping women anyways? I’m just a mom who is at home in her jammies every day. So I wrote a book. So what? The people really making a difference are getting out there and doing something about it.
But at the same time, when I finally realized that my plans to go to DC weren’t going to happen, I felt a sense of relief.
Because the truth is, I may not have the time and resources to be flying around the country, inspiring others and championing for women, but I do have time to be here.
Exactly where I need to be.
I may not be flying all over, promoting my book and teaching others about the mission of my book in supporting young mothers, but the thing is,
I am living it.
Each and every day, when I’m struggling to find time to get dressed in the morning, when I’m scribbling out the words that make up our family’s bread and butter, when I’m helping my daughter with her homework.
I’m living the dream that young motherhood first whispered to me when I looked down at those two tiny blue lines.
You can do this. You can be a good mother and live your dreams. It will be so worth it.
I may not be traveling the country or leading rousing events or shaking hands with important people, but I am here.
Changing diapers and reading books and pinning recipes I will probably never make with the best of intentions.
I’m here, with the family I have created.
And for now?
That’s exactly where I need to be.
“. . . talk about whether abortion is wrong or right doesn’t necessarily cut it.” This is exactly how I feel about this issue, and is also why I’m on the “pro-choice” side of this issue. In my opinion, whether it’s right or wrong is a moot point if we’re not supporting women during what can be an extremely difficult time in their lives. What changes can we make so that choosing life is a viable option? Increasing our discussions about birth control, what a safe sexual relationship looks like, and providing the resources to women that are needed to support them in whatever decision they make.
Stepping off my soap box, thank you so much for writing this post (all of it). It’s hard to remember that you are exactly where you need to be when it feels like you could/should be doing something that seems bigger.
I do agree it’s about supporting women and also, thank you for such a respectful way of working together, even if we disagree on some points. So encouraging to see that kind of discussion!!
Well, we’re certainly not going to get anywhere by fighting about it :). This particular discussion is one where I feel some subtlety, or something, is very much needed. Just because I am “pro-choice” does not mean that I am “pro-death.” I’m all about life, but also recognize the importance of supporting women in their decisions rather than demonizing them.
Absolutely. I’m always open with the fact that abortion absolutely crossed my mind when I found out I was pregnant-I was so scared that it seemed like the only option at the time.
This is one of the best posts I’ve read yet. Spoke to my heart! Thanks so much for this. I, too, wanted to be at the March, but after reading this…I’m happy to be right where I’m at 🙂 And I’ll be reading your book before bed tonight 🙂
You are doing great things Raquel!! I’m almost embarrassed about how much of you is in my book, but you are just that awesome!! 🙂 Plus, Ada and Ava, come on, it was meant to be!!
You’re cool, Chaunie!