On 09/18/1990, the day I was born, my mother was 16 years, 8 months, and 19 days old. My father was in prison. She would be a single, teenage mother. I know without a doubt this impacted her life in every way.
I am 31 years, 9 months, and 8 days old. I am a first generation college graduate with a bachelors degree. I am not a mother.
I am not better than my mother. I am fortunate. I was raised by a young woman who did not deny that I was a sexual being. I was raised by a black woman who, though she taught abstinence from a biblical perspective, also took me to see an OB-GYN and championed my access to birth control.
My mother's decision to ensure, to the best of her ability, that motherhood was not unplanned for me gave me a life she herself never had. I am not better than my mother or any other woman who faced/faces unplanned parenthood. I just had access. My heart breaks for girls and women who lost theirs.
SCOTUS made a wrong and disgusting decision.
P.S.:
I am very aware that this may read like a story about contraceptives. Some people may not be able to make the connection to abortion. Let me make it clear that this is my experience about access and family planning.
(Wrote 06/25/2022)
