TIMES OF SAN DIEGO, APRIL, 2016
By Laura Walcher
They may not ever tell you, but
I’d be willing to bet that my experience will resonate with many women you think you know.
I have two adult children: our
son heads a key division of a financial services firm; our daughter’s 15th
anniversary of heading up her own public relations firm is coming up this year.
They are both healthy, both accomplished.
In their earliest years, I was a sad and sickly mother. Going through
two unexpected pregnancies was not going to benefit their own young lives.
Ergo: two abortions followed: one legal, one not. Considering my fragile
health, the doctors had advised me to proceed.
Each abortion was a physical relief, and an emotional drain. Even though my abortions were, and most
are, performed before a fetus is viable, the experience is nothing to be
celebrated; instead, and I believe I speak for most women, the most – if not
the only – positive emotion might be … relief.
Relief, from difficult expenses; from interference with one’s life path;
from the emotional toll of additional children to care for; from – as noted – a
negative impact on one’s
health; for youth, for fear, for feelings of inadequacy, embarrassment,
and so on. And,
experience has shown us: too often, an unwanted child can be a highly unlucky
one as well.
In deciding on abortion, I cannot recall seeking the opinion of others,
except for my doctors. I do not recall sharing the decision or experience with
others, save my husband and select intimates. Understanding the rationale for
my decision, none tried to dissuade me.
While much of life is left to luck, my adult children today lead
reasonably balanced, successful lives. I prefer to believe that providing them
a stable, attentive mother – has helped.
Amazingly, the abortion beat still goes on. In the courts, in the
legislature (for instance, threats to the Affordable Care Act can deprive women
of health insurance, under which women may receive reproductive care; Hillary
Clinton has called for the repeal of The Hyde Amendment, which prevents federal
programs from paying for abortions; among the Republican candidates – all are
anti-choice; and so on); in attacks on Planned Parenthood, in churches,
synagogues, and the rise of several women’s organizations telling their
stories, demanding their right to manage their own lives, their own health,
their own options.
See-sawing too, on abortion has
become business as usual, from Supreme Court Justice Anthony to – heaven help
us – Mr. Trump. May I advise them to stop; please. Gents, bow out - it ain’t nobody’s
business but our own.
Laura Walcher is Principal Public
Relations Counsel to J. Walcher Communications, San Diego
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