Today is Mother’s Day. For anyone who experiences difficulty today, we invite you to take care when reading or to skip today’s email.

John,

Happy Mother’s Day to all celebrating! As a mother to a young toddler, I feel more sentimental about today than I did before having my own child. Our work also feels more urgent than ever before, and I am committed to building a world where my daughter has the freedom to govern her own body and future without government interference.

I’ve always believed that access to abortion and reproductive healthcare are foundational in supporting women and moms. But after experiencing pregnancy and motherhood personally, it’s undeniable.

As you may know, the majority of people seeking abortion care are already mothers—which means that for many patients, abortion is actually a parenting decision.

But in my experience, access to abortion care allowed me to become a mother on my own terms. My daughter was born almost exactly ten years after I terminated a pregnancy.

In those ten years, I built my career, traveled, and formed lifelong friendships. I learned about the hardships and beauty that come in everyday life. To put it simply, I grew up. And while I’m not a perfect mother, I am undoubtedly a better parent to my daughter than I would have been ten years ago, in large part because I chose to become a mother when I was ultimately ready.

While we celebrate the mothers in our lives today, it is impossible to ignore the fact that pregnant patients are under attack in states across this country.

They’re being sent by helicopter to neighboring states for care. They’re being denied treatment and advised to return when their infection is bad enough to warrant intervention, sometimes at the point of losing future fertility. They’re being controlled by politicians, most of whom have never experienced just how intense and dangerous pregnancy can already be without the government interjecting medically unnecessary obstacles.

No one should be made to endure pregnancy against their will, nor should they be denied medical care because of power-hungry politicians. That’s why Vote Pro-Choice is building governing power for abortion access and reproductive freedom in our states and in our communities.

This work means a lot to all of us, but today, I am sharing my story and my gratitude for having had access to abortion services. I wouldn’t be the mother I am today without it.

Happy Mother’s Day,

Sara Tabatabaie
Executive Director
Vote Pro-Choice