Before motherhood, I was a workaholic without boundaries. My passion for the work - for racial, gender and social justice - bled into my personal life and was all-consuming.
Becoming a mother required me to establish some boundaries, out of a sense of responsibility to my daughter and her needs.
At the same time, motherhood clarified my life’s work. It sharpened my focus and reignited my passion for this important work.
I am determined to create a better world for my daughter - for all of our children. I want them to have more. More ease, more opportunities, more choices.
But as we all saw this week, our children are at risk of having even fewer choices than many of us did. And the only 'more' they'll have are more obstacles to having a voice in our democracy, more risk of having their lives criminalized.
I’m taking a moment this Mother's Day to honor the moms and all of the other caregivers who are fighting so that our children can thrive. It is our duty to keep fighting for our children. We are standing on the shoulders of activists, organizers and elected officials that fought like hell to ensure we had equality (we’re still working on the equity part).
I especially want to lift up Black and brown mothers and caregivers, and those caring for children in the LGBTQ community. Everyone worries about their children. But for some of us, that worry is compounded because we know merely existing puts our babies at risk.
Being a caregiver is no easy task. And it can be thankless work. If the pandemic taught us anything, it is that the demands of caregiving AND working simultaneously are unsustainable. The political news of the last week - the last several years - adds a layer of stress and uncertainty, without the necessary support in place for many of us.
I encourage everyone to reach out and thank a caregiver - any caregiver - in their lives. Then, I want all of us to spend this weekend reflecting and resting for the work ahead.
In solidarity,
Karundi Williams, Executive Director
