I’ve had 3 abortions. Every time, the choice came down to the life I wanted for my kids. The first time, I had 2 kids, including a toddler, and felt that was a tough enough job in itself. The second time, I had 3 kids by then. I didn’t feel I’d be able to give my kids the attention they deserved, and didn’t want to make them live through stretching a dollar for another person. My abortions were hard to recover from—I never wanted to have one again. Then this summer I found myself pregnant by a very toxic person, and felt I had to protect my family from him. Even my baby inside me. I don’t mind calling it a baby. I cared for all my pregnancies. I never wanted to have to make those choices. I love being a mom. I love being pregnant. Regardless of how bad they hurt physically and emotionally, I never regret my abortions. They’ve allowed me to live the life me and my children deserve. I’m close to getting a house, and close to the career of my dreams. If I’d not gotten those abortions, I wouldn’t have been able to give the kids I have the life I dreamed of for them. Abortion is motherhood. Motherhood is abortion. It affirms parenthood. And I will always fight for it.