Four Generations
Every woman has a story and every woman should have a choice.
My grandmother Etta Mae was born August 1879 in James, Missouri the eldest of 10 children. The family moved to Big Bear Ridge out of Deary, Idaho in 1891. Etta Mae married John October 30th 1901 in Kendrick, Idaho. John was born Feb 6, 1879 in Kendrick, Idaho. They had a son Donald Brocke December 26, 1909 it must have been hard labor because Etta said “any woman who has more than one child is a damn fool” and she did have only one child. My grandmother told me she had taken care of the situation with her family doctor and she learned how to stop having more babies.
My Grandmother protested for the rights of women voters and was the owner of a bar, pool hall, boarding house, and ice cream parlor in Idaho. Etta was a business woman and for her children were not part of her plan. Etta was also the eldest of 10 children and told me she never saw her mother smile.
My mother Mabel August was born August 13th 1910 in Winchester, Idaho she married Donald in 1931 the beginning of the depression. Mom said your Dad worked for two months building roads and they paid him with a watch. There was no money and people were going hungry and losing their homes. Mom got pregnant that year and said “there was no way I was bringing a child into that world” Mabel went to the local Doctor and he performed an abortion in his office. Mom said “it was very common no one knew if the depression would ever end.” Mabel later had 3 children, one of them me.
I had my first child a son while I was attending college in 1976 abortion was just starting to be an option and I decided against it. Finished school as a single mom and was feeling successful. I always used birth control and ended up pregnant 3 different times with men I had no intention of being with. I was living in Bellingham, Washington. The clinic was amazing and supportive, I never felt shame or that I was doing something wrong. I later had a daughter when I was ready and I have never regretted my choices.
My daughter called me in 2005 that she was pregnant and scared and didn’t know what to do. I asked what the father wanted to do. She said he has just started his career and doesn’t want a family yet. My daughter had just finished college and wasn’t married and didn’t want to be. It was a very difficult decision for and her partner but they decided an abortion was the right thing for them to do at the time. She was living in Arizona and wanted to be home in Washington. They went to counseling provided by planned parenthood in Spokane, my daughter went through some deep depression and guilt after the abortion. She went to therapy and still has a hard time with it. My daughter has a daughter and is not able to have more children because of medical reasons. It was not an easy time for her.
I have a granddaughter who will hopefully always have the right to make her own choices. Every woman has a story and every woman should have a choice.
