Comments on: What's the connection between abortion and careers?

By: Anon

Anon — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:08:42 +0000

I've been reading your blog for an hour now and don't really feel like I know you any better than when I started. But I will tell you that I had an abortion, while married, without telling anyone, and for the most part have forgotten about it. It was a big mistake to get pregnant in the first place as having a baby with my husband would have tied me to him permanently, and that's not a good thing in my opinion. Why tell you this? Don't know, just felt like sharing a bit with you.

By: Xxx

Xxx — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:43:00 +0000

how the fuck do you have THREE UNWANTED PREGNANCIES IN YOUR LIFE? fucking idiot

By: Kate

Kate — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:05:00 +0000

I don't use birth control because I don't want those hormones in my body. I'm wondering- do you not use birth control? If you choose not to, may I ask what your reasons are?

By: Tamar Harrington

Tamar Harrington — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:14:00 +0000

Wow, you are so brave.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:22:30 +0000

I just came across this and I realise it was a few years ago that you posted but I felt compelled to comment. I have had an abortion, at 21, because I was at university and I felt there was no way I could possibly have a baby before I had even embarked upon my career. Now, I am not saying I regret it. I have finished university and am currently looking to start my career. I've had a great time over the last few years and done so much that I could not have done with a child. However, your words about never forgetting the guy you were with certainly rang true. Although I have no desire to be with the father of my baby, I think about him all the time because I think about that baby all the time. I will always feel a connection whereas he is well and truly over it.
I think that you made the right decision for you at the time and that is the main thing. You will always wonder but you went through with it for a reason and I think that is a brave decision. As you said, it is far too common to hear people say that abortion is used as a form of birth control, but as we know, that is the most ridiculous statement. No abortion is easy and nobody wants to make that decision, but if you can't support a baby, are you really going to offer it the life it deserve anyway? I am sure you are a great mother now and you have learnt from this time in your life and you should be commended for that.
Thanks for sharing your story.

By: A

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 12:12:13 +0000

I had a similar experience. I was hyper fertile in my early 20s, and despite regular contraception fell pregnant twice. In both situations, my partner was way too young (21) to feel he could take the responsibility of being a father. I still regret it in some ways, and it did benefit my career. I am also convinced the relationship would not survive the pressure of a baby (or two) so early on – I would have had two kids with a non-present father.

By: Valerie

Valerie — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:43:29 +0000

My comment was directed to Columcille.

By: Valerie

Valerie — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:42:29 +0000

You sound like a mature person. Prepare to be blasted.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 03:29:18 +0000

Wow. I am a prolife single mom… It is only by grace that I had the strength and conviction to not have an abortion when I got pregnant at 18. I cry whenever I think about the unChristian unforgiveness my mother heaped on my during my pregnancy. For a pro choice culture, I'm afraid there is little cultural support for women to keep unexpected pregnancies to term. My heart breaks for the women (and men) I've met who have aborted their babies and didn't want to. But it is so understandable in the face of the pressures people put on them. I actually considered suicide more than abortion, because I knew I didn't want to live with myself if I chose the abortion.

I feel fortunate that once my mother looked into the eyes of her newborn grandson, she let go of her bitterness toward me. From that point on, she has been my greatest support as I go on to achieve my master's degree. However, you could say that I have some trust issues with our relationship.

I am simply amazed to think how much my son has changed my life. Before I got pregnant, I was too afraid to choose a major or a school in case I made the wrong choice. After I had a child, I learned that I had to do whatever it meant to become successful and survive.

So, maybe I am rambling, and I apologize. But there is so much courage required to make either one of the choices to keep or to abort. I would like to thank you, Penelope, for validating the feelings that many women feel after having an abortion, because I am afraid they do not get spoken of very often.

By: Jeffe Kennedy

Jeffe Kennedy — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 14:21:11 +0000

[...] courage. The other day she posted on her blog, which has over 36,000 subscribers, that she had two abortions. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, anyone with any sense of the world has to acknowledge [...]