'I HATE MY REALITY'
The Guardian Weekly|July 22, 2022
As Roe v Wade is overturned and abortion bans are reinstated in the US, women from across the world who felt pressured to have children speak out
Diana Karklin
'I HATE MY REALITY'

'Getting pregnant was the worst thing that could have happened to me. Abortion was the first thing that came to my mind' Mexico, left

I became pregnant two years after getting married and it was the worst thing that could possibly have happened to me because I was in the middle of separating from my husband. He had tried to hit me and I didn't want to stick around to see if he would do it again.

I never liked children, so I wasn't keen on the idea of having one. Abortion was the first thing that came to my mind, but the only place nearby it was allowed was Mexico City, and only until 12 weeks.

Usually I leave for work at 10am. My mother helps me run the household. She takes care of the house and food, and looks after my little girl all day while I'm at work. I get home at 8pm. Often I have to play with my daughter even if I am exhausted. Around 9-10pm I put her to bed, and watch videos or do nothing - it's my only downtime. When she finally falls asleep, I start doing other work. If I find discount offers in a supermarket, I buy the products and resell them online. You do whatever you can to pay the bills.

Everyone blames me for not sacrificing my own happiness so that my daughter can grow up in a house with her mother and father. They make me feel selfish for putting my own happiness above hers. The problem is ignorance in society. It demonises mothers who want to be women before being mothers, women who want to be happy and not sacrifice everything for their children.

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