WARNING- Disturbing content. Abortion.

I seriously debated whether or not to write this post. This is an incredibly sensitive subject matter, but I am too horrified to not share my thoughts.

Where I currently live, women are allowed to have abortions up to 24 weeks pregnant. I have friends with children who were born around that time...so I can say with 100% confidence that a 24 week old fetus is visibly a completely formed human being that feels everything.

Please don't misunderstand me, I am pro choice. I understand that there are unthinkable situations where a woman should have the right to choose to abort her pregnancy, but it should happen before the baby is considered a fetus, so before 9 weeks.

It is devastating to me that some women use abortions in place of birth control. That innocent lives are thrown away so carelessly. Many women struggle to get pregnant, while others get pregnant by accident and terminate their pregnancies without batting an eyelash.

Some women abort perfectly healthy babies that would require minor plastic surgery after birth. There are so many people who would have loved those babies just exactly as they were. Others abort because they don't want kids, don't want more kids, are too young or too old. The list goes on...But how many reasons are really legitimate, justifiable reasons to terminate a life?

In some cases, the mothers have ultrasound pictures before aborting. Sometimes they hold their babies before they die, after the baby comes out crying. I don't understand this. Why bond with the child you have chosen to abort?  *Please don't misunderstand. I am not referring to pregnancies where the the fetus had to be aborted for medical reasons for either the baby or the mother.

Life is so precious. There are so many families who would love these babies. So many families who spend their lives trying to find a child to love.

How can we let abortions take place so far along in a pregnancy? How can we let women have multiple abortions? I doubt the day will come when a woman's right to bare children is taken from her...but where is the line drawn? A woman should not be legally allowed to have multiple abortions.

I do not write this to hurt or offend. I most certainly understand that there are circumstances in which an abortion may be the only choice...but when abortions are used as repeated birth control, our legal system should intervene.

Ban the burka?

Is anyone else struggling with all of this "ban the burka" talk?

I am 100% supportive of people from all different race and religions moving into Canada, but I do not support the belief that moving here means giving up your heritage and conforming. As long as your beliefs are not harmful to yourself or the people around you, you should be able to practice whatever you want.

If wearing a burka is within your belief system, you should not be asked to do otherwise. That being said, I do not agree with the facial covering, purely for matters of security. I think in most cases, this has nothing to do with a security issue, but an issue of people's discomfort with things outside of their norm. It's incredibly sad that "different" makes people uncomfortable.

We should be embracing and welcoming "different". We should be eager to learn about "different", not force them to conform to what we consider right. Whether they speak differently, dress differently, believe differently is their right as human beings.

How often people forget that different isn't better or worse, good or bad...It is just DIFFERENT!

1st Day of School

When you have your first child, every single person you encounter tells you how fast the time will pass and before you know it, they'll be starting school. Well, I'm here to tell you...they are right!

When my son started kindergarten, 2 years ago, I thought I would cry. I thought I would have such a hard time letting go of his tiny little hand and sending him off into the world. When we arrived at his classroom, he was so excited to finally start school, and so ready to be there in every way, I didn't cry. Instead, I was incredibly happy for him and proud of his enthusiasm and bravery. I guess I did something right with him. It was one of many proud moments I have had with him. This past week, he entered grade 2 with the same enthusiasm and bravery as when he started kindergarten. Love that kid.

Today, my daughter started kindergarten. She has wanted to go to school since her big brother started. She looks up to him and wants to do everything he does. I think she was most excited to have recess and eat lunch at school like he does. She's still so sweet...so much of the time. I have to admit though, she's a bit of a diva, which is hilarious since I'm far from it. Last night after her bath she had me change her earrings (to match her backpack), paint her nails "patterned and sparkly", spray protector on her new pink boots, lay out her outfit, set her sequin backpack by the front door and check the weather to make sure she wore the right jacket. Who is this kid? I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl...so this is totally foreign to me. My husband says she's the girl I want to be, but shy away from it. He might be right. Lastly, before she went to sleep, she hollered out to me, "Don't forget, tonight you have to pack two lunches!" She loves that I'll be packing both her and her brother lunches now.

Again, like with my son, I didn't cry when I dropped her off this morning. Instead, I smiled and felt my heart warm. I'm so proud of my kids!

So now, it's just me and my 11 month old. I will miss my big kids so much, but at the same time, I'm so happy for them both. They need their own friends, their own time and space and own experiences. My daughter needs to make her own choices, instead of always choosing what her big brother does. I know they're both going to be great!

Now it's time to make plans for me and the little miss. I think she'll start with a nap and I might kick back and relax. This might be a first!

Writer's block!

My stress level has given me writer's block. I am NOT impressed! More intelligible thoughts soon...I hope.