This week, as we grapple with what lies ahead of us with the likely U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn the 50-year precedent allowing abortion set by Roe v. Wade, we are also entering Mother’s Day weekend. I love being a mom to my 5-year-old daughter, Autumn. Any grown ups who help raise and care for children know how much work, thought, and love goes into growing kiddos. Holding space for the fear and anger - and the joy and love - of this week is what makes us human.
I am so grateful that I had the choice to become a parent when I was ready, and that I had support along the way to enable that choice. As a teen, I received healthcare from my local Planned Parenthood in Flint, Michigan, and I later returned to an Ann Arbor branch when I was uninsured for many years as an adult. Their services worked exactly as they were supposed to and allowed me to plan when to become a parent. It has been an honor to give back to them through fundraisers like the one I attended with Governor Whitmer in April, shortly after two lawsuits were filed to maintain abortion rights in Michigan.
Once my husband and I agreed to become parents, I remember how nervous I was at every ultrasound appointment and check up as I was pregnant, knowing just how many things could go wrong with no warning. I had a mostly uneventful pregnancy until the very end, when I was diagnosed with preeclampsia and had multiple complications resulting in thirteen overnights in the same hospital room. My husband had just two weeks off work, and they were spent entirely in the hospital.
A few weeks ago, my husband asked me what I wanted for Mother’s Day this year, and I couldn’t resist rattling off a litany of things I really want: policy and systems changes that truly help working families like ours. These are things I would fight for if elected to represent Michigan's 47th house district:
All reproductive healthcare covered for everyone, by all payers
Paid family and medical leave for everyone
Universal paid parental leave for a minimum of twelve weeks for all parents adding a child to their family
Universal childcare from infancy through elementary school, paid largely by governmental funds, treating it like the essential infrastructure that it is
Paid sick days for all employees of all employers
With your support, I’ll be able to combine my life experiences with my policy expertise to make real changes in Michigan that can improve the lives of millions of our neighbors. Please consider a campaign contribution of $100, $50, $25, or whatever amount makes sense for you. This weekend, let’s honor all the mothers that come in different forms - some are moms, some are grandmas - but they are also birth mothers, adoptive mothers, step-mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends, and neighbors. Any woman who nurtures children deserves to be recognized on this special day! In solidarity, Carrie
Events This Weekend
Washtenaw County Democratic Party Candidate Forum Saturday, May 7, 9:30am-12:00noon Register online to attend the WCDP's first Candidate Forum of the midterm cycle for candidates in the brand-new 32nd and 47th house districts. Carrie and her primary opponent will begin at roughly 11:30, but we invite you to attend the entire session!
National Association of Social Workers - Michigan Chapter Fundraiser for #Rheingans4Rep Saturday, May 7, 2:00-4:00pm RSVP to join social workers and social work supporters from Jackson and Washtenaw counties to elect one of the only social workers running for state legislature this cycle