My Personal Journey Through America's Controversial Future: Project 2025

I am tired of being "othered" and now feeling erased! I expected to post a blog different from this one. I am sorry that it is not more in line with my mission to help people regain control over their finances and define financial freedom, but I am enraged. I am a stepmother and an adoptive mother, and I went through in vitro fertilization. JD Vance's remarks that resurfaced from a 2021 interview on Fox News and Will Chamberlain, a Ron Desantis staffer who posted on X this week, "Really simple, under-discussed reason why Kamala Harris should not be President No Children" hurt me deeply. My message to JD Vance, Will Chamberlain, and others involved in Project 2025 is: I AM A MOTHER!

Let me explain my outrage. As a financial wellness coach, I often write about financial well-being. To understand and share our potential presidential nominees' agendas regarding Social Security and Medicare, I downloaded the Heritage Foundation's 2025 Mandate for Leadership. I didn't expect it to be so gripping—unfortunately, like a horror movie where you shout at the screen, "Don't go in!" It's shocking and horrifying for all the reasons you're hearing in the news and more. The subtext and omissions alarm me as a mother of two daughters. Then last night, I saw the JD Vance's July 29, 2021, Fox News interview. Well, let's say this interview made things very personal.

I have already come to terms with being othered because I am a mother through adoption and a stepmother. Yes, well-meaning people make comments that separate me from being a "real" mother because I didn't carry any children. That was bad enough, but I have come to terms with these "othering" statements and, in most cases, recognize that all I can do is attempt to educate those closest to me or those who are willing to grow on why their statements are limiting. But now motherhood has become political, and I must say something.

In the eyes of Project 2025, I am childless and erased as being someone who doesn't have a stake in the future of this country. Wanting to be a mother and seeking medical aid in this quest is not sinful. Being an adoptive mother and a stepmother is about LOVE. No matter how you come to motherhood, it's always about building trust and instilling family values. I argue that becoming a mother through adoption and being a stepmother is more challenging because there's loss on the other side, and as a mother and a stepmother, I need to help my children navigate that loss. Being a mom was my dream and the idea that there is a movement attempting to control who and how women become mothers or suggesting we are less critical if we do not have biological children by choice or through failed fertility attempts is outrageous. Project 2025 presents a terrifying vision of America, and it is not the America I want for my daughters.

I want you to know that I am not a radical left-wing liberal. I am, in fact, a Christian, and while I was a registered Democrat for most of my life, I have voted for Republicans several times, and after 2016, I felt like a person without a party. I moved to North Carolina two years ago and registered as an Independent. The only clarity I've had is that I do not want another four years of Trump, and I was in the camp that believe President Biden should not run for a second term. These convictions caused me to watch Nikki Haley's campaign closely. As we head into the 2024 presidential election, I closely watch Kamala Harris and Robert F. Kennedy. I am a true independent, but after realizing that JD Vance is deeply in bed with Project 2025, this election has become personal and far more important to me.

Project 2025's Attack on Women's Progress
Project 2025 aims to roll back women's progress. It's not just about abortion—it's all reproductive rights, including access to contraception (even condoms), IVF, adoption constraints, and abortion. It suggests policies that imply mothers (not fathers) should stay home to raise children, vilifying women who choose to be both mothers and professionals. I grew up around politics and worked in DC for part of my career. I expected these suggestions to be more covert, but they are not.

Project 2025's vision is one where women's rights are severely restricted, and our roles are narrowly defined. As a mother and a financial wellness coach, I believe in empowering individuals to achieve their dreams and live fulfilling lives. We must stand against policies that aim to limit our freedoms and define our worth based on outdated notions. Let's work together to build an America that values all paths to motherhood and respects women's choices.

What Can You Do?
 

• Educate Yourself: Read the 2025 Mandate for Leadership and understand its implications.
   
• Get Involved: Support organizations that fight for women's rights.
   
• Speak Out: Share your thoughts and experiences on social media and with your community.
   
• Vote: Make your voice heard in local and national elections.

We can ensure that America remains a place where all women are valued and respected, regardless of how they choose to live their lives and build their families. Let's work towards a future where love, compassion, and understanding prevail.