"Why I Hid My SECOND Pregnancy"

As a small business owner, I’ve learned that success relies on adaptability, pragmatism, and independence. It’s also meant finding ways to stay silent on issues that hit close to home, even when they directly impact my health, family, and future. But, right now, I’m pregnant with my second daughter, and once again, I’ve stayed quiet about it—not because I fear losing clients or prospects this time - I learned I was very wrong about that! But instead, because of what this pregnancy could mean under our current laws.

Here’s the reality: If I face complications, or if my baby has health issues late in my pregnancy, I may need to leave Florida to get the care I need. As a mother, I should be preparing a nursery, not strategizing an emergency medical escape plan. But in states where essential care for women is politically fraught, families have to make plans for every potential outcome.

This isn’t just a “women’s issue” it’s an issue of freedom, family, and personal responsibility. Just as I’m responsible for running my business and providing for my family, I should also have the freedom to make critical medical decisions without fear of judgment or prosecution or face death from a lack of urgent action from medical professionals.

To be clear where I stand: Freedom to medical care should NOT be 'up to the state' but instead, up to the individual and we need that protection back. There is a reason there is supposed to be 'separation of church and state' and it's a symptom of a major problem that we are where we are in our political evolution. This is a country for freedom of all religions (even atheism, where I stand), not just a country for conservative Christians & Christian nationalists.

As a business owner: I’m also concerned about inflation, about our economy, immigration and about a stable future for my kids and my company. But if you think voting for Trump or similar candidates will solve those issues, ask yourself what it’s really costing us. We need leaders who will fight for both our economic and personal freedoms.

The Trump cult: While I will eventually move on from my hurt and anger at those close to me that have been Trumpsters - I will never forget that fact about them. How blind they have been and how tricked and misinformed they became falling into the cult or cowardly falling on the excuse that they've just always voted Republican. Well, I've always been independent, and I vote for the best candidate & policies that are most important to me each election. Sometimes that's red and sometimes its blue.... That is 100% okay!

While I normally try to stay out of politics publicly, this time, its personal and I refuse to stay silent. I’m urging everyone I know to Vote for Kamala Harris or just stay home! Let’s protect the right to make personal medical decisions and ensure women, families, and business owners alike aren’t living in fear of their own state laws.

Vote for the Kamala ticket, and vote for a Congress that will protect Roe v. Wade, defend our rights, and help build a country that values both prosperity and personal freedom.

President Barbie: My mother purchased this barbie for me in 2000 and I promised myself I would not open it until we had a woman in the presidential seat - it's been through countless moves and changes in my life, including my own heartbreaking but medically necessary abortion so many years ago.

I've kept my promise and can't wait to open the box and let my daughters play with her 24 years later. My hope is that they too will create their own world where they too can lead during hard times and do what's right not just for themselves but for the greater good of their entire community - in whatever form that takes.