This morning I watched a brief segment of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's testimony, gripped by memories of my experiences in a courtroom on the witness stand. My circumstances were different and not on a large scale like hers is, certainly but I know how hard it is to bring to light a very personal trauma and expose wrongdoers. She is a brave woman and what she is doing is SO important. She represents so many women and the fact she is standing up before the highest powers in this country has been a long time coming, in my humble opinion.

Many years ago back in the mid 70’s, I was in the courtroom fighting for custody of my children. I was in my mid 20’s, newly pregnant with my third child; intimidated, unable to speak up and expose the domestic violence that was my world as a young wife and mother. I, like so many women and mothers, not only get victimized by their spouses/boyfriends but also the court system and the culture that blames the victims and excuses the perpetrators.

It is my hope that this can change, and I am encouraged that there are more women engaged in making changes in our culture and our government. It is vital, demonstrated by this case in particular; the potential placing of a judge in the Supreme Court that could cause women to lose the freedom to make their own choices. If this happens we will lose our culture as we know it.