Essential Estrogen

This post has been two days coming and, until today, I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to say.

Several years ago, three Iowa women met as a part of an online "mommy" group. While they didn't necessarily share the same political views and personal beliefs, they did have one key thing in common: a firm resolve that more women's voices, ideas and sensibilities were needed in public policy.

Two of the women had already experienced pregnancy loss and, unknown to us all at the time, another was about to join the horrible 'club.' These shared experiences - along with ungodly long email messages and marathon phone calls - formed a strong bond between the three. It is a bond which surpassed politics, parenting and religion. It didn't take long for the trio to discover that, in today's society, what they found is a very unique thing.

As we -- your three EE bloggers -- took stock of one another and our remarkable relationship, we did as women often do. We began to formulate a way to bring what we've found to others. Thus, this blog was born... but not without hesitation.

All three of us are women, but being a woman is not *all* we are. Many hats are required for our lives. As we planned to embark on this journey foremost in our minds was our commitment to our families. Next in line came our employees and our associations. Two of us were in positions, due to business, which made us extremely hesitant to 'go public' with our blog. The third, while also a business owner, wasn't nearly as concerned about that aspect as she was about her current political affiliations and commitments.

All of this brings us to the important announcement... EE will soon be two instead of three. We've known for several days one of our contributors -- our Western Iowa contributor -- might be relocating. While the relocation remains only a possibility, we regretfully accept her decision to no longer be a part of the blogging community. The rest of this post belongs to her alone. It is her story to tell.

I like to think I'm a strong woman. I like to think that I'm one of those women who, when confronted in the grocery store in front of the purple cabbage, will stand up for her beliefs. Matter of fact, a few weeks ago, I would have told you I was that kind of woman. Recent events have proved me wrong.

I knew I didn't want to 'out' myself as a blogger -- especially not a political blogger. I keep kids for a living and our family needs my income. I knew my daycare parents would not be forgiving of my interests in politics or whatnot. In most of their eyes there should be no 'whatnot' outside of our church congregation. "If you can't say it here in front of the eyes and ears of God, you best not be saying it."

As both Paige and Lynda have moved to become more public with their blogging, I've been holding them and EE back. I'm not ready and I'll never be ready. As the first sentence says, I didn't know until today exactly what I was going to do.

I don't know if you have been following the horrible happenings of Kathy Sierra, but the situation she finds herself a part of is one of my own worst fears. I have feared letting people know who is on the other end of the keyboard because I've been afraid of pulling my family into a situation to which there are no easy answers or solutions. It hasn't just been the scorn of my local people that has me worried, but the terror of the entire world knowing me and my beliefs on a personal level. I'm not ready to share as much as I'd need to share in order to continue here. I am an will only become more ineffective as time goes by.

Without a doubt Lynda and Paige are my best friends. I wish them and EE nothing but the best. I worry about them as they continue here without me, but I know they move forward with their eyes wide open. When I consider all that could be I have to be honest with them and with myself: Ultimately, it just isn't worth it.