How becoming a mom has changed My “Why” for advocacY
By Blythe Hill, Dressember Founder
I remember the first time I held my son, Behr—after a harrowing 44 hour labor and delivery via emergency C-section (what an entrance he made!)—and felt an overwhelming flood of emotion. I felt a rush of love, of gratitude, and also a fierce protectiveness I had never known before.
Becoming a mom five years ago profoundly transformed my life’s purpose, especially in my work advocating to end human trafficking. As someone who experienced sexual abuse as a child, my commitment to this work has always been personal. For years, my “why” was driven by the pain and injustice I endured, and the determination to ensure that no child should suffer sexual exploitation. However, motherhood has added layers of meaning and urgency to my mission.
Holding my 6 pound son, I contemplated his smallness, his fragility, and my responsibility and instinct to protect him. Behr’s innocence and vulnerability mirrored my own past, intensifying my resolve to fight to protect not only him, but all children. My work was no longer about seeking justice for the child I once was; it became about safeguarding the future of my own child and every child. The thought of anyone harming either of my children is unbearable, fueling my advocacy with a new, visceral energy.
Motherhood has also brought clarity to the interconnectedness of all children and families. Every child is someone’s son or daughter, someone’s friend or classmate or sibling. Every child is born deserving of love, safety, and freedom. I now see my advocacy as a vital part of creating a world where my children, and all children, can thrive without fear of exploitation.
My journey as a survivor of child sexual abuse informs my empathy, but being a mother has redefined my purpose. Motherhood is a powerful reminder that our fight against human trafficking is not just to redeem the past but to create a safer, brighter future for our children.