Judy Blume sent a Mother’s Day note asking people to consider donating to Planned Parenthood in their mothers’ names.

I’m a mom, and I’m also a writer and an activist. Nothing has made me prouder than seeing my own children — and really, all young people — grow up to be healthy, educated, and in charge of their bodies and their lives. That’s where Planned Parenthood comes in. There is no organization that I know of that supports motherhood and all that it means more than Planned Parenthood. That’s why I’m honoring moms everywhere with my gift to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund today.

It’s not easy to be a mother these days. And right now — with more and more women seeking care from Planned Parenthood health centers — we need to do all we can to support them. By honoring a mother in your life with a gift to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, you’ll be making a gift that protects and advocates for the health of millions of mothers and families. That’s a gift any mother will appreciate.

Supporting mothers who need health care seems like something that’s hard not to agree with. But it only took a short time for backlash to occur…

Judy Blume has done so much for so many of us. The wisdom, compassion, and understanding that shine through her writing have helped countless young people grow up and grow strong.

That’s why we were so shocked at the response to her latest act of compassion. When Judy honored the Planned Parenthood Action Fund by writing a special Mother’s Day message on our behalf, the reaction from anti-choice extremists was swift and vicious. They flooded her office with harassing emails.

Nobody, absolutely nobody, should be forced to endure these kinds of attacks.

I looked back through her email and tried to figure out what people were so adamantly against. Was it the praise for mothers who answered questions honestly? Or for the mothers who taught their sons to respect women? Is there something about her honoring women who raise “strong, independent, confident children” that makes people react with hateful and insulting emails?

I sent her a note today, telling her how much she meant to me as a child, and how much more she means to me now that I have a daughter of my own. I will give my daughter the answer to any question she asks, no matter how difficult. And she will never have to sneak “Are You There, God?” into her room and read it alone.