Feeling like a Grinch

I feel like the Grinch this Christmas. Not because I hate the Holiday Season, but because after so many obstacles and having seen my plans shatter to pieces, I discovered something new in myself – and my heart has grown twice its size!

This has been one crazy year for me. My children and I have gone through so much and we’ve had our share of moments where I literally thought that all the things that are said about teen parents were coming true and I had failed the two little people that matter the most – my kids. I wanted to give up and not try anymore because everything was going wrong. I was financially unstable, I did not have a plan in place, I was depressed, and I was struggling with raising a little girl who had been diagnosed with anxiety while raising a little boy with a genetic disorder.

But through the process of providing for my children I discovered my strengths and the resiliency in me. I came to terms in accepting that I am a good mother and the label of “former teen mother” doesn’t define the parent I am now because everyone faces obstacles. It wasn’t about blaming me for the situation I was in, but rather looking at the bright side, acknowledging what I had and staying positive. The nightmare is still not over. I’m still recuperating from quite a year. But as things begin to look up I can’t help but look back so that I remember why I can’t ever get derailed from moving forward.

This Christmas is a little different than the ones in the past, but I told my little ones that different is not always a bad thing. So as we sat and wrote our resolutions for next year, I realized that they are only bigger than before and being ambitious is not a bad thing. Striving for happiness is the challenge, but when I saw them smile, enjoy, and thank me for being their mother I couldn’t help but think to myself, “I am doing a great job. And I have broken the cycle after all.” I will be counting my blessings this Christmas. And I hope that you all too are able to realize how wonderful you are to your children. The best present to each other is the love you continuously share.

Happy Holidays!