Dear Santa

Dear Santa:

Last year, I wrote a letter and made a list of things I wanted for my child. I want to renew my request. As a parent, there are so many worries and concerns when it comes to raising another person. I want her to be strong and sensitive. Please allow my child to have an open mind, an understanding heart, her presence known and her voice heard. Give her the strength to pursue anything and everything without allowing anyone to set boundaries for her. Give her the power to feel unbreakable. Most importantly, allow her to be compassionate and genuinely happy. Never let her feel unloved. There is nothing I want more than for her to completely understand the power of love and positivity. Allow her to change lives.

While I do my best to foster this type of environment for her, I fear the pressure of a negative society. With minimal support and guidance, the feeling of rejection from society, the constant judgment from peers, and the frequent hope for acceptance, I understand how many young mothers and their children feel. We are categorized for being something we are not. As a young mother, I have gone through the ups and downs, the highs, the lows, the best and the worst, the happiest and the saddest of moments. I have fallen to my knees and asked, “Why me?” Then I have stood in front of hundreds of people, smiled and answered, “Because I am strong enough to get through it and help others along the way.”

This Christmas, I would also like to follow up on the list of things I want to give to young parents. In the past few years, I have learned many valuable lessons that have changed my life for the better. They have made such an impact that it would be selfish of me not to share.

This holiday, I would like to wrap my experiences and give them to the young mothers who are still finding their paths and feeling a little lost. Please allow me to regift what I have received with time.

1. Give them the Patience to wait for the right opportunities that WILL come their way through hard work and dedication. Everything seems unachievable sometimes, or too far to reach. Allow young moms to remember that all good things come with time and planning.

2. Adorn them with the Love that will warm them inside. Sometimes the world can feel so lonely and the people who loved you so much, seem so cold. Know that the love inside of you is the only measurement that matters. You can change your environment and make it a happy one.

3. Guide them towards Support during their times of need and allow them to feel safe. It can be so hard to accept that you need help, or that you need a break, but it takes a village to raise a child. Regardless of age, no one does it alone. Your wellbeing is as important as your child’s.

4. Remind them that we can and will earn Respect from society as we demonstrate our amazing parenting and nurturing skills. Actions speak louder than words and it’s true in so many ways. We are great moms just oozing with love for our children. It’s okay to let the world see that.

5. And let them know that with time Admiration from our peers will touch us. When we better ourselves, we begin to influence those around us. While it may seem a bit crazy, the best form of revenge on those who didn’t believe us, is to prove them wrong by succeeding. It’s a win for us! But do it because you want to. Do it because you deserve it. Do it because you can.

While being a young mother is tough, we are also capable of achieving so much more than most think we can. With this in mind, I want young parents to know that there is nothing wrong with wearing many hats and taking on multiple roles, whether it’s mother, employee, student, volunteer, all of these or anything else. We are very able to do all the things we dreamt of doing. No one can stop us because we are our own motivators. Although it may seem a little scary, the world is our audience and they are watching closely just waiting for us to drop the ball. Ignore the pressure, be happy, fight for what you deserve and go after your dreams, and everything will be just fine.

Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Natasha