As we enter the holiday season, those of us lucky enough to spend it with family, friends, and loved ones will do so. Unfortunately, for many this is also the time when our loneliness is magnified. Youth in care, and those who have emancipated for care, can find this an especially difficult time. Many of us that work with youth think: “Oh, how sad they don’t have a family to go home to” or worse yet, we are afraid of what might happen when a youth returns from the holiday visit. What we often overlook is the grief associated with the loss of normalcy or the loss of family bonds and traditions.
During this time it is important to reach out. If you are a youth in care that has the privilege of being able to visit your family during the holidays, invite a friend that you know may not have that opportunity. If you are an adult or peer that knows a youth in foster care reach out and invite them to spend the holidays with your family. But don’t stop there! Life and loneliness do not end when the turkey is devoured, the Christmas tree is put away, and the mistletoe is dried up. The connections you make with a(nother) youth in care could be the thing that helps them (and you) through not only the holidays but many other rough patches. Be willing to make a commitment to be a friend not just a respite placement.
Like all of us, youth in care need cheerleaders, shoulders to cry on, ears to bend, and people to bounce ideas off of and you could be that person. The support network of friends and family to help guide and walk with us through our lives is what makes us human.

“Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.” Muhammad Ali