A LETTER TO
NEW MOTHERS by Tramayne Osbourne Dear New and Expectant Moms, Less than one month before I was due to give birth to my first child, tragedy struck America. On December 14, 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot and killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. The victims included six adult staff members and 20 children between six and seven years old. As the country mourned the senseless loss of so many young lives, the joy I felt about my impending motherhood – already hard to come by under the weight of antepartum depression – was overcome by fear. How would I raise a child in such a scary world? You may be experiencing the same fears that I did as you anticipate giving birth and navigating the early days of motherhood in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic. The novel coronavirus has transformed life as we know it, leaving many of us feeling scared and helpless. While these unusual times have created challenges for everyone, I’m especially sympathetic to new and expectant mothers. I know all too well how a devastating event can shake your confidence at a time when you need it the most. As I held my baby boy for the first time, I felt my anxiety subside. Looking at his precious face, I was reminded of an important lesson that I learned through volunteering.
If it’s to be, it’s up to me. It’s up to us to create the world we want our children to live in. That may sound like a tall order for a new mother. But as members of the Junior League of Charlotte, that’s exactly what we’re trained to do. Just as individuals have the power to shape their own destinies, volunteers have the power to shape the world, starting in our own communities. As moms, we only want what’s best for our child(ren). As moms who volunteer, we make it happen. When the world gets scary, be the difference you want to see. For your own child and generations of children to come. Remember, if it’s to be, it’s up to you. Sincerely,
Tramayne Osbourne Tramayne Osbourne
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