By The Real Unicorn’s Mother

Dear Alexander,

Thank you for asking about my unicorn. That was a big question, and it made me smile. So pull up a chair, use your imagination just a little, and here it goes.

Where Do Unicorns Come From?

Unicorns are not always only in storybooks or magical forests. Sometimes, when a person is very special and different in a good way, we can call that person a unicorn too. A lot of people try very hard to be special. Sometimes they try too hard, because they think being special means being famous.

But maybe being special starts in a quieter place. Maybe it starts when we look in the mirror and try to see the best parts of ourselves. What makes every person special is not how they dress, how big they are, or how much money they have. It is the good inside them and the way they choose to use it.

Have you ever heard the saying, “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”? That means people may see beauty in different ways. Not everybody will look at you the same, and that is okay. The important thing is learning to see the good in yourself.

Some unicorns are born in stories with sparkling skies and secret forests. But real unicorns can be born inside us when we choose courage, kindness, and the brave choice to be ourselves.

Now, we won’t look like a unicorn. That would be impressive, but I hope not! We can look like ourselves, the person we see in the mirror. And that can be more than enough. We can be unique, different, and amazing if we let the good inside us shine.

What Do They Eat?

Healthy food, of course. Not too many sweets, because sweets might make a unicorn way too energetic. Imagine a unicorn bouncing around the house after too much candy. That would be a lot!

How Do You Raise a Unicorn?

Unicorns feel what we feel. They also notice how we make other people feel. Taking care of a unicorn takes a lot of love, patience, and prayer. I pray all the time for my unicorns. I have two unicorns, but this story is only about one of them for now.

And so, Alexander, meet my unicorn, Jo. She is a firefighter for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. But before she wore a uniform and helped people, she was a little girl with big feelings, big dreams, and her own kind of magic. When she was little, she used to wait for the garbage truck and even chase after it. I never knew why, but it made her happy. She loved her Ninja Turtles, and she memorized all the words from the original Wizard of Oz. I can almost hear her saying the lines now.

School was not always easy for Jo. Some kids were hard on her. Some kids were not kind. But here is the amazing part, Alexander: Jo did not let their meanness turn her mean. She kept her heart. She kept trying. She chose to be different in a good way.

She played basketball, softball, and volleyball. And no, she was not Lisa Leslie or Diana Taurasi, but that was not the point. The point was that she had fun. She showed up. She gave it all she had, whether she was playing or cheering for her team. That is a kind of courage too.

Jo has a story different from everyone else’s because she chose to be herself. That is what made her shine.

Maybe the world and other kids will be tough on you too sometimes. Maybe someone will not understand you. Maybe someone will not be nice. If that ever happens, remember this part of Jo’s story. You might be surprised by who you can become when you choose to bring joy, love, and kindness to others. Be courageous, don’t give up quickly, and pray.

Alexander, a real unicorn, is not always something with a horn and magic. Sometimes a real unicorn is a person who chooses to be different in a good way. A real unicorn is someone who keeps kindness in their heart, even when other people are not kind. Jo became my unicorn because she did not let hard things make her mean. She kept going. She kept being herself. She worked hard, had fun, helped others, and became someone I am very proud of.

So, if kids are ever tough on you, or if the world does not always feel nice, don’t let that change the good inside of you. You do not have to be like everyone else to be special. You just have to keep choosing courage, joy, love, and kindness. That may be where your own unicorn story begins.

The coolest part was getting to see Jo graduate from the Fire Academy. I was so proud. I am blessed to have her as one of my unicorns, and I am glad I was able to tell you about her. So, Alexander, when you think about unicorns, do not only look for a horn. Look for courage. Look for kindness. Look for the person who keeps shining anyway.

Your Turn: Find Your Unicorn Magic

Now it is your turn, Alexander. Draw a picture of yourself as a real unicorn—not with a horn unless you want one, but with the things that make you special. Around your picture, write or draw three things: one way you can be kind, one way you can be brave, and one thing that brings you joy.

When you are done, ask yourself: “How can I let my unicorn magic shine today?”