Our current culture is often having discussions about young parenthood without including the voices of young parents. We’re often told what should motivate us, why we should be happy, and our dreams are defined for us – without our input. As we advocate for respect, autonomy, support, and recognition, our viewpoints have often been considered unconventional.
I know how frustrating this can be.
The idea that all young parents need the same things is inaccurate and unjust. We all live different lives with different stories, backgrounds, and histories. The one thing we do experience is feeling like way too many people are trying to narrate our lives from their perspectives.
The annual young parent anthology is an opportunity for young parents to share stories, views, opinions, art, and creativity through their lens. This anthology is a collection of honest and genuine pieces created by young parents for young parents. Our mission is to publish and distribute these anthologies to other young parents and continue spreading positivity and empowerment throughout our communities.
If you are interested in submitting a piece, the submission guidelines are simple. There are 3 themes (motivation, happiness, and making your dreams a reality) and all submissions can be in writing or art form and in any language!
If you need help getting started, here are 10 prompts to think about:
1. Share a story about a time when you felt the happiest.
2. How would you define success as a young parent? Does it differ from others’ definitions?
3. What are some of your dreams and how are you achieving them?
4. How do you find and maintain your happiness?
5. If you could create an ideal environment for young parents, what would it look like?
6. What are some of the amazing things you have learned about yourself through struggles, obstacles, and hardship?
7. What motivates you? Write about the good, the bad, or the weird things that have motivated you to keep going.
8. Tell a story about a time when you challenged someone else’s definition of happiness or success.
9. Describe your epic journey. If your child wrote you a letter to you in 20 years, what would you hope he/she would say about your journey?
10. Write a letter to a younger you. What motivating and inspiring things would you tell yourself?
Comments? Ideas? Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram! More details about the anthology can be found here: BeProudToParent.org/Anthology.
Stronger Generations Initiative 