June 8, 2026
What I’ve learned as a mom, grandmother, and preschool teacher after nearly 30 years working with children.
Parenting is the hardest job there is.
As a mom, a grandmother, and someone who spent nearly 30 years working with young children and families, I’ve learned many things over the years.
From the moment our children are born, we want the very best for them. We want them to be happy. We want them to be kind. We want them to be confident. We want them to grow into good people.
The problem is, there is no handbook.
Every child is different. Every family is different. What works for one child may not work for another. As parents, we’re constantly making decisions, doing the best we can with the information we have at the time, and hoping we’re getting it right.
I know I certainly was.
As my own children got older, I found myself working in preschool classrooms. What started as a job became a nearly 30-year journey of learning alongside children and families.
Along the way, I attended countless trainings, workshops, and educational programs. Everywhere I turned, there was another expert, another book, another training, and another opinion about the “right” way to raise children.
And honestly, I listened.
I kept an open mind and gathered ideas wherever I could find them. Over the years, I filled my bag with different approaches, different tools, and different ways to help children and families thrive.
But after all these years, I’ve come full circle.
I’ve listened to experts. I’ve attended trainings. I’ve studied child development. I’ve watched thousands of children learn, grow, struggle, and succeed.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that sometimes the simplest things are the most important.
Sometimes I think we’ve become so focused on what children do that we’ve forgotten how important it is for them to know who they are.
Before confidence.
Before achievement.
Before grades.
Before trophies.
Children need to know they matter.
Children need to know they are loved.
Children need to know they are special.
Not because they earned it.
Not because they accomplished something.
Not because they were the best.
Simply because they are.
In today’s world, that message feels more important than ever.
Children face pressures that many of us never imagined when we were growing up. They’re expected to perform, achieve, compete, and constantly measure up. Even at a very young age, many children are carrying worries and anxieties that should never belong on such small shoulders.
As parents, it’s easy to get caught up in all of it. We want our children to succeed because we love them. But when I think about what matters most, I always come back to the same place.
I want children to feel good about who they are.
Because if a child doesn’t feel good about themselves, everything else becomes harder.
Today's world can feel fast-paced and loud.
As parents, we're working hard to raise kind children, responsible children, confident children, and children who will one day grow into good adults. Those things matter.
But in the middle of all the schedules, expectations, activities, and responsibilities, I think it's important that we don't lose sight of something even more fundamental.
Children need to know they are loved.
They need to know they matter.
They need to know they are special.
Not because of what they do, but because of who they are.
To me, that's what Nova's Wish is really about.
It's a simple reminder of a message I believe every child needs to hear, know, feel, and believe deep in their heart.
That belief became the heart behind Nova’s Wish.
At its core, Nova’s Wish isn’t really about a baby reindeer. It’s about a message.
Nova has one special wish: to live with a child. And when Nova arrives, the message is simple:
You were chosen.
You are special.
As the years go by, children grow. New toys come along. New books fill the shelves. Interests change.
Sometimes Nova becomes a bedtime companion. Sometimes Nova sits quietly on a shelf. Sometimes Nova gets tucked away for a little while.
But whenever that child finds Nova again, the message is still there.
You are special.
Not because of what you’ve accomplished. Not because of what you’ve achieved. Not because of what someone else thinks.
Simply because you are you.
If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing as a new mom, it would be this:
Don’t worry so much about getting everything right.
The moments your children will remember most are often the simplest ones: a bedtime story, a hug, a conversation, or simply knowing they were loved.
Those small moments become the foundation they carry with them for a lifetime.
Maybe that’s why Nova’s Wish means so much to me.
Yes, it’s a story about a little reindeer with a wish. But underneath the story is something I’ve believed for a very long time.
Every child deserves to know they are loved.
Every child deserves to know they matter.
Every child deserves to know they are special.
Not someday.
Not when they accomplish something.
Not when they earn it.
Today.
And every day.
To learn more about Nova’s Wish and its message of reassurance, belonging, and self-worth, visit novaswish.com.
Because every child should feel special...
Today and every day!
Deborah Thompson
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