What I Want You to Know is a series of reader submissions. It is an attempt to allow people to tell their personal stories, in the hopes of bringing greater compassion to the unique issues each of us face. (If you are new to this blog, regularly schedule programming will resume after the holidays, but you can check out the “Best Of” section in the meantime). If you would like to submit a story to this series, click here. This guest post is cross-posted with permission from LT, who writes at I Was A Foster Kid. 
Dear Santa, Please read this whole letter because it took me along time to write. It’s LT… still the same skinny blond “kid” with messy hair. The one that has written a couple times before and who needs just ONE thing. I know people my age are asking for TVs or fancy computer things or clothes or money or lots of things….. but I don’t want any of that. I just want ONE thing… You never came when I lived with my mom and dad. Maybe you couldn’t find us or maybe you were too scared to goto that neighborhood or maybe you were scared of my parents. I was too, so I understand. Maybe we were too bad. Back then I just wanted ONE thing too…. a stuffed dog that was soft. 
Then I went into foster care. I was there for along time. Maybe you had a hard time finding me every year because I moved alot? You never came when I lived with Mr. Ri–on. He used to dress up like you and make us give him presents… except those presents made me feel gross or hurt me; although they made him feel good. Back then I just wanted ONE thing too … a safe home with people that didn’t use me or my little body. You never came with I lived with the Stocktons. You came for their biokids, but I was just “the foster kid.” I even spent that Christmas day locked in the basement, away from their holiday family gathering. Back then I just wanted ONE thing too … a family that wanted “the foster kid.” You never came when I lived on the streets. Sometimes I saw you walking down the street going to parties or restaurants or sitting in shopping malls. But you never saw me. Back then I just wanted ONE thing too… a home with people that cared about me. I know your big night is coming up and I really do understand that you have a tough job, trying to get to all the kids in the world. And I am not angry at you for all the times you didn’t come… honestly I’m not. I’ve had a really hard year and I am still fighting. But there is ONE thing that could help make my fight so much easier. Just ONE, Santa. So, I am going to ask ONE more time… and if you could find it in your heart to give it to me, I promise I will never bother you again. Ready? Santa… ? The ONE thing I need is something that won’t hurt me, won’t use me, and will help me… The ONE thing I need is 
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