I am a single mother of six children, ages 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, and 15. I am a domestic violence survivor and I am one semester away from completing a master's degree in social work. 

After an extended and traumatic custody battle, I am finally getting full custody of three of my children. I will most likely gain full custody of the other three within the next two months. We are all trauma survivors. They are relieved to be coming home for good. 

I have struggled financially during my last year of graduate school because I had to cut back on work hours in order to complete an unpaid internship as a requirement for my social work master's degree. I cannot pay all of my rent and utilities plus get Christmas presents for all six kids. This is the first Christmas we will be spending together as a family since my divorce from my abuser. I just want to make it a happy time for my children because they have been through so much. 

Thank you for reading.