For many of us, Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year; but for many others, it is a time of loneliness and heartache.
One person who proved this in moving fashion this week was Canadian single mum Autumn Aviva-Keshet Mazzitelli.
New to her town, with no friends, and accompanied by her toddler son and daughter, Autumn has moved hearts with her online plea for a family to ‘adopt her’ for Christmas.
In a letter posted to Craigslist, Autumn wrote: “Have you always wanted a daughter and grandson? Do you have a daughter and/ or grandson but they live too far away to return for Christmas this year?...If you’ve answered yes to any of the above questions, look no further, you’ve found the perfect solution!”
Autumn went on to explain how her daughter is set to spend the holidays with her father, leaving just her and her young son to enjoy the festive period together.
Explaining how she is ‘actively choosing not to be alone’, Autumn went on to appeal to anyone out there looking for a little company to get in touch, to share stories, and eat and laugh.
It seems that her past experiences of Christmases spent alone ‘eating frozen pizza’ have appealed to warm-hearted locals, and she has received an incredible 120 invitations to Christmas dinner.
Speaking to Kidspot, Autumn said that the outpouring of emotion and the sharing of personal stories has really struck a chord with her.
“I had lonely old men talk to me about their wives who had just died, and women telling me about their husbands who had recently passed. I had people, single parents, reach out and tell me that they would love to meet me for a play date. I had invitations to go bake cookies and even go to the gym,” said the mum-of-two.
Responding in an appendage to her ad - which has actually since been deleted - Autumn admitted that the emails she has received have moved her to tears.
“I am so moved and overwhelmed…I know it makes sense to take the post down, but it doesn’t feel right. I think it’s important to know that it’s okay to want company,” she added.
Not only will Autumn have plenty of plans for the festive period, but it looks like some budding new friendships await her, too.
