small essay on unicorn

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What is a Unicorn?

A unicorn is a legendary creature that is known to possess magical abilities. Though in modern day this creature is thought to be nothing more than a myth, ancient cultures wrote of it as a real animal. In fact, it was included in many natural history books of the time.

The most popular depictions of the unicorn are known by Greek and European accounts and mythology, though there are similar unicorn-like creatures that have been recorded throughout the world. There were many interpretations of the beast – some saw it as the incarnation of purity and grace. Some believed that the horn of the beast had the power to provide cures for sickness and the ability to serve as an antidote for poison.

Because of its supposed magical abilities, the unicorn and its horn was greatly sought after by anyone with means in the early ages. It was common for those of great wealth or nobility to attempt to procure a horn to protect themselves against attacks or to extend their lifespan in general. In fact, many ‘horns’ were sold by traders who came from the north and south. While these were not unicorn horns (they were either rhinoceros horns or narwhal horns), they sold for many times their weight and gold and proved to be a very profitable industry.

Asian Unicorn

In Chinese mythology, there are many accounts of a creature that is known as the qilin . This creature is often thought to be the Chinese equivalent of a unicorn, though it also has the properties of a chimera .

The qilin is known to have the body of a deer, a lion head, green scales, and one long horn that was its defining characteristic. There is also a Japanese beast of similar makeup that is called the kirin, but it is known that this creature is based off of the qilin.

The qilin are peaceful creatures and are known to be very magical and powerful. The qilin are thought to be able to walk upon grass without disturbing a single blade. However, since these creatures did not want to harm the ground, they were often thought to walk on clouds or water instead. They were also thought to be good judges of character. Many ancient stories show these creatures as being able to know if a person was good or evil just by looking at them. They are peaceful in nature and only punish the wicked.

Also similar to unicorn mythology, qilin are often seen as a symbol of fertility. Although they were not hunted for their horns, they were often shown in art work as bringing infants to families.

African Unicorn

In Kongo oral traditions, there is a creature called the Ababda that is very similar to a unicorn. This creature is known to be about the size of a donkey and is said to have the tail of a boar. While it is known to have two horns instead of one like a unicorn, the horn of the Ababda is known to serve as a cure for many illnesses. Perhaps most importantly, however, the Ababda horn is known to be an antidote to many poisons.

South American Unicorn

The legend of the unicorn can be found in South America as well – specifically the country of Chile. This creature is called the camahueto and is known to possess many of the qualities of the unicorn.

The camahueto is a creature that is very similar to a calf or bull. However, instead of having two horns, it only has one. The camahueto is known to be hunted by the machis (medicine woman) because their horn is known to possess the cures to illnesses. The machis are known to stalk the camahueto until she is able to capture it with a lasso and tear out its horn. After she has caught it, she bandages the opening and lets the beast continue on its way.

One of the most common uses for the camahueto horn is to scrape off shavings from the horn and mix them with sea water and apple cider. This combination was thought to cure impotency and restore vitality in older men.

It was also believed that the machis would plant small pieces of the horn back into the ground to allow other camahuetos to grow.

Greek / European Unicorn

The unicorn captured the minds and hearts of many in the European culture, especially because of the unique properties it supposedly possessed and the connection that was later made to Christianity. The unicorn was often portrayed as a magical white horse or goat-like creature with a long horn that rose from the center of its head. It was often thought to be a woodland creature that was difficult to capture and full of grace and majesty.

The unicorn was also thought to have cloven hooves and was known to possess powers that were invaluable for the time period. Among other things, the unicorn was thought to hold the cure to many sicknesses, the ability to purify water, and the antidote to poisons in its horn. Because it was so innocent and full of purity, it was commonly believed that only a virgin would be able to capture the creature.

It was also commonly sought after by nobility and royalty. There were many who were known to pay an impressive sum of money for the opportunity to possess the fabled horn. Though no real unicorn horns have been found to date, unicorns were thought to be a living creature that was easily found in early cultures. There was no speculation as to whether the creatures might be fictional – they were often included in natural history textbooks.

History of the Unicorn

The first mention of the unicorn comes from the Greek writer Ctesias. They are mentioned in his work entitled ‘Indika’ (meaning ‘On India’). He describes the unicorns as being a breed of wild ass that was incredibly fast and light on its feet. Its defining feature, of course, was a horn that was about 28 inches in length that grew from the center of its head. Unlike the later tales of unicorns, however, these horns could be white, red, or black instead of the white color that is characteristic of the modern day understanding of unicorns.

Ctesias supposedly got his information from his time in Persia. Aristotle also gives a similar description of two such beasts that come from the same region – the oryx and the ‘Indian ass’. It is thought that there were many others who drew their descriptions of unicorns from this area as well. In fact, carvings of unicorns have been found on a sculpture at the ancient capital of Perspolis.

There is also an account on the power of unicorns that was found by Cosmas Indicopleustes – a merchant from Alexandria that shed many insights on early India. While visiting the King of Ethiopia he saw four brass statues that portrayed the unicorn and wrote an account of what he had learned. He claimed that all the strength of the creature could be found in the horn. He also noted the tremendous ability of the creature and it’s tendency to throw itself from a high cliff rather than to be captured. It was supposedly able to absorb all the impact with its horn and escape safely.

The Image of the Unicorn Evolves in the Middle Ages

During the Medieval Ages, the image of the unicorn grew into the fantastic image that we now recognize the creature by today. This is partially due to the adaptation of the story by the Christian Church. The claiming of the creature by the Church allowed many artists to portray it in a wide variety of artwork. Because there was a great emphasis on religion during this time period, this enabled artists to work with mythology without being prosecuted by the church.

The unicorn was also seen in a new light in mythology. The beast was still seen as largely unconquerable – but with a few exceptions.

The Portrayal of the Unicorn

The unicorn was known to be a mighty beast that was a creature of the woodlands and largely unconquerable by man. However, there was one important exception to this rule – the unicorn could not resist its urge to be drawn to a virgin maiden. When hunters would go out in search of a unicorn, it was often thought that the prideful creature would pause every now and then instead of simply escaping to taunt the hunters.

To take advantage of this weakness, lore states that a virgin maiden was sometimes told to wait underneath a tree and wait for the unicorn to gallop by. When the unicorn saw the maiden, it would inevitably be drawn in and lay its weary head in her lap. When it fell asleep, the hunters would gather round and trap the creature.

The Unicorn and Romance

There were also connections that were drawn between the tale of the unicorn and the romance between men and women in the courting process. Many 13th century French authors liked to make the analogy that just as a unicorn is attracted to the virgin so is a lover attracted to his woman. There were also similar comparisons that sought to speak of the unicorn as a symbol of chaste love and faithful marriage.

Marco Polo’s Description of the Unicorn

Although there are many different interpretations of the unicorns throughout the Medieval Ages, many of these descriptions echoed the magical awe of the beast. Marco Polo’s account, however, leaves much to be questioned.

He describes the creatures as being close in size to elephants and hair similar to that of a buffalo. They had a black horn in the middle of their heads that could only be described as being similar to a boar. He also noted that they enjoyed basking in mud and slime – a far cry from the pure nature that was characteristic of the beast at the time.

He was shocked to note that the beasts were noticeably different from the enchanting creatures that could be captured by virgins. His obvious description of a rhinoceros in his writings leads many to wonder if he was mistaken in his identification of the creature or if he was alluding that the beast was an over exaggeration of the rhinoceros.

The Unicorn Interpreted By the Christian Church

The unicorn was enthusiastically adopted by the Christian Church who appreciated the many allegories that could be used to symbolize the creature’s connection to Christ. The two most popular expressions of this idea were used to describe the incarnation of Christ and the Passion of the Christ.

The Virgin Mary and the Incarnation of Christ

One of the most popular ways in which the legend of the unicorn was used to relate to Christianity was with the Incarnation of Christ. This version compares the unicorn approaching the virgin as the process that was undergone to allow the Virgin Mary to become impregnated by Yahweh. It is thought that this reference could clearly be seen by the unicorn laying its head down on the virgin’s lap – in close proximity to the womb.

The Passion of the Christ

Another interpretation of Christianity’s connections to the unicorn come in the form of the passion of the Christ. The hunters represent the sinners who sought to overcome Christ. The unicorn (Christ) was able to outrun the hunters easily because he was the embodiment of all that is pure and good. However, because of his great desire to save those who are pure of heart (the virgin) the unicorn goes to the virgin maiden and lays his head in her lap, selflessly sacrificing himself.

This interpretation can possibly be seen in the seven panel tapestry piece entitled, ‘The Hunt of the Unicorn.’ This series depicts a unicorn that is pursued by many noblemen. They are unable to capture the creature until it goes to rest in the lap of a virgin. They appear to kill the creature, but the last panel shows a resurrected unicorn that lives happily in field of flowers.

The Value of the Unicorn in Early Cultures

The unicorn was highly sought after in many cultures – especially European cultures that hoped to gain some of the mythical powers of the beast. Many accounts from early times claim that the secret to the unicorn’s power is hidden in its horn. The horn itself is thought to be made of a substance called Alicorn that was thought to hold the ability to heal various ailments and diseases. In addition to this, it was also thought to cure impotency and give the owner the ability to purify water and protect against poisons.

The horn was greatly desired by many royals and nobles. In fact, it was common practice for nobility to use alicorn to create ceremonial cups that were used by high ranking members of society. The protective abilities of the horn would prevent one from dying even if their cup had been spiked with poison.

The horns were also desired as decorative fixtures as well. The Throne Chair of Denmark was thought to have been made of unicorn horns for many years. In reality, these horns are likely narwhal horns that were sold by traders from the north. The Europeans were not aware of the narwhal and its unique horn – as a result, it was very easy for northern traders to scam the Europeans with fake horns that were sold for much more than their weight in gold.

Possible Explanations for the Myth

So what inspired the story of the unicorn? It’s likely that the mythical beast is no more than a misunderstanding of the natural wildlife of ancient worlds. It is extremely likely that the beast was created by European merchants and travelers who studied the drawings, statues, and paintings of the cultures they visited on their trading routes.

While it is possible that there was, indeed, a horse-like or goat-like creature called the unicorn it is doubtful the creature existed into modern day. It was likely wiped out by hunters who hoped to use its horn to make an impressive profit.

The Rhinoceros

One of the most logical answers to the question of the existence of unicorns comes from the rhinoceros. Many people point to the creature not only because of its characteristic single horn, but also because of the account of Marco Polo. In his writings, Marco Polo claims to have encountered a unicorn during his travels. However, the brutish account of the beast and the single black horn that protruded from its head was more characteristic of a rhinoceros than a magical unicorn.

This leads many to believe that the original unicorns were rhinoceros’ that were over exaggerated by travelers and merchants looking to make a profit from their stories.

The Aurochs

There are also those who believe that the aurochs of Europe could have been the inspiration for the tale. The aurochs are an extinct species of cattle that are known to have been very large. As an ancestor to domestic cattle, it is thought that creature could have inspired many stories because of its great power and strength.

When drawn from the side (as many creatures were in early cultures) it may have appeared that the aurochs was a single horned creature. As many years passed by, it would have been possible for the early cultures to think that the images referenced a strange and mythical creature. Additionally, the established sightings in history could have explained why this unknown creature was recorded in natural history instead of mythology.

The Narwhal

One of the biggest perpetrators of the myth was likely the northern hunters and traders that decided to pass off narwhal horns as unicorn horns. These hunters knew that the European population had never seen a narwhal and wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

In fact, there was often speculation as to what a unicorn horn could look like until the narwhal horn was introduced into trade. Previously, a unicorn horn could be long or short and many different colors. When narwhal horns were introduced into trade however, they set the standard for what was considered to be a proper horn. They passed all the tests that were in place to check for fake horns because they were made of real horn. Additionally, their long length and spiraled texture was quickly adopted as the norm for what a unicorn horn should look like and was adopted into what is now the modern day understanding of unicorns.

Genetic Engineering

Still many wonder, is it possible that a unicorn did exist? And if so, could it be brought into existence again?

Those who look to Oberon Zell-Ravenheart would say yes. Zell – a self-proclaimed wizard – has been pursuing magic and the secrets of the past for many years. It was this obsession, along with appreciation for the book, ‘The Last Unicorn’, that inspired Zell to experiment with genetically manipulating goats so that they displayed only one horn.

Many who look at his successes are quick to call out the experiment as the phony replication of a unicorn. Others argue, however, that results are results and the creature is perhaps the best answer we have to how the unicorns of early cultures came into existence. Regardless of what the popular opinion is, many of Zell’s followers are certain that he is, indeed, a wizard and has brought the unicorn back into existence.

Thank you! This information was easy to understand and very helpful!!

I met a unicorn in my dreams and it explained things to me in a way I understood. The information available on the internet about unicorns is weirdly consistent with the unicorn I met. People know the nature of unicorns and what they represent. I think there is plenty of reason for us to think that unicorns are real but that they are largely hidden from the eyes of the majority which are not pure of heart.

I read the whole entire article and I absolutely love and although I am still young and my family and friends think I I’m wierd for this and it gets me down sometimes but I really think that they were and are still real.

I read the whole thing! Wow! This was REALLy intresting! Thank you for such fine infomation. ⭐

I like unicorns and i think they are real

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A unicorn is a mythological animal that resembles a horse or a goat with a single horn on its forehead. Unicorns are thought to be good and pure creatures with magical powers. They are strong, often white in color, and fleet of foot—and therefore difficult to capture.

The unicorn appeared in early Mesopotamian artwork, and it also was referred to in the ancient myths of India and China. Ctesias was a Greek physician and historian of Persia and India who described a single-horned animal in about 400 bc . He stated that the animal was the size of a horse, with a white body, purple head, and blue eyes. On its forehead, the animal had an 18-inch- (46-centimeter-) long horn colored red at the pointed tip, black in the middle, and white at the base. Those who drank from its horn were thought to be protected from stomach trouble, epilepsy, and poison. The actual animal behind Ctesias’s description was probably the Indian rhinoceros, although in all likelihood he had never seen one. Instead, his legendary views of India were based on reports of Persian visitors and of Indian merchants and envoys when he was at the Persian court.

Cups reputedly made of unicorn horn—but actually made of rhinoceros horn or whale tusk—were highly valued by important persons in the Middle Ages as a protection against poisoned drinks. Many fine representations of the hunt of the unicorn survive in medieval art, not only in Europe but also in the Islamic world and in China.

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notes on the culture

The Immortal Myth of the Unicorn

Over centuries, the legendary creature has become woven into the cultural imagination — and still fascinates as a symbol of the untamed.

Jana Euler’s “Morecorn 9” (2021). Credit... Courtesy of the artist and Greene Naftali, New York. Photograph by Elisabeth Bernstein

Supported by

By Mallika Rao

• Published Aug. 17, 2021 Updated Aug. 18, 2021

In the fourth century B.C., a Greek physician named Ctesias described an animal that would become known as the unicorn: a large, pale blue-eyed ass with a crimson head and a horn of white, red and black, found only in India. Likely created from stories he heard while stationed in Persia (modern-day Iran), Ctesias’ “Indica” — a written catalog of the unknown world — shimmers with the sublime and the absurd: notes on a race of people with a single leg; descriptions of chimeric beasts. But it was the unicorn, possessor of what Ctesias described as a cinnabar-red anklebone, that remains his most enduring contribution. (The scholar Chris Lavers, author of 2009’s “The Natural History of Unicorns,” has written that Ctesias assembled the unicorn out of three animals indigenous to the region: the Indian rhinoceros, whose horn is associated with medicinal properties; the goatlike, horned chiru; and the reddish-and-white-colored kiang, a large wild ass.)

Future Western historians and writers, from Aristotle to Marco Polo, scoffed at Ctesias’ confabulations, while grudgingly referencing them as well. Yet the unicorn, with its improbable magic, continued to find fresh interpretation over the generations; five centuries after its origin, around A.D. 77, Pliny the Elder described a similar horned animal, the monoceros, using a word that in the Bible referred to a wild ox. The Latin Bible turned the Greek “monokeros” into “unicornis.” In the 17th century A.D., its appearance in the King James Version of the Bible helped legitimize the unicorn, by then a white-bodied equine mystic, tamed only by a virgin’s hands. Its horn could purify water and cure epilepsy. Medieval and Renaissance painters depicted unicorns nestled in the Virgin Mary’s lap — a symbol of purity and beneficence.

Today, unicorns canter through the works of Lewis Carroll and Shel Silverstein, out of “My Little Pony” and into the “Harry Potter” series. They exist on the science fiction television show “Battlestar Galactica” (1978-79) and in a 2013 short film starring Lana Del Rey. In 2017, the American fashion designer Thom Browne sent a gauzy puppet version down a Paris runway. It presides as Scotland’s national animal , emblematic of the country’s stubborn bravery. The very word has been co-opted: In Silicon Valley , the term “unicorn” symbolizes a billion-dollar start-up. In open sexual arrangements, a unicorn is a couple’s third lover. Its enchanting otherness has made it a queer icon . A recent show at Greene Naftali in New York by the German painter Jana Euler offered a different interpretation: Her “Morecorns,” with their monstrously long snouts and multiple horns, recall deformed animals at a traveling circus — a novelty item, a way to sell tickets, their mutations the result of human intervention.

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Are Unicorns Real? Separating the Truth From Myth

The Spruce / Wenjia Tang

What Is a Unicorn?

• In the Bible

Fossil Remains and Skeletons

Creating unicorns, sea unicorns.

Unicorns aren't just a modern trend. Throughout history, unicorns have appeared in many Eastern and Western mythologies . But are unicorns real? Did they ever exist beyond people's imaginations? Although there has never been any substantiated evidence, certain events have helped to fuel the myth of unicorns.

Unicorn means "one horn." Most often, a unicorn is depicted as a white, horse-like creature with a single horn growing from its forehead. Sometimes, a unicorn is seen as a deer, donkey, or goat with a single horn. The horn is often long and straight, marked with spiral striations along its length.

Moreover, unicorns are typically depicted as having cloven hooves like cattle, deer, or goats , which is dissimilar to the single-toed hooves of horses . But unicorns often are seen sporting similar coat colors to horses, with white being the most common color.

Unicorns supposedly have been endowed with many magical qualities. For instance, unicorn tears and blood are said to be healing, and powdered unicorn horn is said to be an antidote to poison. Furthermore, unicorns are apparently difficult to catch—not unlike some horses who don’t like to be caught —and in many mythologies only young maidens can tame them. They are a symbol of ferociousness, freedom, power, and speed, and they appear on many coats of arms and emblems.

Unicorns in the Bible

While more modern translations do not mention unicorns, there are nine references to unicorns in the King James version of the Bible, which was originally published in 1611.

Most scholars suspect mistranslation. It's possible the word "unicorn," which simply meant "single-horned animal," could have been referring to a rhinoceros. Some scholars also believe the Hebrew word "re'em," which was translated as "unicorn," actually was alluding to a wild bull.

Here are the references to unicorns in the Bible:

• Numbers 23:22: “God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.”
• Numbers 24:8: “God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.”
• Job 39:9: “Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?”
• Job 39:10: “Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?”
• Psalms 29:6: “He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.”
• Psalms 92:10: “But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.
• Deuteronomy 33:17: “His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.”
• Psalms 22:21: “Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.”
• Isaiah 34:7: “And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.”

While horses have an extensive fossil record, there are no confirmed fossils of unicorns. But that hasn't stopped people from trying to find unicorn remains.

One of the principal characters in the book  Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier is based on the life of English paleontologist Mary Anning. Anning collected fossils but didn't understand what the fossilized creatures were. For instance, fossils we now know are cephalopods were thought to be coiled snakes. Straight cephalopod shells were also found, and many people thought these were unicorn horns.

Several unicorn skeletons also have been discovered, but all of them have been deemed fake. In the 1600s, German scientist and inventor Otto von Guericke created a fake unicorn skeleton with bones locals found in a cave. And a sketch based on the model was even included in a book on natural history written in the 1700s. Whether the original fake was created out of fun or the creator thought he was building a real unicorn is unknown.

Unicorn Sightings

Many people claim to have seen unicorns in person. In 1991, Austrian naturalist Antal Festetics said he viewed a unicorn while horseback riding in the Harz Mountains, though he offered no proof of the encounter. And in 2010, the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto shared footage of a unicorn sighting, which was later deemed a hoax. In the footage, the unicorn's gait looks a bit wooden as it travels along, unlike the flowing gait of a horse.

It is possible to manipulate the horn buds of cattle and goats—and probably other horned animals, as well—so they twist together to create the look of a unicorn. Similarly, the Prato unicorn , a deer with a single horn in the center of its head, was spotted in Italy in 2008. While rare, these things do happen, perhaps giving rise to the myth of the unicorn.

One animal does come by its single horn honestly. The narwhal—or Monodon monoceros , which means "single-toothed whale"—has what appears to be a longhorn projecting from its forehead. In reality, this tooth protrudes through a gap in its upper lip. So it's not really a horn, and it's not entirely clear to scientists what this tusk is for.

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• St Neots Museum - Unicorns – a brief history
• Mythology.net - Unicorn
• LiveScience - Where did the unicorn myth come from?
• National Trust for Scotland - The unicorn – Scotland’s national animal
• Ancient Origins - Legends of the Unicorn Horn: Cures, Antidotes and Medicinal Magic
• American Museum of Natural History - Unicorns, West and East
• Theoi Greek Mythology - Unicorn
• Historic UK - The Unicorn, National Animal of Scotland
• World History Encyclopedia - The Unicorn Myth
• The Guardian - Why the unicorn has become the emblem for our times
• unicorn - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• unicorn - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

unicorn , mythological animal resembling a horse or a goat with a single horn on its forehead. The unicorn appeared in early Mesopotamian artworks, and it also was referred to in the ancient myths of India and China . The earliest description in Greek literature of a single-horned (Greek monokerōs , Latin unicornis ) animal was by the historian Ctesias (c. 400 bce ), who related that the Indian wild ass was the size of a horse, with a white body, purple head, and blue eyes, and on its forehead was a cubit-long horn coloured red at the pointed tip, black in the middle, and white at the base. Those who drank from its horn were thought to be protected from stomach trouble, epilepsy , and poison . It was very fleet of foot and difficult to capture. The actual animal behind Ctesias’s description was probably the Indian rhinoceros .

Certain poetical passages of the Bible refer to a strong and splendid horned animal called reʾem . This word was translated “unicorn” or “rhinoceros” in many versions of the Bible, but many modern translations prefer “wild ox” ( aurochs ), which is the correct meaning of the Hebrew reʾem . As a biblical animal, the unicorn was interpreted allegorically in the early Christian church. One of the earliest such interpretations appears in the ancient Greek bestiary known as the Physiologus , which states that the unicorn is a strong, fierce animal that can be caught only if a virgin maiden is placed before it. The unicorn leaps into the virgin’s lap, and she suckles it and leads it to the king’s palace. Medieval writers thus likened the unicorn to Christ , who raised up a horn of salvation for mankind and dwelt in the womb of the Virgin Mary . Other legends tell of the unicorn’s combat with the elephant , whom it finally spears to death with its horn, and of the unicorn’s purifying of poisoned waters with its horn so that other animals may drink.

Cups reputedly made of unicorn horn—but actually made of rhinoceros horn or narwhal tusk—were highly valued by important persons in the Middle Ages as a protection against poisoned drinks. Many fine representations of the hunt of the unicorn survive in medieval art, not only in Europe but also in the Islamic world and in China.

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Motherhood left a void in my social life. Then I found my ‘unicorn family’

No one warned me that making friends in motherhood would be complicated. But once my baby was in my arms, days were consumed with feedings and playgroup, laundry and household tidying. When I met other moms at "Mommy and me" classes, opportunities to talk were stifled by diaper changes and having to chase my toddler from one end of the room to the other.

The friends I’d confided in over the years — those who were bridesmaids in my wedding — were now scattered around the country. One of my closest friends was across the Atlantic in a different time zone. I was no longer living in an apartment with roommates. The years my husband and I were a young, childless couple with evenings devoted to socialization were over, too. And I was no longer in a work environment where I was conversing with adults daily. Overnight I entered motherhood, and life as I knew it changed because I didn’t have the close female camaraderie I grew to depend on.

When my older son was little, I grew close to another mom who had a son the same age. We’d spend multiple days together each week at each other’s houses, attending story time at the library, and meeting at the park. My toddler learned to share and communicate alongside her son, and I had a friend who understood the overwhelming sleep deprivation and loss of personal space that comes with motherhood. Our friendship was everything we needed during those early years because we went through every milestone together. But over time, our bond fizzled.

As my children grew, so did my longing for close friendship. Talking about the weather with the mom pushing her child on the swing next to mine wasn’t enough. I’d lean on a group chat with my two best friends from childhood and it was comforting, but it wasn’t enough because I couldn’t see them face to face or call them at 7 P.M. and say, “Please come over.” It wasn’t until I was a mother that this distance between us settled and felt permanent.

But finding new friends locally wasn’t easy. I wanted to celebrate my decision to stay home while also commiserating over the loss of my professionalism with someone experiencing the same dilemma. I needed other moms who related to my desire to dress up in an Alice and Olivia top and MOTHER jeans because I spent the rest of my time in leggings, my hair a mess, and looking as though I hadn’t slept in months.

As my older son approached his teen years, I needed confirmation from friends that I wasn’t doing it all wrong — that other moms were also searching for the balance of ensuring your kid doesn’t miss the bus or connect with strangers online while at the same time giving them the independence they need to thrive. Talking honestly about life with friends who were at the same parenting stage was fundamental, but I didn’t always feel as though I could open up fully.

Before kids, I bonded with friends easily. I had no problem spilling personal details and connecting with those I trusted. But when life centered around my children, so did my time and what little space was left to socialize. I discovered that making friends was no longer simple — it now required effort and energy I didn’t always have.

For years, my husband had a close friend he’d grab a beer with on a weekday night. But when he and his family came over for dinner, his wife and I didn’t have a lot in common, so conversation was strained. Often, when I made a new friend , my husband didn’t hit it off with her spouse, or vice versa. Or we’d become close with a couple, but our kids’ interests didn’t mesh, so hanging as families frequently wasn’t ideal. There always seemed to be a puzzle piece out of place, and for years I couldn’t figure out what was missing.

I had mom friends. My husband had his buddies. And our boys had friends of their own. But what I yearned for most was to have the support and stability of another family, one we could share our best moments with — I needed a 'unicorn family.'

I had mom friends . My husband had his buddies. And our boys had friends of their own. Still, something was lacking. I realized we were socializing separately, individually seeking out the relationships needed to sustain us. But what I yearned for most was to have the support and stability of another family, one we could share our best moments with — I needed a "unicorn family" for all of us.

I wanted more than anything to have the close friendship of a family that could come over last-minute on a Friday evening. We’d order takeout and she and I would sip cosmopolitans while laughing about how absurdly tired we are as our husbands would drink scotch and listen to Pink Floyd on the record player. The children would play basketball or video games, and in time they’d feel like cousins as opposed to friends. Our conversations would lead to the kind of laughter that makes you cry. It seemed like a reasonable aspiration because it’s something my family had when I was little. 

Growing up, my parents were close with my best friend’s parents. We’d grab dinner with her family at the deli on a Friday evening and go back to one our houses to hang until bedtime. We’d listen to Ace of Base and record ourselves on cassette tape as if we were the next Casey Kasem. In the summer, we’d go camping together, or swim at the neighborhood pool from morning to dusk. Her parents felt like family and being myself in their presence came naturally. My childhood was intertwined with hers and I wanted my boys to have that irreplaceable friendship, too.

As my older son began middle school last year, we’d gone 12 years without having another family to call our closest friends. As a mother, I wanted to have again what I cherished from my childhood. Without it, there was a void in our social life, and I couldn’t ignore it any longer.  

Around that time, I took my boys to a birthday party. After conversing with another mom about school, extracurriculars and motherhood, I felt an instant connection. Conversation flowed naturally and I had that feeling where you know that someone will become a wonderful friend. Her husband was there too, and I just knew my husband would hit it off with him as well. Then I realized, of all the children there, my boys and their son had found each other, and they were laughing while inhaling pizza. That confirmed my intuition that we’d mesh perfectly — that the evenings I’d imagined of cosmopolitans and Pink Floyd just may come true.

A few months later, our families hung out for the first time. Our children haven’t stopped asking to meet up since. We have dinner at each other's houses, celebrate holidays together and meet last- minute so the kids can play basketball and we can sit around and talk. They voluntarily cheered my son on from the audience of his orchestra concert and I’ve never seen him happier than when he spotted their faces next to ours.

She and I don’t worry whether we’re wearing our favorite pair of jeans or the leggings we worked out in. They see our weak parenting moments when our teen pushes us beyond our limit and our reaction is subpar. We feel comfortable being imperfect in their company because we’re in a place where we care deeply about each other's well-being enough to not pass judgement. It's exactly what I'd been searching for.

Twenty minutes past the kids’ 5-minute warning, they always beg for another 10 — and because we’re hoping for the same, it’s easy to say OK. The moment we part ways, my boys ask, “When can we see them again?” It’s only been eight months but already I can see they are our people . The void in my life that formed when motherhood began has been filled with a friendship my entire family cannot live without.

Perhaps we’ll start a weekly dinner date. Maybe we’ll go camping together like I did with my best friend’s family. But even if we mostly sit around in comfy clothes sipping cocktails while laughing about absolutely nothing, the void has been filled.

My motherly world will never feel incomplete again.

Lindsay Karp is a freelance writer and mother residing in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her husband and two sons. She is an advocate for fellow patients with multiple sclerosis and is working on a memoir. Follow her on Twitter . 

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Essays on Unicorn

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Short Kid Stories

Never be short of short kid stories.

Unicorn Wings

By aaminah zeenah.

Once upon a time in a forest far, far away there lived a snow-white unicorn among the other creatures in the forest. She was happy and content with her beautiful life, but the one thing she wished for, more than anything else, was to have a pair of elegant wings.

She often looked at the birds and butterflies, soaring high in the sky, so one day she set out to find a creature who could give her their wings.

First, she met a bluebird. “Oh, bluebird,” she said, “can you give me your wings?”

“I’m sorry,” said the bluebird, “but my wings are the wrong colour for you.”

Next, the unicorn met a butterfly. “Oh, butterfly,” she sighed, “can you give me your wings?”

“I’m sorry,” said the butterfly, “but my wings are the wrong size for you.”

By now it was nighttime, and the miserable unicorn sat down by the pond. Suddenly, she heard someone cry out for help. Turning around, she saw a winged unicorn stuck in a thorny gorse bush. She hurried to free the unicorn with her horn.

“Thank you for saving me,” said the other unicorn. “Here is the reward for your kind heart.”

Then there was a bright silver flash, and the unicorn, looking at her reflection in the pond, saw that she too had wings!

So she flew up into the sky to be happy forever.

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• By: Aaminah Zeenah
• Age range: 3 to 5 , 6 to 8
• Category: Animal Story , By Children , Fantasy , Modern , Original
• Animals: Unicorn
• Reading time: 01 - 05 mins
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• Secondary School

Essay on unicorns for small kids

Heyaa ✌️ ✌️

Here is the essay : -

A unicorn is a legendary and mythical creature. It looks like a pony with one long, single and white horn on its head.Its blood and horn usually have mystical powers. In Western culture, its horn is said to have power (often called alicorn in medieval literature) to heal wounds and sickness, and to neutralize poison.

Hope it hel ped y ou .

Unicorns are the truly amazing and tremendous creatures.

Everyone gets amazed by its beauty.

They are strong, often white in color, and difficult to catch.

They are known as pure  creatures.

Their body is similar to that of a horse with a horn on its head

Mark as brainliest ans plzz

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hope it helps uh

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