Teen mothers living at The Haven were looking forward to spending the holidays with family and friends.

"On Christmas day we will give them lunch before they go to their families,'' the matron, Mrs. Howes, recently told The Royal Gazette .

"After Christmas, we expect to have a gathering with their families and friends here,'' she continued. "Only one will stay here, although she may go with another girl to her home.'' "I'm going to be here for Christmas. The meal will have all the trimmings and I will make it nice if someone chooses to come back.'' Mrs. Howes, who would not give her first name, said that last Sunday there was a gift-opening party for the girls and their children in anticipation they would not be around for most of Christmas Day.

The party, which was attended by members of the Continental Society, featured carol signing, game playing, and a gift exchange.

Mrs. Howes added: "Although many people have been good to us this Christmas, we would like the public to remember us not just at Christmas but throughout the year.'' One of her charges is Danielle, a 19-year-old mother of one, who said although being at the home during the Christmas season was "all right'' it was not the same as being with her family.

"Last year I stayed here at Christmas,'' she said. "We had a good time.

There was a lot of good stuff. My mother came during the day. It is hard to be away from your family.'' Daniell added: "On Sunday it was nice. I had some gifts to open. I didn't think I would get any this year.

"For my son, Christmas will be real nice. There were gifts for him. The Haven helps you get on your feet. It gives you a start.'' Another resident, 18-year-old Ebony, was determined to be with her family on Christmas Day.

"Here you feel like society's rejects, so I want to go home on (Christmas Day),'' she said. "A good Christmas would be to have my own housing, but I am too young to get a place.'' Hinting at a recent court case in which former residents were convicted of stealing, she said: "It seems people only pay attention to us when we are doing wrong. But I want full-time work to get out of here.'' Her friend, Nicole, a mother of a 23-month-old girl, said it was difficult to live at the home during the festive season.

"There are people that bring us things and that is good for the children,'' the 20-year-old said.

"It's going to be all right. When you are independent it is difficult to accept the gifts. Like diapers, I don't accept them. I made my child and I feel that I should at least provide Pampers for my daughter.'' Nicole added: "A lot of Churches give donations. Because a lot of us will be gone, we opened the gifts on Sunday as a group. After Christmas we will have something else together.'' The Haven, run by Teen Services, part of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, first opened its doors as the Ridgeway Home in 1948.