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Dear Readers,
April is the month we celebrate our publication’s
birthday. We started publishing our magazine in
1992, and as we enter our fourteenth year of
producing the magazine, we’re very grateful to all
of our readers and advertisers for supporting us and
helping us grow into the region’s LARGEST and MOST
read parenting publication!
April is even more fun because I just love birthday
parties. April and May have always been busy months
for birthday parties in our family and over the
years we’ve had some great celebrations, especially
with four children. Whether for toddlers, teenagers
or even my husband, I love throwing a great party.
I remember with fondness the great parties we had
along the way, each one as unique as my four
children. We had a “sound” scavenger hunt in a mall
one year for a 13th birthday party. Once 25
four-year-olds all created and decorated space
helmets from grocery bags and then blasted off into
outer space (via their imagination) in our back
yard. Once we had a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle
party complete with a pizza-throwing contest.
Of course, one of the greatest aspects of planning a
party is the cake. I made a hamburger cake for BJ’s
10th birthday and he asked for it every year after
that! And I’ll always remember the pink elephant
creation for Brittany’s first birthday and the fancy
three-tier cake for her 6th birthday. One of my
favorite parties was a circus theme outdoor party
that included a beautiful circus carousel cake that
I also made myself; it was quite the creation. Each
cake, like each party, has a fond memory that
accompanies it.
My youngest child is now nineteen and next month
she’ll turn twenty-years-old. I’ll no longer have
any young children or TEENAGERS! Teens will test
your love as well as endurance. I used to think I’d
be very happy when this day arrived, but, I can tell
you now, I’m not looking forward to Brittany leaving
her teen years. She has been the most wonderful
teenager; sometimes I pinch myself to see if I’m
dreaming. She has told me that the reason she’s been
so well balanced as a teen is that she learned what
not to do from her three siblings. This could be
true. Her older brother and sisters did test the
limits often.
So, my party planning days for my children are on
the wane. There will be only the major milestones of
21, 30 and beyond. They are finally grown up. The
party we will have for Brittany next year when she
turns 21 may be my last fling at parties for my
children.
Becoming a year older is a wonderful celebration for
children and I loved every single one of my
children’s birthday parties. I love celebrating
their birth and their growth. They are all great
kids and I love them dearly.
‘Til next month, Happy Parenting!
Brenda |
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