The editor, Tracey Tong, right, and her children Millie, left, and Ellie. Photo Credit. K. Simpson
For teens, it marks the closing of one chapter and the passage to adulthood. Indeed, many people take this time to look back on a childhood left behind, and the beginning of bigger and better things.
We at Parenting Times Magazine aren’t much different. As we celebrate our 16th anniversary, we’re also reflecting on our accomplishments and setting goals for the future.
This year marks my eighth as editor of this magazine. I began contributing as a freelance features writer when my older daughter was in a baby carrier (that same kid is now in Grade 6 and is about to overtake me in height). As life changes, I’m proud to see that the magazine has, too, for the better: we’ve built strong working relationships with some of the leading local experts in family and community services, health and education. We celebrate our dedicated (and much appreciated) journalists in our Featured Contributors section. We devote each issue to one of numerous trending themes in our industry.
Fittingly, the theme for this issue is ‘It’s our time’: a 16th birthday is just a good as time to any to help our kids maximize their potential for learning or for adults to explore who they are beyond parenting and look after their own physical and mental health, perhaps by making new friends or retraining for a new career.
We hope these evergreen stories, pulled from past issues you may have missed, inspire you to seize the day. All of you – the local families who have come to rely on us to delve into the issues you care about; who share their own stories; and who bring the whole crew out to our twice-annual Parent & Child Expo at the Nepean Sportsplex (the next one happens on Oct. 18 and 19 and we can’t wait) – inspire us. Without you, this publication couldn’t happen. You put the sweet in our 16.
Best wishes,
Tracey