December Editor's Letter

When the first of December arrives, do you find yourself the ringmaster of the holiday circus in your home? Many times that’s how I feel, trying to juggle all of the events, tame the gifting and lasso the to-do list. KC Parent to the rescue! We have a complete holiday guide to help you get through (and actually even enjoy) this holiday season! For tips to tame the circus in your home, read Christa Melnyk Hines' article. For a fun look at gifts NOT to give kids, read this article by Sarah Lyons. For a creative way to count down to Christmas, read Kristina Light's article. In addition, we’ve got ideas on how to not break the bank this season, along with helpful tips on co-parenting during the holidays from Kim Antisdel.

For several years, I was guilty of turning back the clocks on New Year’s Eve and telling the girls it was later than it actually was. Anytime they would see a clock I didn’t get to, I just told a little white lie that the clock must be broken. After a while I stopped tampering with time, and we allowed both to stay up until real midnight. I figured they had caught on at some point, so when I casually mentioned recently what I had done, I was shocked to learn that they had never figured it out! Whoops—should have kept that one to myself! For tips on hosting a fun New Year’s evening in your home, read our story by Jessica Samuel.

On a more personal note, the past year has been a rough one for me. We lost my dad suddenly last December, so this month will be a hard one as we commemorate the one-year anniversary of his passing. For more on what the year has looked like since Pops passed, read my story on Living and Learning through Loss. I hope some of my experiences may help you or a loved one dealing with loss.

Merriest of Christmases to you and your family!