My daughter and her friend at college were talking about careers when MB mentioned that I am the publisher of a parent’s magazine. Her friend responded, “Would you say your mom is a good enough parent to be qualified for that?” She and I laughed at the question when she told me. If you have not seen the magazine, I guess that is a valid question. Maybe she thought I wrote the articles instead of just sharing resources. The question did get me thinking. Am I a good enough parent? Honestly, it depends on the day you ask me. But that is not why anyone else on our team or I do this. Quite the opposite. We do this because we know how hard parenting is, and we can take comfort in knowing that none of us are alone in this. Despite the millions of books and articles out there, nothing fully prepares you to be a parent. Our magazine’s team truly enjoys sharing all of the resources and information, hoping readers will find something helpful or entertaining in each issue. We have carefully curated monthly themes around various community events and parenting interests, such as this month’s Special Needs issue.
Every year, the September issue is dedicated to families with special needs children. It started many years ago when we heard from families who mentioned how difficult it can be to find the resources they need and want for their families. So, every September we run our annual Special Needs Resource Guide. Like all of our directories, this is truly a community effort. Businesses, organizations, parents, and relatives continue to share stories and resources for us to include each year. The guide is filled with therapists, financial resources, recreational activities, support groups, and more. Fortunately, every year, we are able to find more!
We have also included some feature articles that all families can benefit from like Sarah Lyon’s Talking to Kids About Disabilities and Rebecca Hasting’s article, 10 Ways to Support Families with Special Needs. Both of these features will not only shed some light on topics that will most definitely come up in your parenting journey but also help you find ways to support and encourage these amazing families. After all, these families can be a huge inspiration. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to meet parents who have a strength that I can only imagine, kids who are loving and determined, and siblings whose protection and support show no bounds. Their stories are truly inspiring and we hope they inspire you as well!
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of the medical professionals, organizations, families, and other resources that serve the special needs community. Your contributions are invaluable and have helped us find and share these resources in this issue. It is wonderful what can happen when people come together for a common good, and your support is a testament to that.
Speaking of coming together, check out the Bits N Pieces section and the Family Calendar. The calendar contains local charity events, 5Ks, concerts, and more. You will find plenty of opportunities to get the family out to enjoy this amazing community and all it has to offer! We hope you have a wonderful month!
Author: Lynn Knighton
Lynn has called the Mobile Bay area home since 2006 with her husband Brad and their 3 daughters. Following the sale of her Abrakadoodle franchise, Lynn still wanted to serve families and help them thrive. Becoming the Publisher of Mobile Bay Parents was the perfect opportunity. Now she invests into family's lives each month by providing the with the area's #1 go-to resource for moms and dads.
