Your conduit of information

As the editor of a parenting magazine for about as long as I’ve been a parent to my teenagers, I’ve acted as a conduit of information to other parents.

There is a constant flow of press releases, articles, new products, survey results, events, studies, the latest toys, books, clothes, equipment, electronic devices and apps. It all gets pushed through my editorial filter and what survives that process ends up in City Parent magazine each month or in the selection of specialty magazines we publish each year. Some of it survives here on the web, where there is no limit to the amount of space available.

And just because I have read more parenting advice and tips than most moms, doesn’t mean I’m an expert. I am educated to the point where I know when I’m screwing up and can reflect on what I should be doing.

I’m just putting the information out there, knowing that all parents need help at times. Of all the advice I’ve absorbed, the best is to keep lines of communication open, be approachable, be supportive and be a parent. It’s a job, no slackers allowed.

I like to believe that my boys have emerged from childhood relatively unscathed. They are just about impossible to embarrass. They’ve become immune, thanks to my antics. They are happy; they are still in school and could be on their way to never leaving home.

You never stop being a parent, no matter the age of your children. You will seek advice, ignore advice, give advice and wish you had acted on advice from the time your child is born. Parents want the best for their kids and hope to be good at their job. I’m not promising to make you a better parent, just walking with you and passing stuff along that might help you on the journey or at least make it more fun.