This is one of those pinch me issues, and after ten years of doing this, I still often don’t believe this is my life, and that the amazing RFM team and I get to bring this magazine to the masses each month – for a living! And this month, we’re bringing Hoda to our readers! HODA! Clearly I’m a big fan, and I was overjoyed when we got the news that Joan Tupponce would be interviewing her for RFM. I cried when I read the part about her seeing her older daughter, Haley Joy, for the first time, just like I cried when she called in to her TODAY friends recently with the news that she had a new daughter, Hope. I love Hoda’s positive outlook on life, and how it practically radiates through the TV screen each morning I’m able to watch her. I know you’re going to love Joan’s article, starting on page 32.
Also in this issue, our feature on Virginia’s State Parks might just be my favorite of all of our ten years’ worth of travel features – and that’s saying a lot since we’ve covered everything from Ireland to Costa Rica! I love the real-life advice and tips from the writer and the couple she interviewed, who are clearly as big of fans of Virginia’s State Parks as I am of Hoda. I think I’m going to make visiting as many as we can a goal for the next year or two, which leads me to my other favorite article this month…
Goals! Everyone needs them, some of us actually attain them, and this month’s Real Mom, Mariah Stewart, gives us a solid 5-step action plan for making and attaining family goals, starting on page 24.
As I approach a major milestone birthday this month, I have been reminded by several friends who hit this milestone ahead of me that with our increased wrinkles and decreased stamina comes lots of wisdom, and I guess that’s true. As I reflect back on my life, I’m grateful that, like Hoda, I had my kids later in life because with age comes the wisdom to not sweat the small stuff (or even most of the big stuff), to march to the beat of my own drum and not try to keep up with the Jones’, and to take time out for myself (okay, I’m still working on that one).
For more nuggets of wisdom and reflections as I turn the big number that I can’t bring myself to say out loud just yet, check out Online Extras under Community on our website. Who knows, maybe I’ll even post a birthday bucket list!
And on the subject of birthdays, RFM is turning ten this year, and we’re having a musical celebration with a few of our RVA friends who are also turning ten in 2019. Be sure to join us on Sunday, June 9, at the now 10-year-old Westchester Commons, for the 10-year anniversary Diggity Dudes concert. Check out page 67 for the details, and come out and celebrate with us!
Happy Mother’s Day to all you mamas and like-a-moms out there, from all of us at RFM!
