I hope you enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and you’re as excited as I am to be kicking off a fresh new year, full of possibilities!
Our annual health and wellness issue is always one of my favorites because it’s all about resetting-the mind, the body, and the home. We address topics that are at the forefront of America’s conversations, like “what’s with all the protein?” and “how can I get a better night’s sleep?“. And we give you practical advice to start the year off right, like how to safely eat out with your kid who has food allergies and how to keep outdoor time fun during the cold months. And the recipes are oh so cozy in this issue, too (page 30)-it’s definitely soup season!
The two articles that really speak to me in this issue are all about seniors-our people and our pets, and as it turns out, the advice for them is the same (which will come as no surprise to pet owners-we all know our pets are just tiny humans in disguise). You see, we’ve had a huge change in our household, one I know many of you can relate to: My mom has moved in with us. For a little context, she just turned 90 (as you may have seen in our last issue, picture and everything!), is barely (with a capital B) mobile, and has the beginning stages of dementia. It has changed every facet of my day-to-day life and has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, physically, mentally, and emotionally. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
My mom and I have always been very close, so maybe in the back of my mind, I knew this day would come eventually. I think the hardest part of being the primary caregiver of an elderly relative—and the way it’s most different from the early days of parenting (there are a lot of similarities)—is that there’s no real way of knowing how it’s going to play out and what to expect in the days/months/years to come. It’s a roller coaster of emotions and has forced me to muster up more fortitude, patience, and stamina than I thought I had in me. It’s also filled me with an enormous amount of gratitude for my husband and kids who have embraced our new normal and welcomed Mom into our home and our lives on a full-time basis. I know how beneficial it is for the kids to see that this is what family does when we’re needed—we step up, we make sacrifices, we adapt. As a wonderful friend reminded me recently, I don’t have to do this, I get to do this. And I’m proud to do it for the woman who has done so much for me throughout my entire life.
As the new year begins, keep us in your thoughts and prayers, and feel free to email me with advice, words of wisdom, or just to send over a positive vibe. And please come out and say hi to me on Sunday, February 1, at our annual RFM Summer Camps & Activities Expo. I don’t get out as much these days, so it will be extra nice to see your smiling faces!
Here’s to a wonderful 2026 for us all,
Margaret
