From Macaroni Kid Fort Collins E-Newsletter and a
Sincere Thank you!
The holidays really kick off with being thankful. Thankful for family, friends, and for everything around us. They end with welcoming in the New Year and an opportunity for a New You.
I am so very thankful to all of you.
For your patience, your devotion, your support and your time.
I truly love doing this newsletter and it's been a bit rough lately as I've had some challenges both physically and emotionally.
I've recently undergone a couple surgical procedures that have made it very to keep the newsletter going as well as I usually do.
For those of you who have stayed with me and have been so very patient I cannot tell you how much I truly appreciate you.
I reached out for some assistance and a few people sent emails offering help. I wish to thank you for your interest and consideration.
Life has a way of slowing us down and making us see things differently. Sometimes literally.
In September, I began a journey of healing. Mainly physically. I have had some surgeries that have truly sent me into a place of reflection and reorganization. The change that affected the newsletter most was eye surgery.
It's awakened me to the fact that I can't do everything, though I'd really like to LOL!
The bottom line was that I couldn't see well enough to put in as many events, update seasonal guides, create as many articles. While I’ve been healing, there were some things that ruffled my plans too.
I've had to shift things and make them more efficient (the good) and realize that I have limitations (the bad/awakening) which showed up in the newsletter more prevalently than I had wanted (the ugly - to borrow from a Clint Eastwood movie).
Needing help and not being able to pay cash for it was challenging and I ultimately lost. I asked for help and offered experiences such as Christmas in Color, Local shows, and services. During the holiday season, money is much more valued than experience. I truly understand. However, many of our families’ fondest memories have been from the experiences we've had through Macaroni Kid.
While all this was going on my family had some changes too. A change in school, a loss of a friendship and memories of a past friendship that ended too soon.
My daughter had some bullying issues at school which we tried to fix to no avail and ended up leaving the situation as no real solution was being worked out. This began last school year, and we hoped it would change this year. To be honest it did. Unfortunately, it got worse. We tried working things out with the other family and within the system but in doing so only made the situation worse. It was less stressful to my daughter, to just leave. We experienced losing a friend because of this bullying.
Friendships change and sometimes grow apart. Sometimes the separation is sudden. One of our family’s friends daughter passed away a couple years ago during Thanksgiving to suicide. Her memory comes up every Thanksgiving.
My daughter is resilient, happy and strong. She's been through a lot and always finds the bright lining. But sometimes things just get to her. We went through mourning the school (we liked it there except for the bullying) and loss of the friendship at the school. Then we gave thanks for the experiences we had at that school and with that friend.
Life is all about experiences. Good, Bad, Ugly, and Amazing.
The silver lining is that everything has a season. Change is something we all go through to help us grow and recognize where we need to focus our energy. This is where we find what's important.
My favorite experiences with Macaroni KID are publishing newsletters, connecting families to local resources in the community, and holding the Preschool, Summer Camp & Kid’s activities fair which pulls all this together.
Seeing families asking questions and getting answers which empower them to make decisions on educating their kids. Whether it’s about finding financial help or finding the best school, best camp, best soccer practice. It's wonderful to see everyone getting what they need to get their families experiences that will enrich their lives.
It's really all about experiences and how we value them. Bad experiences can be good for you in the end and good experiences can be lifelong memories that lift you when you are down. Make you laugh and smile – even when you are by yourself.
The key?
All these experiences, though some may be tough, scary, difficult, amazing, and overwhelmingly wonderful. Each enriches our lives and makes us who we are. Through these experiences we grow. How do we frame them in our minds. Do we focus on the bad or the good that came from them?
Tips?
Always find the silver lining. Always feel your feelings. Acknowledge them and respect them. Just don't get caught up in the bad ones. Don't spiral and go down the rabbit hole. Always look for the positive in them.
Experiences:
They make up our lives. Every day we experience something - whether it's a daily routine or a spectacular divergence from the norm. Always bring the positive along with you.
Awareness:
Always be aware of how your friends are feeling, how neighbors are doing. You never know who needs a little helping hand. Maybe just some time to talk, or a random thoughtful gift. Be aware of how your point of view puts the situation in your mind. Is it positive or negative?
I want to let you know sincerely how much you mean to me. How much I love to create the newsletter for you to use as a resource to find experiences you want to enjoy with your family and create wonderful memories for your family.
I hope you enjoy the final time this holiday season has to offer you and that you have a wonder-full New Year. Full of fun, learning, memories and tons of experiences that make you grow!
Thank you,
Melissa Shrader Editor/Publisher
melissas@macaronikid.com
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