PHOTOGRAPHY BY LARA ROBBY
Do you know how awesome it is to wake up to the smell of breakfast?
It’s a pretty rare occurrence in my house. Not because I’m the only one in the household who makes breakfast—my husband often takes the lead. No, it’s because my children suffer from something I like to call Early Riser Syndrome. So, for the past four years, there’s been no need to set an alarm. Instead, I can count on waking up to the sound of a little voice calling my name or a sleepy, PJ-clad toddler standing beside my bed.
As heartwarming as that is, however, it’s not bacon. No, bacon is in its own category.
So when I awoke one morning to the wafting aroma, I was overjoyed—then terrified. The smell was heavenly, yes, but where were my kids? I walked down the stairs of my parents’ home, where we were staying for the weekend, to find my dad painting with my children at the kitchen table and my mom making breakfast. And, for a split second, I was the kid. I was the one waking up while someone else got the house going and put food on the table. And it was wonderful.
It’s easy to forget how great it is to be a kid, because parenting can be all-consuming. It’s a 24-hour job—albeit a magical job that involves bedtime stories and warm hugs; creativity and a healthy dose of humility; tough discipline and plenty of persuading. That’s why we turned to some knowledgeable St. Louis parents for wisdom and advice.
As many parents know, it can take a lot of love and support to endure life’s challenges. Becky Ortyl and Jennifer Hinkle, mothers and co-owners of Olive+Oak, shared their own stories, after both lost children to congenital heart defects. Read more about how they carried on (and how you can support their foundations).
Finally, throughout this issue, we’ve sprinkled tips for creating family memories. You’ll find ideas for weekend road trips, under-the-radar Halloween options, and other holiday happenings.
Parents even shared some of their fondest memories involving the tooth fairy—including some hilarious fairy fiascos.
