From the Publisher: Making the Most of Every Moment
Rumor has it that if you stand still in a grocery store aisle long enough, you can see the prices rising in real time. Ok, maybe that’s an exaggeration. But if you’ve shopped for groceries lately (or anything, really), you’ve probably noticed that everything seems to be getting smaller and pricier in tandem. If you’re shopping for a family with kids who have bottomless pits for stomachs, I’m here to commiserate.
In a world where food and gas can feel like luxurious purchases, we have to find ways to cope. My husband and I decided to cut food costs by eating out less and sticking to a smaller grocery list that allows for less waste. I’ve also made an effort to get my kids in the kitchen more. My daughter is the official ingredient-pourer when we bake brownies and the official dough-taster when we make cookies. One night I showed my son how I prepare hot dogs (truly a culinary feat), and another night I guided him through roasting a huge slab of salmon. I’m no master chef, but I want them to know that if they’ve got a few key ingredients, they can make delicious and satisfying food without spending a ton of money.
We usually have pizza night on Fridays or Saturdays. For our last pizza night, we decided to make pizzas together as a family instead. We assembled a variety of ingredients and let the kids choose their own sauces and toppings. They couldn’t wait for the pizzas to bake so they could see the results. Nobody complained that we didn’t order from a restaurant.
The important thing isn’t how much money we spent on the meal, but the fact that we enjoyed creating it and eating it together. You can’t put a price on that.
Making the most of every moment is so important because you never know how much time you have together. In this issue, you’ll learn about two parents who’ve had to learn how to parent solo while supporting their families and achieving their personal goals. Since losing her spouse, Amanda has finished nursing school and earned her RN license. After his wife passed away unexpectedly, David realized what a huge role his village plays in his and his daughter’s lives when she was diagnosed with dyslexia.
In this annual family health issue, we also cover keeping your medicine cabinet up-to-date and organized, how to treat common dental emergencies and signs that your child might have a vision disorder.
As always, thank you for reading Texarkana Parent. And if you’re cutting costs and cooking more at home like my family, let us know by tagging #txkparent in photos of you cooking with your kids. We want to see your family’s culinary creations!
