THE Mama FILES
MEET OUR TEAM
AMY L. FOREMAN PUBLISHER EDITORIAL AMANDA MILLER MANAGING EDITOR AMANDA CIANI REBECCA FAST MADELINE PISTORIUS AMELIA ROESSLER JULIANNA STEEN ASSOCIATE EDITORS KAILEY GREMILLION EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ART/PRODUCTION CHLOE ALLEN PRODUCTION MANAGER KAYLA DUPREE MADELINE MILETELLO ASAREL SMITH
A Seat at the Table I ’m going to say something that might get me kicked out of the Thanksgiving fan club. I’m not a fan of Thanksgiving. There, I said it. I’ve never been excited about the tradi- tional Thanksgiving meal. Turkey, dressing, casseroles, and all the fixings just aren’t my thing. Add in the fact that I’m gluten-free, and dinner becomes a game of “What can I actually eat?” Spoiler alert: Not much.
MCKINNA SPROLES GRAPHIC DESIGNERS MAIH MANUSO CONTENT MULTIPLICATION SPECIALIST TRINITY GRAYSON MERCEDES MITCHELL CLIENT SUCCESS REPRESENTATIVES ADVERTISING/MARKETING ZACK HILL DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING CRYSTAL BARRETT KAYLA FRICKS GOMEZ RYN WHITESIDE SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES CAMILLE CAVIN JENNIFER HOFFMANN JILLIAN WRAY ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TERI HODGES DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS ROXANE VOORHIES COMMUNITY OUTREACH ADMINISTRATION BRANDON FOREMAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
But the food isn’t really why Thanksgiving isn’t my favorite holiday.
Since losing my mom, Thanksgiving hasn’t felt the same. Her birthday always falls during Thanksgiving week, and she loved having a big family meal. She wanted every- one together, plenty of food, and a house full of people. Me? I’m usually trying to figure out how to leave town. Every year, I announce we’re going some- where for Thanksgiving. Somewhere with sunshine, room service, and absolutely no turkey. And every year, that plan falls apart. So, here we are again. Years ago, my husband built a 14-foot table in our house. Yes, 14 feet. Apparently, a reg- ular dining room table wasn’t going to cut it. And Thanksgiving is the only time of year we actually eat at that table. The other 364 days, it just sits there, waiting for its big moment. My mom loved bringing everyone together, and while I don’t share her enthusiasm for cooking a massive meal, I understand why it mattered. It wasn’t about the food. It was about having everyone in one place.
With my daughter in college and the boys getting older, I’m realizing how quickly those opportunities change. Everyone has their own schedules, and getting all five of us together sometimes feels like scheduling a board meeting. Maybe Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be my favorite holiday. Maybe it’s simply about ap- preciating who’s still sitting around the table while remembering those who aren’t. I’ll still miss my mom, still pass on the turkey, and probably start planning my Thanksgiv- ing escape again next year. But for now, there’s a 14-foot table waiting to be filled. And maybe that’s a tradition worth keeping.
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Happy Thanksgiving, from my family to yours.
Amy L. Foreman Publisher
2025
2023
2024
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6 NOVEMBER 2026 | CINCINNATIFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM
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