LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
D o you ever feel guilty about when moving at rapid speed? I don’t know about you, but parenting during a pandemic has made me hyper aware of my many flaws as a mother. Time and again, it’s this MetroFamily community that reminds me of the power to be found in parenthood, even in my imperfections. your mom (or dad) guilt?! Is your to-do list so long that you can’t get everything done, even As I spoke recently with local mom of five, entrepreneur and founder of the nonprofit For the Village Farah Antoine-Mayberry, she shared a message that keeps coming back to me: mom guilt comes from a good place, the quest to make the best decisions for our kids. I’m going to move into this season that’s typically high-stress with that balm to my soul in mind. My mom guilt will not breed more guilt. Not long after that conversation with Farah, I had the opportunity to chat with another local mom for whom I have much admiration, who also happens to be the Oklahoma and National Mother of the Year, Dr. Mautra Staley Jones. She laughingly shared that the week prior her kids had accused her of “forgetting” them at school, which they were quick to say was not befitting of her mother-of-the-year title. In actuality, she was in a meeting that was running long and tagged her husband to pick up the kids, which he was glad to do. Y’all, if even the *actual* Mother of the Year cannot do it all, it’s OK if we can’t either! Mautra underscored to me the importance of taking things day by day, especially in chaotic seasons, and that it’s OK to ask for help when I need it.
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Publisher Sarah Taylor Managing Editor Erin Page Assistant Editor Lindsay Cuomo Contributing Writers April Deocariza Ronneal Mathews Mecca Rayne Contributing Photographer Bridget Pipkin Art Director Stacy Noakes Senior Project Manager Kirsten Holder Director of Events Casey Shupe Sales Dana Price Laura Beam Contact us NEW MAILING ADDRESS: 6608 N. Western Ave., #458 Oklahoma City, OK 73116 Phone: 405-601-2081 tips@metrofamilymagazine.com www.metrofamilymagazine.com
We are human. We’re all doing the very best we can. How can you wrap up 2021 and move into 2022 with more grace for yourself and for the parents around you? Let’s start this holiday season by each reaching out to one parent around us to, like Farah and Mautra, provide a much-needed word of encouragement or shared laughter. We’re in this together. With gratitude, MY THREE WILD WONDERS CONSISTENTLY REMIND ME TO CHOOSE JOY.
Erin Page Managing Editor
On the Cover Anabelle, 7, is the winner of
MetroFamily’s 2021 Cover Kids Search in the 6-7 age category. She is a dancer who loves ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop. Anabelle attends Moore Public Schools and enjoys drawing and singing. She is the daughter of Crystal and Johnny and big sister to Alexander. Anabelle’s favorite place to visit in the metro is the OKC Zoo.
MetroFamily Magazine is published monthly. Copyright 2021 by MetroFamily HoldCo, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Articles and advertisements in MetroFamily do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or MetroFamily HoldCo, LLC. We do not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by MetroFamily does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services, or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service which is fraudulent or misleading in nature.
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METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOV-DEC 2021 5
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