Macaroni Kid Hershey has long been a local staple, helping Hershey moms & dads find their family fun for more than 10 years, and now a new face will be leading the effort to make FAMILY = FUN for kids in Hershey, Hummelstown, Middletown, Elizabethtown, Mount Joy, Marietta, and all the small towns in between. Local mom and Lancaster native Tracy Walton has recently taken over the reigns as Editor and Publisher of Macaroni Kid Hershey. Here's your chance to learn more about her and her big WHY - that is, WHY this is her dream job and WHY she is passionate about helping families find opportunities to connect and engage by having FUN together, all while supporting local organizations and businesses.
More Than a Calendar - Oh, So Much More
Yes, Macaroni Kid Hershey's mission has always been to compile and share the most complete calendar of nearby activities and events for local families, but it is truly about so much more than that. The deeper truth is so simple, yet so powerful - when families have fun together, the bonds between us are strengthened, and those healthy connections with our kids improve the odds of making all those once-upon-a-time dreams come true - the ones that instinctively bloomed as we heard the frenzied pitter-patter of their tiny heartbeat for the first time, then got our first peek at those tiny limbs waving around during an ultrasound, and soon carefully watched their peaceful, sleeping faces with wonder and a not-small amount of worry.
As parents, we provide a safe haven from the sometimes confusing and scary new experiences that our kids face every day, and we teach them and guide them toward becoming happy, healthy, responsible, compassionate humans who will make the world a better place for everyone. The stronger our bonds are with our children, the more meaningful our influence will be, and the easier it will be to reach all those goals. Every moment of real connection with our children is a thread in the fabric of a blanket of love and comfort that we wrap around them. Every single event posted on our calendar, every single listing in our local business directory, every single recipe or activity idea...they each offer you a tool to use - a needle, if you will - to weave those threads into that blanket.
Moments Made Easy - Well, Easier Anyway!
Of course, we all love to have fun, and as parents, seeing that look of unbridled joy on our kids' faces just makes *everything* right for a few moments. But let's be honest, being a parent is haaaaaard work sometimes - ok, a lot of times! Always worth it, absolutely, but rarely easy. Heck, just being an adult is a job most of us are ready to walk out on from time to time. The weight of responsibility that we feel as parents is profound and it's one we never put down for even a second. It's always there, even in our most carefree moments. We work, we plan, we cook, we clean, we worry (and cook and clean and worry and cook and clean and worry and cook...!)
We know connection with our kids is the key to unlocking all the sunshine and happiness we wish for them (connection, along with Pop Its, of course ), but we...are...just...so...tired. We have our minds buried in our to do list and everything else buried in dirty laundry, dishes, and Legos. We're not even sure what day it is, much less what fun family activity or attraction we could/should be exploring with our kids this weekend that will enhance their quality of life, ensuring them a future filled with rosy memories of their idyllic childhood, while also aiding in their personal growth so they become well-rounded, responsible, compassionate adults, and eventually doing nothing short of saving all of humanity. Oh, the pressure! If only someone out there would hand us that valuable information on a silver platter...
So, yes, Macaroni Kid Hershey does, in fact, publish a calendar and a business directory. But, hopefully, you can see now how it achieves much more than that. We're here to provide you with opportunities to connect and engage with your kids...and, therefore, to save the world!
About the Publisher of Macaroni Kid Hershey - Tracy Walton
Tracy is a local mom who grew up in Lancaster, and currently resides in Elizabethtown. She’s the fun-loving mama of two sassy girls and two wacky dogs (including a craaaazy new puppy) who, after spending several years living out-of-state, is back in town and ready to discover what’s new in local family fun, while introducing her youngest to some tried-and-true favorites from “back in the day.” And she’s taking Macaroni Kid Hershey readers along on the adventure!
Along with sharing fun, family-friendly attractions, activities, and events, Tracy hopes to use Macaroni Kid Hershey to foster a nurturing, inclusive, modern-day village for local parents and caregivers, because it truly does take one to raise healthy and happy kids, especially in today's fast-paced world where we are more connected than ever, but so often feel downright frazzled by the demands of modern family life, and overwhelmed by that 24/7 access.
In addition to sharing fun things to do and ideas for connecting with your family, Tracy will also be working hard to include information on local resources available to families who could use some additional support.
As a former small business owner herself, she’s passionate about supporting local, independently-owned businesses and spreading the word about why these small homegrown businesses are vital to our communities and to the families behind the companies.
Basically, she’s all about celebrating and supporting the Moms and/or Pops in your family, and the “Mom & Pop” businesses in our community!
Please feel free to share your ideas for how she can do that by emailing her anytime!
