Hey there, Macaroni Mamas!
I’m Carla Thomas, and I’m so excited to join the Macaroni Kid family as your Hershey publisher! As your publisher I'll be bringing you the scoop on family activities and events from Hershey to Elizabethtown, Middletown to Manheim, Marietta to Lititz, and here to eternity (wait...probably not that last bit).
If you're like me—juggling snack requests, navigating toddler tantrums, and running on caffeine—then you know how precious (and chaotic) these years with young kids can be. I’ve got two of my own, 5 and 3, so trust me, I get it. Whether your little ones are scaling the furniture or having epic meltdowns because their banana broke (why is this a thing?! Seriously my son will not eat food if it breaks before he can eat it and since he's 3, that banana is guaranteed to break in half before he takes a single bite), we’re all in this together!
I joined Macaroni KID because I wanted to find more ways to connect with my community—and also because, let’s be honest, I needed to get out of the house. I like the idea of getting out and doing things and making memories and all that but the effort it takes is just exhausting. Getting everyone dressed is such a production, then you have getting everyone in the car and buckled up and wait the keys are still in the house and Mommy I left my _____ inside and I can't leave without it; did I bring enough snacks? Pull ups? Do I have my phone?
Even though going places is hard staying home is probably worse. Sure it costs $250 to leave your house anymore but if I spent one more weekend refereeing fights between my kids and who gets to watch Spidey or Bluey, I was going to lose it. I figured there had to be more fun going on nearby than just chasing down grocery carts in the parking lot and ignoring the dishes waiting to come out of the dishwasher while I dissociate into cross stitch.
My mission here is simple—help you find all the fun, local activities that will make your family’s days brighter, sillier, and more memorable. These are the moments when our kids still want to hang out with us, and I’m all about making the most of it while we can! Whether it’s a cool craft fair, a free outdoor concert, or the perfect spot for a Saturday morning hike that even the most reluctant walker will love, I’ve got your back. We’ll be exploring all the hidden gems in the Hershey area together because there's lots of fun to be had and it's a lot easier to have it when you know what your options are because you get a weekly roundup of what's going on (from me that is).
So buckle up, grab that (probably cold) cup of coffee, and let’s dive into all the adventures we can find for our families. I can’t wait to share this wild, wonderful ride of motherhood with all of you!
With love, laughs, and lots of kid-approved activities,
Carla
