Issue link: http://hvparent.uberflip.com/i/947715
6 Hudson Valley Parent n March 2018 Publisher TERRIE GOLDSTEIN tgoldstein@excitingread.com Editor CASSIDY BRIGHTON cbrighton@excitingread.com Dir. of Business Development KATHLEEN MERZ kmerz@excitingread.com Executive Assistant LESLIE CORTES lcortes@excitingread.com Media Advisors CHRISTY OLIVIER colivier@excitingread.com MATTHEW SILVERMAN msilverman@excitingread.com Layout & Design ENGLE PRINTING also publishers of MY TripPlanner.com family MY TripPlanner.com family Hudson Valley Parent is published monthly by: The Professional Image Marketing & Public Relations Inc. 174 South Street • Newburgh, NY 12550 Phone: 845-562-3606 • Fax: 845-562-3681 hvparent.com This publication is copyrighted by the publisher. Reproduction without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Hudson Valley Parent welcomes submissions, although we cannot accept responsibility for work submitted nor guarantee publication. M y mother has read Dr. Seuss's Oh, the Places You'll Go! to me so many times, I think I could recite the story from cover to cover at this point. From my kindergarten moving up day, to my college graduation and every milestone in between, the book found its way into my mother's hands. She insisted that I could move mountains with just a little encour- agement from Dr. Seuss. As I look towards the future and a family of my own, I have plans to carry on this tradition. The emphasis on individuality and following your dreams that the story highlights is important for all kids to hear! This book and other Dr. Seuss classics have become some of my all-time favorite books. The colorful illustrations, quirky characters and sing-song rhymes have landed Dr. Seuss on the favorite list of so many people. This month, parents, teachers and kids all over celebrate reading, creativity and all things Seuss in honor of the children's author. Here at Hudson Valley Parent, we are honoring the memory of Dr. Seuss with a magazine that celebrates kids with all different abilities and needs. After all, "Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!" We have a story from a mom with a toddler with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). His specific needs require special planning, patience and a routine that maintains room for flexibility. See how our blogger-mom Rielly uses extreme amounts of coffee and dinosaur chicken nuggets to get through the tough times with her adorable son and celebrate the days when it all works out. The teen years are tough to navigate for any parent-child team. Join a local mother on her journey with her 17-year-old on the spectrum. Together, they find what works and tackle the struggles as they come along. The road to independence is a windy one but a supportive family makes it seem less treacherous. When a mother advocates for her son, every day becomes a celebration no matter the obstacles that may stand in the way. That's what happens for Sara Greenberg-Hoye, this month's "I am a Hudson Valley Parent," and her baseball-loving son who has autism. She describes her life as intense and far from cookie-cutter but that doesn't stop her from enjoying every moment of it. Did you happen to notice this month's cover kid and his "bionic ears"? According to his mom, he loves showing off his cochlear implants and telling other kids about them. Nothing can stop this incredible kid! The characters in Dr. Seuss stories all look, talk and behave very differently but that doesn't stop them from making every day a celebration! They dance with jingtinglers and blow their floofloovers, bang their tartookas and blow their whohoopers. Here at Hudson Valley Parent, we are taking their lead and celebrating different abilities every day! As for me, I will celebrate on March 2nd (Dr. Seuss's birthday) with a big plate of green eggs and ham and a copy of Hudson Valley Parent. I will read Hudson Valley Parent here and there. I will read Hudson Valley Parent anywhere! Your mountain is waiting CASSIDY BRIGHTON Editor's Journal