Brian Tietz
Pamela Hayford
Editor of Southwest Florida Parent & Child magazine
It’s hard to say goodbye. Even when a new adventure awaits. When my parents drove me to college and hugged me goodbye, I cried. When I dropped off my son for his freshman year in August, I cried. After 15 years as editor of Southwest Florida Parent & Child magazine, I’m moving on to a new adventure, and I’ll probably cry. But I’m also excited.
I have loved meeting other parents in Southwest Florida, getting to know our cover kids on photo shoots, creating projects with families at ArtFest and other events — I’ve met so many great kids and adults because of SWFL Parent & Child. I love working with the writers who contribute to this mobile monthly resource, the team at the office — I’ll never forget the petting zoo we had for Dennis Wright’s birthday or the Star Wars makeover my co-workers gave my office. I even love smelling the magazine pages fresh from the printer.
I’ve learned a lot from the experts of Southwest Florida, the Safe Kids coalition, the doctors and therapists, educators and scientists, the families who have been there, the families who have done amazing things and the families who have made mistakes yet find the courage to learn from them.
You all occupy a sacred place in my heart.
When I started as editor, my youngest wasn’t even 2 yet. Now she’s a sophomore in high school and her big brother is the college freshman making his mom cry at every goodbye. They grew up with this magazine. And I have, too.
The best piece of advice I can leave you with is this: Don’t sweat it. Yes, safety matters. Yes, we need to educate ourselves about the different choices that lie ahead. But if we make a mistake — and we all make mistakes — it’s OK. It happens. It’s an opportunity to practice resiliency. Worrying won’t help. So don’t sweat it. Do your best and enjoy every moment you can.
Life is full of possibilities and opportunities. Seize them.
