Like It Is

I first attempted to write this note at my apartment, but parenting interceded. My son— who turns 10 next month—had worked himself into a froth of complaints and disappointments over just about anything he could latch onto from his day, from his ill-performing sled to the fact that I wanted him to go to bed a little earlier than usual (because he himself had copped to being very tired). In turn, I was frustrated with him, and flummoxed by not being able to start my work. Yet, for me, the right thing to do was to turn away from work and help Adam calm down. Indeed, the more subtle and wonderful truth of it was that we met halfway: while he was crying he asked me to leave the room so he could be by himself. Then about five minutes later he entered my bedroom, wrapped mummy style in his blanket, and bashfully asked if I would read to him. After a few pages of Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, he was happy to be sleepy, and I was more comfortable being too tired to work.

Now that I actually have a window (at work) to write this note, I’ve decided to kick it off by sharing last night’s change of plan because it’s exactly the kind of parenting predicament embodied in the spirit of this issue, which, I proudly report, features a lot of people with compelling things to say about the joys and challenges of modern parenthood.

Let’s start with our cover subject, Iron Chef—and lifelong New Yorker—Alex Guarnaschelli, whose candor, intelligence, and class will come as no surprise to anyone who has seen her on the Food Network. I’m also very pleased to be running an interview with journalist and NYC mom Jennifer Senior, who literally wrote the book (a new and very good book) on how parents are handling parenthood. Then there are the ten local parents spotlighted in our Bloggers We Love feature, whose voices and passions are varied and true.

Naturally, I want to give praise to every story in the issue, but within our remaining space I think I’m just going to remind you (and myself) not to forget our Valentine’s Day treats.

Have A Happy February!