It is hard to believe Macaroni Kid Northeast Bergen is 10 years old. Each new year, I look back on the previous year and reflect on what Macaroni Kid has done to support and engage in the local communities we love: whether it is organizing local events, hosting amazing giveaways, sharing seasonal activity guides, or writing reviews of the coolest new venues, each year brings excitement for more family fun.
But this year has been like no other. We couldn't host our annual Spring Fling or participate in any local town events (because there weren't any). We had a limited number of events on the calendar because of changing federal and state guidelines on COVID safety. We couldn't write as many reviews or host giveaways because we didn't know if businesses would remain open. It has been a trying year for parents, especially mothers, who found themselves juggling roles as a full time chef, house cleaner, IT specialist, entertainer, teacher, devoted spouse, while caring for their own bodies and mental health if they are able to. If I am being honest with myself, this past year, all I had time to do was support my family's needs, and if I'm lucky, I carve out an hour or two for myself each day. That means, on most days, I did not want to cook or clean, and at the end of the day, I had ZERO energy to find family fun for the newsletter. This past year has been the lowest point since I launched Macaroni Kid.
But if there is anything I have learned over the last 10 years as a mother, wife, stay at home/working mom, and a Macaroni Kid publisher, is that change is inevitable. What Macaroni Kid looked like when I sent out my first newsletter to all 30 of my friends was completely different from what it looks like now. We have over 3,000 subscribers and more fans and more ways to engage through social media than ever before. With our new owners at CertifiKID, there will be new opportunities for reviews and great giveaways in the coming months. And our website is constantly being improved to make it more user-friendly. All good things. And so we adapt, and find new opportunities to continue to grow and serve our community. If you want to be a part of our growth, email me and let's chat!
Today let's say "Peace Out, 2020", and welcome 2021 with the hindsight (pun intended) that each day is a gift. How do you want to enjoy your gift? Maybe it's discovering a new local eatery: we checked out the newly opened Gong Cha bubble tea joint in Closter this week!
Maybe it's spending more time outdoors. We highly recommend Campgaw in Mahwah for little ones and beginners who want to try skiing or snowtubing:
Maybe it's just vegging out and watching a new movie with the family. Wonder Woman 1984 on HBO Max was very entertaining!
Not sure what will bring family fun in 2021? That's ok too. I'll be here if you need nuggets of inspiration so that each day is a present to unwrap with joy. Keep reading our Macaroni Kid Northeast Bergen newsletters each week, and I would love it if you could share it and get your friends and family to subscribe too! Have something fun to share with the greater Macaroni Kid community (those Halloween houses were amazing!!!)? Email me at angelines@macaronikid.com. For more frequent updates in addition to our weekly e-newsletters, you can follow me @bergenfamilyfun on Instagram and @MacaroniKidNPascack on Facebook. If you live in the Northern Valley area, you can also join my Facebook group Northern Valley Moms and find more ideas for family fun. The Macaroni Kid community is a gift that keeps on giving so let's stay {virtually} connected!
Peace, love, and macaroni,
Angeline Sheridan
Publisher, Owner of Macaroni Kid Northeast Bergen
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Proudly serving Northeast Bergen County area families in Closter, Harrington Park, Northvale, Norwood, Old Tappan, Emerson, Hillsdale, Montvale, Park Ridge, River Vale, Westwood, and Woodcliff Lake since 2010.
