I recently visited my sister and her family in Portland, Oregon. One of the highlights of my visit was spending time with my sweet niece Valentina. When I read Terri Ercole’s article about smiling and the simple joy it brings, I immediately thought of Valentina. Isn’t her sweet smile infectious? One cannot help but smile back when she happily walks in the house after the school day. And those dimples! Well, I could go on and on as is an aunt’s privilege.
My heart is a bit achy since I left , since we have no idea when we will get to see each other again. But then I look at this photo or read the cute texts Valentina sends me, and I feel a bit better. She is only thirteen right now—part little girl and part growing teen. I remember being that age, and I won’t lie, it is a hard time of life. But it is just as hard (or harder) being a parent of a young teen that age. My sister has her work cut out for her, but she is also in for a lot of fun and joy, too.
Valentina is the perfect age for (585) Kids, but it is also valuable to people like my sister and her husband. Never forget that our magazine is for kids, parents, and adults who work closely with children. Take an extra copy and share it with your friends!
-Managing Editor
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