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fredericksburg parent letter to readers & family PRODUCTION PUBLISHER Leigh Anne Van Doren Tabitha & Jamie Nelle's mom DIRECTOR of OPERATIONS & MARKETING Heidi DiEugenio, Duke & Dane's mom director of Advertising Leanne Dalton Justin, Steven & Rebeka's mom Advertising Sales representatives Kathy Vaughan; Becca & Sarah's Mom Michele Amaya; Hayley, Alayna, Levi & Nathaly's Mom OFFICE MANAGER Nancy Massanat Emily & Kyle's Mom EDITOR Chris Jones Jordan, Quincy, & Hayden's dad GRAPHIC DESIGNer Cheryl Carter Alex, Kate & Jackie's mom WEBMASTER Karen Charney Joshua & Spencer's mom calendar editor Leigha Pecher Jake & Luke's mom DIRECTOR of CIRCULATION Krista Starosta Nick, Andrew, Kaylin & Kensington's mom Program Manager, Science Saturdays Victoria McCollum Ian & Malcolm's mom Community Blog Manager Mary Becelia Katherine Laura & Robert Joseph's mom Facebook Community Managers Elizabeth Jones; Jordan, Quincy & Hayden's mom Pamela Quinones: Corinn, Michael, Isabella & Dalton ADVERTISING phone 540/374-1495 lcdalton@fredericksburgparent.net adsales@fredericksburgparent.net e-mail e-mail e-mail e-mail CALENDAR & RESOURCE REQUESTS calendar@fredericksburgparent.net resources@fredericksburgparent.net EDITORIAL 540/374-1495 • fax 540/374-1672 e-mail editor@fredericksburgparent.net publisher@fredericksburgparent.net snail mail P.O. Box 7884, Fred'bg, VA 22404 www.fredericksburgparent.net phone The publishers reserve the right to reject any advertisement, editorial or listing that does not meet the publication's standards. No part of this magazine may be reproduced with out permission. Listing and advertising rates are available upon request. Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information contained herein, however, the publisher cannot guarantee such accuracy. Listings and advertisements are subject to typographical errors, ommissions and/or change without notice. © Copyright 2013 Nurture, Inc. All rights reserved. Entrepreneur of the Year Proud Founding Member 8 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • February 2013 Show a Little Love by heidi dieugenio In the event of an emergency, oxygen masks will release. Place mask on yourself before helping others. V alentine's Day is on the horizon and love is in the air. So are thoughts of class parties and dinner reservations. To-do lists are getting longer. Winter blues might even be taking hold. We busy moms and dads need stop and show a little love to ourselves, too. The oxygen mask quote is one of my favorites. It reminds me, especially in the crazy times, to pay attention to my own needs. It's our instinct (demise maybe!) as moms to make sure everything and everyone around us is taken care of FIRST, no matter what. But we can only give what we have. Think of it as a gas tank or a kitchen sponge. You can't run on empty or squeeze water from a dry sponge. So what fills YOU up? Having a date with your spouse? Enjoying coffee with an old friend? Reading that novel everyone is talking about? Writing in a journal? Exercising? Knitting? There are a million ideas and options. I think we should all give ourselves, and consequently our families, the greatest Valentine's Day gift by figuring out what that replenishment is for us, and then TAKE ACTION. It may feel selfish, but try taking that airplane warning to heart. We can't help those around us if we are passed out cold. Heidi lives in south Stafford. She and her husband Dave stay busy with their active sons, ages 13 and 10, with the typical school, sports and extra-curricular activities.