by Julie Hanahan, editor

"You need four hugs a day for survival, eight for maintenance and 12 for growth."

- author unknown

Perhaps it is forward of me to offer hugs to you, especially since I am the new editor of Cleveland Family, Akron Family and Lake/Geauga Family magazines. When I met with the publisher the first time, he was loud and clear about the mission of these magazines: to help readers become better parents.

I thought about what I have done to try to be a better parent and what my child has done to help me, my friends and my family. As I narrowed the list to the essence of what really made an impact, what really made us grow, it is a simple hug. A hug goes beyond even the seeming basics of food, shelter and clothing.

This April issue covers topics as diverse as our readers. Some can relate to surviving the first two years in a family with multiple children, in this case sextuplets plus one in our story, "Party of Nine: Life with the Hanselmans." Others know what it’s like to pull together the resources for a private education in "Dollars for Scholars: Private School Is Not Just for the Rich." For those sending Junior off to camp this summer, take time to look through the Summer Camp Supplement. Read about how planning now will make the summer camp experience that much better for parent and camper in "Preparation Helps Ensure Positive Experience." Each story, in its own way, gives us another view on how we hug our kids and, perhaps, what we do to garner their hugs in return.

As we continue down the happily endless road of parenting, I would like to hear more from you about your victories, challenges, interests and thoughts. I’ve created an email address just for you, NEOhioFamilyMom@aol.com (for regular announcements and press releases, you can still send them to me at editor@tntpublications.com).

. Give me your straight talk on how we can do a better job. Let me know what you think about the magazines. Give me a flash of how your life is going. Know that with each and every note, I will be thinking about you and your family and how we can all work together.