Becoming a parent launches us into learning a whole new world of health care. Even before our children are born, expecting parents, especially mothers-tobe, are asked to make decisions and lifestyle changes to increase the chances that their child will arrive whole and strong as a healthy newborn. From that moment, our child’s emotional and physical welfare are never far from mind.

Taking on this pivotal responsibility can be anxietyinducing despite our best efforts. We pour through parenting and children’s health books in an attempt to absorb and drill into our sleep-deprived brains all the best tips to get our child to sleep through the night, drink sufficient ounces of breast milk each day (how can we tell?) and feel perfectly cared for and peaceful.

Before long, these tiny creatures are crawling and then walking and running and off to school. Too soon they are driving and leaving us for their own individual horizons. How we wish we could rewind the years if only to spend one more day with our 2-year-old, showing more patience as he learns to talk and understand boundaries, or with our 13-year-old, caring less about who is right and more about listening to what she is really saying.

Some parents are faced with even extraordinarily difficult decisions. Katja Swift’s local feature article, “Working Successfully with Asperger’s and ADHD Requires a New Perspective,” is a refreshing take on the importance of shifting away from damaging societal labels to embrace the whole child. Parental understanding of these children’s special circumstances combined with natural therapeutic remedies can help balance young lives.

In “Head Trauma in Children: What Parents Need to Know,” Ellen Helinski explores another vital topic because too many times mild head trauma can go unnoticed in young children despite its significant impact on their developing heads and well-being. It’s important to understand what constitutes a head trauma, what symptoms to look for and what can be done.

Of course, no two individuals are the same, nor should we strive for them to be. Instead, we are reminded to celebrate each child’s uniqueness and encourage their healthy development. Our community, as are these pages, is filled with a myriad of resources to help our children grow into their full potential, realizing happiness, humble self-esteem and satisfaction in life.

We hope that some of the words of wisdom shared this month will help refill the sometimes depleted parenting cup with trust that all is well and as it should be with our children.

Happy family summering,

Nancy Somera, Managing Editor