Happy (belated) New Year everyone!

So, since most of us have abandoned, cheated on or at least considered ditching (or perhaps massaging the strict parameters of) our resolutions by now, let’s make one that we can all stick to without a whole lotta effort.  Sound good?

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the United Nations’ International Year of the Family.  To mark this occasion, HaltonParents will be putting family first and we hope you will too.

Now, what exactly does that mean?  Well, it’ll hold special significance for each person. Every family will experience it in their own way.  Different strokes for different folks, you know?

In our minds, it means delighting in the uniqueness of all kinds of families.  It means understanding, respecting and appreciating the cultures, traditions, circumstances and beliefs of all families throughout our region (and the world) and living and promoting empathy, acceptance and peace. And we’re gonna walk the talk, y’all!

How, you ask?  Well, throughout the year, we will include blogs with a focus on families of all kinds; from all walks of life.  We promise to educate ourselves and share our experiences about folks far and near whose family lives are vastly different, yet strikingly similar to our own.  And, most importantly, we’ll learn from you; welcoming your comments, stories and reflections on family and its importance in your world.

We hope you’ll come along with us and check in on our blogs to see what we can share about the (at times) fragile and challenging, yet beautiful and precious gift that we call FAMILY.

So, what do you think?

• Leave us a comment below
• Tweet with us @haltonparents
• Email us at haltonparents@halton.ca
• Call the HaltonParents line for parenting information or to speak directly to a Public Health Nurse (every Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) Simply dial 311 or 905-825-6000.

About this blogger:

Paula D’Orazio RN is a public health nurse with the Early Years Health Program at the Halton Region Health Department.  Wanna know more about her?  Read her blogs!  She’ll tell ya!  (She kinda likes to talk.)