As 2010 winds to an end, we look back at the Chicagoans who brightened up our covers this year. Two Chicago athletes, one TV cast, and dozens of adorable kids.
We started 2010 off with a “Choosing Healthy” package, with the skinny on childhood obesity data, tips to teach better eating habits, and some inspiration for a healthier kitchen.
On the cover: Mikey Tripicchio, 7, of Elgin
Best of the mag:
- Choosing Healthy: tips to battle the bulge
- New HPV vaccine, new questions
- Tame the collectible clutter
In our February issue, we examined the hidden costs of America’s two wars through the eyes of the families in the 909th forward surgical team deployed out of Fort Sheridan. Its 16 service memebers have 28 kids between them.
On the cover: Staff Sgt. Brian Duffy and his 6-week-old son
Best of the mag:
- When parents go to war, families pay a price
- Congenital heart defects: What you need to know
- 8 Super Soups
March was all about the monsters under the bed and how to tackle this (totally normal) fear.
On the cover: Bailey ONeill, 5, of Glendale Heights, and Vinny Provenzano, 8, of Darien
Best of the mag:
For the first time ever, families with same-sex parents will be counted as households in the 2010 census. What it means for Chicago, the nation, and the families themselves.
On the cover: Dads Howard Wax and Robert Pooley with their twins, Marcus and Sarah, 4, of Chicago.
Best of the mag:
April showers brought May flowers, and delightful 7-year-old Ruby to our cover. Inside: Mother’s Day traditions, birthday celebrations gone wild, and mourning the closing of Kiddieland.
On the cover: Ruby Mead, 7, Oak Park
Best of the mag:
- 5 reasons to love being a mom in 2010
- Out of control birthday parties?
- A tear-free, fear-free trip to dentist
Celebrity dads, trips forlittle feet, and more!
At catcher, wearing number 12, your Chicago White Sox captain, A.J. Pierzynskiiiii This beloved athlete sat down with us to talk about fatherhood, and headlined our list of Chicago’s celebrity dads.
On the cover: A.J. Pierzynski and his kids, Austin and Ava.
Best of the mag:
- A.J. Pierzynski talks fatherhood
- 7 ways to rock your block party
- Behind the scenes at Shedd Aquarium
Life’s a beach, and Chicago has plenty of ’em! We shot Genia at North Avenue beach, and threw in sandcastle 101, six non-sandy ideas for summer fun and how to avoid summer brain drain.
On the cover:Genia Chase, 4, of Chicago
Best of the mag:
A back-to-school bonanza swelled our August issue to more than 150 pages, full of tips, tricks and the staff’s own back-to-school memories.
On the cover:Ryan Enger, 5, of Downers Grove
Best of the mag:
- How kids make friends at school – and how to help
- 8 ways to save on school supplies
- “Slow reading” – the next big thing in education
- Chicago’s best playgrounds
- A day at the neonatal intensive care unit
- Kids and grandparents
Behold the power of smiling: Take one look at the grin on 1-year-old Anden’s face and just try not to break out in an ear-to-ear grin yourself. Laughter really is the best medicine, or so we found out in September.
On the cover: Anden J. Hong, 1, Chicago
Best of the mag:
- Haha yourself healthy: The power of laughter
- Chicago’s best playgrounds
- Parents choosing favorites? Tsk tsk – but almost everyone does it anyway
October was Makeover Month at Chicago Parent. We rolled out our redesign, more than a year in the making, with a focus on fresh, quick-hitting stories and a bold new look, starting with our cover.
On the cover: The Doyle Family: Dad Jim, Mom Ana Garcia, and their kids, Simon, 7; Celia, 9; and Claudia,1, in their Oak Park home.
Best of the mag:
- Finding your inner vixen: 5 ways to set the mood
- Become a coupon-clipping queen
- Top Chef celebrity mom cuts to the chase
Time to talk turkey. We turned to Chicago’s newest (and tiniest) culinary wizards, the cast of The Jr. Cuisine Cooking Show, which premiered this fall on WYCC. Read more about the show
On the cover: Ariana, Ariana, Jeremiah, Brittney and Valen.
Best of the mag:
- Getting kids involved in the kitchen
- Uncommon cures for the common cold
- The challenges of being “the older mom”
Has the economy turned your family financial roles upside-down?Moms, are you now the breadwinner in your family, or do you feelmore pressure to provide? We want to talk to you for an upcomingstory.
For our holiday issue, we turned the spotlight on Chicagoans who give back to their communities with our Hometown Heroes feature.
On the cover: Chicago Bear Devin Aromashodu, with a few starstruck kids from the Chicago Housing Authority
Best of the mag:
- Bears’ Devin Aromashodu pays it forward (plus video interview!)
- How to handle holiday birthdays
- Give back together: Opportunities for family volunteering
