Dear IF readers,

So sorry to be away a few days.  The youth night at church, a shut in of youth ministry for Martin Luther King Day, U.S., went very well.  To be honest, stuck in the middle of teenage girls playing music and being in their little groups, I recalled my own adolescent awkwardness.  Other than one other Mom, Dominique who had coordinated the evening and was hands-on busy, I knew no one.  Thank goodness I brought my Sunday New York Times and could sit on the side lines abit.  But as the evening progressed, great discussions were held, guitar and music was played and T-shirts for the Martin Luther King march was made.  What a wonderful group of young girls trying to find their place in the world and presenting themselves with kindness and good-hearted ideologies. 

The next day Papa brought Brody and Jax to the church early enough to help wake the teenagers out of slumber and get ready for the march.  He had to fly to NYC that morning.  I should have brought a stroller for Brody.  He insisted I carry him for the entire march.  His little 3 year old legs so small, I could not say no.  Our minister met us at the high school, the school band arrived, locals, and we marched.  I was elated by the reinactment and saddened all at once.  The truth that I can see in our U.S. and the world today is that we have come far with race relations and not so far at all.  There is still so much seperation between race and cultures.  And then I thought to my little project, International Family Magazine, and as Brody bounced on my back, and I ran catching up to Jax and our minister’s son Will, I thought…….one little rock can push up the side of a hill and become a mountain.  I cannot solve the world’s hatred, but if “IF Mag” can be a community of love, a light in the dark, a beacon if you will - I can feel that I played a part in peace and hope, rather than complaint and cynicism. The word ”if” was so powerful when Beth and I lauched the magazine….”if we could see one another as extended family, if we could honor dignity and chaos.” And my part as founder and editor must be enough for my philosophy-into-action in the world, because I still have these two little boys to raise into kind-hearted, good men that can take that light as their own someday.

The balance in life is critical.  Beth and I always said that if “IF Mag” took over our own family life in a negative way, we would have to stop.  Beth’s family needed her, so she had to step down.  I honor that decision with such respect.  Right now IF magazine is such a powerful positive force in my family life, and it makes friends for our family every day, travel, etc.  If ever I am more the editor of IF magazine, and less of a mom to Jax and Brody or wife to John, it cannot continue.  I could not live with that hypocrisy.  So marching that morning with my children beside me laughing and running along, I thought this is good, very good.  And it may not change the world.  But this march and IF Magazine sits right with the world this morning, in the U.S. thinking about the rest of the world marching with us, singing along.

Peace and good reading, Cat Wayland, IF Mag Editor, cat@internationalfamilymag.com

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