Birthdays are about more than cake and candles—they’re a chance to celebrate milestones, make memories, and look back on how far we’ve come.
This celebration feels a little extra special for me because I’ve had the privilege of being part of Owensboro Parent for the past 15 years. I was putting the finishing touches on my very first issue just weeks before my daughter was born, and by the time the next issue reached mailboxes across Owensboro, I was learning how to be a first-time mom. In many ways, this magazine has grown right alongside my family, and I’m grateful to have spent the past 15 years telling the stories of families in our community while raising my own.
As we celebrate this milestone, we wanted to share the spotlight with others. Throughout this section, you’ll meet local businesses and organizations celebrating milestone birthdays and anniversaries of their own. They’ve helped make Owensboro the wonderful place it is to raise a family, and we’re honored to celebrate alongside them.
You’ll also find plenty of inspiration for your own celebrations! Owensboro families shared some of their favorite kids’ birthday party themes, we’ve rounded up birthday freebies from local and national businesses, and we’ve included fun birthday traditions you can start with your own family.
Fifteen years wouldn’t have been possible without the people who have made Owensboro Parent what it is today. To the local businesses and organizations that have trusted us with their advertising and partnered with us to bring valuable resources and information to local families—thank you. To the parents who have welcomed us into your lives, shared your stories, answered our questions, and let us fill these pages with photos of your incredible kids—thank you. To our talented team of writers, photographers, designers, and contributors who pour their creativity, passion, and countless hours into producing a publication our community can be proud of—thank you. Your dedication shines through on every page.
Most of all, thank you to our readers for inviting Owensboro Parent into your homes and allowing us to be part of your family’s story for the past 15 years. We can’t wait to celebrate many more birthdays, milestones, and memories together.
– Editor Ashley Wedding
Happy Anniversary, Owensboro Parent!
Written by Lora Wimsatt
We must be having fun, because time sure is flying. I remember the very first issue of this publication, and how impressed I was with its mission of highlighting local children, youth and families, and shining a spotlight on all the positive things happening in Owensboro/Daviess County.
This magazine started out with the highest standards of excellence, and if anything, it has only gotten better.
I felt so honored by Jason Tanner’s invitation to contribute to this publication, and I still feel the same way now. He shared with me his vision for Owensboro Parent magazine. I had no hesitation about joining the team, and even after all these years, I can honestly say that I look forward to every issue as Ashley Wedding emails me with a summary of the upcoming themes and topics.
My children are all grown now, so I write mostly from the perspective of a grandparent. However, I try always to remember those universal challenges that face every young parent and family.
My oldest grandchild was born in 2011, the same year Owensboro Parent was born. Here they both are 15 years later – and my granddaughter is driving now.
So that tells you how fast things can change and how quickly kids grow up. In fact, it’s not unreasonable to think that teens who were featured in some of the earliest issues are parents themselves now.
Whoa. That makes me dizzy.
Pardon me. I need a minute to sit down and process this.
…
Okay, I’m back.
Returning to my point: Yes, children grow up so quickly.
Mine did, even though at the time I didn’t believe it. I really thought the rest of my life was destined to be a never-ending cycle of diapers and lost sneakers and sleepovers and sitting in bleachers and all the things I couldn’t wait to be over and now would give anything to do again.
And yours will grow up too.
So cherish these days, every single moment of every day, because the days turn into months turn into years turn into a lifetime.
And through it all – Owensboro Parent magazine will be there to celebrate the kids who volunteer, the kids who demonstrate kindness and compassion, the parents who meet challenges with courage and grace, the families who stick together through the hard times, the community that rises up and says “This is who we are.”
We ARE Owensboro Parent.