As any self-respecting hockey mom knows, a hat trick is an impressive feat pulled off by a player who scores three goals in a single game. With the Flyers families on our cover and a trio of fun, informational or important themes in our pages, we tried for our own editorial hat trick this issue.
My sons live and breathe the Flyers, so the opportunity to venture into the Wells Fargo Center's locker room to speak with the wives and tiny tots of five players I know as household names was a true treat. Despite the sports-star nature of their NHL lives and high-profile work with the Flyers Charities, these are real, hands-on moms who 
experience the same triumphs and challenges we all face raising our kids. We think you'll enjoy getting a peek of their off-ice lives in the Philly area as much as we did. (Check out cute besties Madison Downie and Rory Coburn, holding hands while they get their hair "done.")
Several of the Flyers kids are babies (like 7-month-old Blair Coburn, here trying on his first pair of "skates"–actually Etsy-made crocheted socks), just the right age for our annual baby focus. Read on for info about pregnancy trends, must-have baby shower gifts and the Delaware Valley's delivery scene.
April, of course, is National Autism Awareness Month. The puzzle piece logo leads you to stories vital to parents with kids on and — in the case of our article on how to plan an inclusive playdate — off the spectrum.
As always, we turned to both local experts and loyal readers to present the widest range of views avilable. Hat trick or not, our hats are tipped to everyone who contributed to making this issue of MetroKids a memorable one.
—Cheryl
PS: I'm very proud of that award badge up in the right-hand corner. My editor's note made the winners' podium a few weeks ago at the Parenting Media Association awards ceremony, placing third among nationwide regional parenting magazines. Our book and music reviews and MomSpeak blog were also cited. Forgive the humble-brag — it's been an exciting month around here.
