The colors of the fall foliage season are usually unified, those burnt umbers and golds and reds intermingling to vibrant effect. But as I look over the articles in this issue of MetroKids, I visualize a trio of color schemes that play together more as a patchwork, each standing on its own yet merging to make a strong statement.
First, there’s the marbled black and white of a composition book, representing our info-packed Education Section. Headlined by our 24th-annual Independent School Survey, these pages include facts, figures, school-provided profiles and an open-house calendar that all takes the guesswork out of comparing the area’s impressive array of private schools.
Second, there’s the traditional orange and black of Halloween. (Also: Go, Flyers!) Trick-or-treat through our expanded Family Fun section, where you’ll find a bounty of harvest and Halloween events coded by fright level, so there’ll be no scary surprises in store for your kids.
Finally, there’s the pale pink of the ribbons associated with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In this issue, we balance the undeniable fear factor associated with this awful disease with info on the latest preventive trends as well as a story of persistence and hope. “When Mom Has Cancer” introduces us to survivor Sharon Hart and her older son, William, who discuss the brave and honest way they navigated her illness as a family.
It’s a piece that gets me every time I read it: I lost my own mother to breast cancer when I was 9 and she was an unspeakably young 34. This was pre-pink ribbon days, when the words breast and cancer were rarely spoken in the halls of an elementary school. It does my heart good to see that kids like William now have a toolkit and a community to support them through the difficult days of their mothers’ diagnosis. I’m honored that Sharon and William shared their story here in MetroKids.
Gratefully, 
Cheryl
P.S. Fans of WXPN’s wonderful Kids Corner shouldn’t miss our 25th-anniversary Q&A with host Kathy O’Connell, who also happens to be MK’s resident kids-music maven. After listening to Kathy’s show with my kids for years and working with her via email for the past six months, I was thrilled to connect with her personally. She’s as vivacious, gracious and genuine in real life as she is on the air.
