Hello / Self-Expression

SELF-EXPRESSION

ABOVE // Alexis Patterson and her son Grayson on Grapevine's Main Street. M Y SON ENJOYS HAVING ART CONTESTS WITH ME. We pick a theme, then have his grandpa choose who drew the scene better. (Spoiler: The kiddo always wins.) One day, we were drawing a farm. I drew a barn, lots of grass and a cow. At least, I did my best to draw a cow. Grayson’s barn and animals were quite satisfactory, particuSubscribe to our Email Newsletters dfwchild.com/subscribe larly considering his age; I enthusiastically praised his efforts. He looked at mine and gave it a “4 out of 10,” then mentioned something about the dog in my picture. I explained that it was a cow. “Really?” he asked. “Well, then it’s a 0 out of 10.” Follow Us on I’m not an artist, admittedly. But this drawing was a new low even Instagram for me. It was so ridiculous that I posted it to Facebook and jokingly @dfwchildmag wrote that I was accepting bids on the “masterpiece.” The comments Find Us on Facebook facebook.com/dfwchild ranged from “That udder looks infected” to “I see a cat that should be charged with indecent exposure.” Trust me, you don’t want to see it. Fortunately, as we put together this issue of DFWChild, I Email Us was reminded that creativity comes in many forms. It can be

Let us know what’s found in beautiful clothing—and you don’t even have to be the on your mind. designer; you can feel more alive just by wearing it. (Check out editorial@dfwchild.com our interview with Mom Next Door Cristina Lynch, founder of Mi Golondrina, a line of artisan-embroidered dresses and tops, p. 15.) Creativity can be found in the way we think about a variety of challenges and problems, and in our resiliency to do better next time. (See our story about how to develop real creativity in your child, p. 9.) You can fill your life with all forms of culture, art and imagination without ever taking marker to paper or paint to canvas. Read on for a lot more ways to do that this fall, from cultural road trips we promise the kids will love (p. 70) to restaurants and markets that will make you feel transported to another country (p. 18). After more than a year and a half of COVID-19 stress, masks, economic hardship and depressing news reports, we all deserve to find ways to bring color and joy and inspiration back to our lives. I hope this issue sets you on the right track. Cheers,

PUBLISHER/ EDITOR IN CHIEF Joylyn Niebes

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Lauren Niebes

EDITORIAL Managing Editor Alexis Patterson Contributing Writers Sundey McClendon Ashley Hays-Weaver

DIGITAL Web + Calendar Editor Elizabeth Smith

ART Graphic Designer Susan Horn

ADVERTISING Account Executives Alison Davis Nancy McDaniel Sandi Tijerina Advertising Coordinator Isabel Pisani

ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Leah Wagner Office Manager/Bookkeeper Ann Mathai

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