FIRST WORD
In the Spirit of Giving
W Michael Vyskocil
Editor mvyskocil@midatlanticmedia.com
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info@thefamilymagazine.com ell before Black Friday—or Thanksgiving
week, for that matter—the hype for holiday
shopping begins. Soon we find ourselves
scrolling on our devices to check out all the “stuff” that
will be on store shelves, on sale and on our radar. Every
year, the holiday shopping momentum starts earlier and
gets more intense.

Last year, Statista presented results of a survey that
asked U.S. consumers how much money they plan to
spend on Christmas gifts for their children. Twenty-
four percent of respondents reported between $50 to
$100 per child, and 17% said their spending was more
than $200 per child.

While some may view November as the prelude to
the holiday shopping season, isn’t it time we focused
on cultivating a spirit of giving and service? One of
the most gratifying ways to enjoy this season is doing
some good for others. In this issue, staff writer Eleanor
Linafelt details several volunteer opportunities available
for parents and kids in our area (page 26).

November is National Adoption Month, a time when
we focus on the unique needs that adoptive families
face. Our feature on adoption competency (page 15)
illustrates how specialized training can help mental
health professionals effectively understand and respond
to the needs, challenges and experiences of children and
their foster, adoptive and kinship families.

Finally, it’s my pleasure to greet you as the new editor
for Washington FAMILY . I’m looking forward to meeting
you on this page and sharing what you can find inside
this magazine with you. We at Washington FAMILY want
to make our publication a true resource for you and your
family. Our staff welcomes your ideas for future stories.

Email me at mvyskocil@midatlanticmedia.com.

I hope that you and your family will be inspired to do
something good and give back to those in need in the
DMV. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! P
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