Hi there, Lebanon families! I’m Carla Thomas, the new publisher of Macaroni KID Lebanon, and I’m so excited to be here. Well, not here here, because if I had my way, I’d probably be in my house, in my sweatpants, with a cup of coffee and no immediate plans to leave. But that’s kind of the point, isn’t it?
See, I wasn’t drawn to this job because I’m a naturally adventurous, always-out-and-about, planner-extraordinaire kind of person. Nope. I’m the opposite. I have ADHD and social anxiety—a potent combo that makes multi-step tasks like “dress kids and self, find keys, get everyone into the car, know where we’re going, why, and when” feel like a full-scale military operation. The easiest option? Stay home. And believe me, I’ve taken that route plenty of times.
But here’s the thing: I don’t want my kids to look back and remember a mom who always chose the path of least resistance. I want them to remember experiences, adventures, and the fun we had exploring the world outside our front door—even if that means I have to fight my own brain every step of the way to make it happen.
That’s why I love Macaroni KID. Some parents are natural-born go-getters who thrive on knowing everything that’s happening in town so they can be there, kids and bells on. And I love serving those families, making sure they have every event, activity, and festival at their fingertips. But I also know there are parents like me—parents who want to do more, but struggle to get from “that sounds fun” to actually walking out the door. And for us, sometimes all it takes is a little nudge, a well-timed reminder, or a perfectly laid-out list of “here’s some things you maybe literally can even do this week.”
So, whether you’re an event-loving go-getter or a homebody trying to break free, I’m here for you. I’ll be the one gathering all the best family-friendly happenings in Lebanon so you don’t have to search high and low (or worse, remember to check Facebook events). And when you do make it out to something fun? I hope you’ll give yourself a little extra credit—because I know firsthand just how much effort it can take.
I’m so grateful to be part of this community, and I can’t wait to share all the fun, connection, and local magic with you. Let’s make some memories together!
With excitement (and probably stains on my shirt),
Carla
