As the leaves fall and the weather grows colder, our thoughts turn to family, friends, and community. Some of you may be traveling to visit your relatives across the country, while others may wish one other happy holidays from afar. Whatever your plans may be, a new year is just around the corner, and now is the time to remember what means the most to us.

The New Year is always exciting for my family. For me, January 1st means not only looking forward to the promise of what a new year might hold, but also reflecting on the memories and experiences we have had over the past year. With this in mind, now is the perfect time to take a moment and remind ourselves of the mission and moms behind Five Moms.

Five Moms launched in May of 2007. With help from the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, Christy, Becky, Julie, Blaise, and I began a journey to help other moms—other families—gain awareness of the dangers of cough medicine abuse. Our goal was and remains to make sure parents know about the issue and know what they can do to protect their children. Over the past year and a half, we have shared with you our stories, lessons from our own lives, and insights from others. Cough medicine abuse is a serious problem, and we’re all learning how we can look to one another for steps to prevent it.

Through Christy’s articles, we learn about resources available both in the community and online. Christy authored a book based on her own experiences with her two sons, and she has bravely shared her story with other families. Christy asks us to look for signs of abuse, and she shows us where to find the facts about cough medicine.

Becky is a D.A.R.E. officer, and she offers her wealth of knowledge on substance abuse and teenagers. Her articles show us how to get involved in our communities and ensure that our neighbors are engaging in this important conversation.

Julie is a mother of a teenage girl and a pediatric nurse. She has great knowledge about child and teen health, and her articles help us discover how to connect with our families and better communicate with our children.

As a mother of a six-year-old and the guardian of two teenage boys, Blaise knows what it is like to have an active house. In her articles, Blaise helps us recognize the possible dangers in our own homes. She publishes great tips about Internet safety that are invaluable tools to keeping our families safe.

And I hope that my articles also help you talk with families, neighbors, and friends about cough medicine abuse. The ability to speak to other moms and families through the Five Moms web site means a lot to me.

Finally, our committed members of the Five Moms community show us that the issue of teen cough medicine abuse affects families all across the country. Now, with the holiday season now if full swing, visit us on Gather to share your tips and strategies for keeping your kids safe and drug-free this during this festive time.

Happy holidays to all, and I look forward to reading your comments in our Gather community.