The Ricky Martin Email I Almost Deleted

“High Profile Blogging Opportunity with Ricky Martin.”

That was the subject line of an email that showed up in my inbox as I attempted to whittle down the proverbial pile.

Yeah right, that’s spam, I thought. I moved the cursor to delete it.

But something stopped me.

I thought back to the time an editor from the Chicago Tribune contacted me and invited me to write a weekly column for the local section. It was fun seeing my articles in print each week. What if this was a similar opportunity? My intuition prompted me to open the email.

Sure enough, it was a legitimate proposal to write parenting articles for Ricky Martin’s Piccolo Universe. It also lead to an opportunity to do some writing work for Walgreens as well.

(So there’s a lesson there–listen to your intuition!)

I knew very little about Ricky Martin when I started, other than a vague memory of Menudo and his song, Living la Vida Loca. Over the last year, I’ve learned more about Ricky and discovered a man with a heart centered around kindness and a penchant for inspirational quotes. He’s the father of twin boys, Matteo and Valentino. He has a foundation dedicated to helping children around the world.

It’s been a fun writing project because it ties two of my passions together: writing and kids. So if you’re looking for some parenting advice and articles, dive in:

Water Safety for Kids

Creative Ways to Teach Your Child to Read and Make Reading Fun

Fun Activities to Keep Your Kids Busy Through Winter

Meditation Moments: How to Create Calm in the Midst of Crazy Days

How to be a Powerful Parent on the IEP Team

Teach Your Baby to Communicate in Sign Language

Five Smoothies to Kick Start your Day

Getting Your Newborn Baby to Sleep

What You Should Know About Your Child’s Hearing

Marriage and Parenthood: Finding the Romance Again and Again

Skip the Typical Florida Attractions: Five Fun Things to Do with Your Kids

Scary Parenting Moments: Preparing Your Teen for the Driving Test