I just got back on Sunday from a terrific long weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina, where I helped give a presentation on social media at the Parenting Publications of America’s annual convention.

I’ve been a parenting writer for 14+ years and have worked with some of the editors in the PPA for about that long — but hadn’t met many of them in person until this weekend. Talk about fun!

Most of these editors are parents like you and me. They know about potty training and temper tantrums, driver’s ed and PTA meetings. And they care. About their kids, their communities, their readers.

Pick up your local parenting magazine (or go to that magazine’s website) and you’ll find a lot more than just the calendar of events (although that’s valuable, too). You’ll find articles full of great info on everything from sexting to saving for college to choosing a summer camp, advertisers who want to meet your needs on everything from moon-bounce rentals to pregnancy portraits, letters to the editor that show what parents like you are thinking…

In short, you’ll find the heartbeat of your local parenting community. Pick up a parenting magazine today!

P.S. That’s Lucy Banta from New Jersey Family, Staci Perkins from Columbus Parent, me (the one who apparently didn’t get the memo about wearing black) and Myra Wright from Piedmont Parent. A fun group!

It seems like every few days I hear about a new regional parenting magazine joining Twitter. Thanks to all of you who have commented or emailed about this list and who asked for an update. We have a lot of new entries here.

Even if you don't live in the area that these magazines serve, you'll find that they tweet links to terrific articles on health, parenting, back-to-school, etc. that are of interest to ALL parents. Check 'em out!

Atlanta Parent (GA): AtlantaParent

Bay Area Parent – Silicon Valley (CA): @BayAreaParentSV

Birmingham Parent (AL): @bhamparent

Boston Parents Paper (MA): @BostonParents

Calgary’s Child (CANADA): @CalgarysChild

Carolina Parent (NC) @CarolinaParent 

Central Penn Parent (PA): @CPennParent

Charlotte Parent (NC): @charlotteparent

Charlotte Parent Web Editor (NC): @CLTparentweb

Chesapeake Family (MD): @ChesFamily

Chicago Parent (IL): @ChicagoParent

Coastal Family (GA): @coastalfamily

Colorado Parent Magazine (CO): @ColoParentMag

Columbus Parent (OH: @ColumbusParent

Curious Parents (NJ): @curiousparents

Dallas Child (TX): @dallaschild1

Fredericksburg Parent (VA): @FredParent

Genesee Valley Parent Magazine (NY): @GVParentMag

Giggles on the Go (Washington D.C.): @gigglesonthego

Houston Family (TX): @HoustonFamily

Kansas City Parent (MO): @KCParent

L.A. Parent (CA): @carolyngraham

L.A. Parent Health-E blog (CA): @Health_E

LIParentSource.com (NY): @LIParentSource

Little Rock Family (AR): @LRFamily

Metro Family (OK): @metrofamily

Metro Parent (MI): @MetroParent

Neapolitan Family Magazine (FL): neafamilymag

New Jersey Family Magazine (NJ): @njfamilymag

O.C. Family (CA): @ocfamily

Our Kids San Antonio (TX): @OurKidsMagazine

Parenting and Babytalk (National): @parenting

Parents and Kids (MA) @Parentsandkids

Piedmont Parent (NC) @piedmontparent

Portland Family (OR) @Portland_Family

Raising Arizona Kids Magazine (AZ) @RAKmagazine

Staten Island Parent (NY): @SIParent

SW Florida Parent & Child (FL): @gulfcoastmoms

Today’s Parent (Canada): Todaysparent

Treasure Valley Family (ID): @lizbuckingham

Westchester Family (NY): @WestchesterFam

Wilmington Parent (NC): @WilmingtnParent