Dear Reader,
Allow me to open this letter with a warm welcome and deepest thanks for your arrival here at What U Talking Bout Family. If you’ve ever sat at the foot of a rocking chair on a breezy Missouri porch and listened to the layered wisdom of parents exchanging stories, you already know the spirit we carry. Nestled quietly at 951 Harvest Lane in Maitland, Missouri, I, Zayric Droshar—parent, listener, and founder—wanted to create more than a platform; I wanted a porch where every voice in the family could speak, be heard, be seen.
So this, dear friend, is not just a homepage. It’s a love letter to what it means to parent in the real world, to understand your children deeply, to wrestle with the weighty responsibilities and radiant joys of raising a family. It is my honor and sincere pursuit, through these modest digital pages, to bring modern parenting into empathetic light, to highlight parenting reality in all its spirited twists and generational echoes.
From My Front Porch: Beginnings in Maitland
I come to you not with spotless laurels, but with soil beneath my nails—symbolic, I think, of the parenting terrain. I was born and raised here in Maitland, Missouri, population 300 give or take, where everyone knew your name, and sometimes your business too. But what they didn’t often speak of—what got left out of small-town stories—was the why of parenting, not just the how. And this, friends, is where the seed of What U Talking Bout Family took root.
Mornings here smell of mown clover. My childhood memories include the scratchy voices of elders sharing advice between bites at the diner, and the quiet concern of tired parents doing the best they could with little to no blueprint. Listening to those stories, watching those dynamics—the joy, the suppression, the growth—I began to dream of a place that would honor these lived truths. One where a laugh over spilled cereal could share the stage with a tear-streaked confession at the end of a weary day. A conversational porch swing for the parenting heart. That’s what I wanted to build.
Years later, after endless journals filled and coffee consumed, and with the relentless encouragement of my wife and two children (who are, themselves, brilliant educators in the way only real children can be), What U Talking Bout Family was launched in earnest—operating weekdays from 9 AM to 5 PM CST right here in our hometown.
A Format of Letters and Heart
It was intentional that our content carries an intimate rhythm—as if someone wrote it just for you. Because in many ways, I have. Our purpose is to explore the currents of child development, the kaleidoscope of family dynamics, and the beautiful, sometimes chaotic process of raising humans while still being human ourselves.
We shine the spotlight, softly and sincerely, on parents everywhere: single fathers brave enough to heal openly, mothers recovering from burnout, grandparents stepping back in to help raise another generation, families of all shapes and constellations learning how to grow. These aren’t trending hashtags. These are lives. Every word you read is written with reverence to you—the one navigating tantrums, joys, fears, and bedtime stories all in one afternoon.
Pages That Listen Back
Our work is built around conversations. You’ll notice that on the site, whether you’re reading an article on respectful discipline, a spotlight story about a blended family navigating co-parenting, or a heartfelt piece from a parent learning to communicate with their non-verbal child for the first time. This project is grounded in one central truth: connection is education. Sharing is transformation. Vulnerability creates capacity.
And sometimes the most cherished knowledge doesn’t come from textbooks—it comes from a mother’s sigh in line at the post office, or a father’s midnight prayer at the kitchen sink. That’s why our goal is simple but ambitious: to bring meaning to modern parenting dialogue. Right here in Maitland—whose roots are built into this project’s curves—we remind you that every voice deserves a page, and every mistake can still pound the nails that build a remarkable legacy.
My desk here at 951 Harvest Lane looks out toward cornfields that stretch into memory, and every time I write or read one of your stories from afar, I remember why this place matters. Because parenting is not just functional—it is sacred. It’s maddening and majestic. And you don’t go through it alone, not around here.
Some Honest Advice We Love to Share:
- There’s no “typical household” anymore. Yours is perfect in its evolution.
- Parenting isn’t about always being right. It’s about always returning—and trying again.
- You’re allowed to not have the answers. We exist to explore alongside you.
The People Behind the Porch
If you’ve browsed our team page, you’ll see that What U Talking Bout Family is not just me anymore. We are a collective of writers, editors, parents, advocates, and listeners. Each team member comes with different bones and backgrounds, but we are joined at the heart. Our staff meetings sound like a support group—equal parts brainstorm and balm—and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
We’re constantly connecting with families from Maine to Maui (yes, really), and still, I watch the rhythms of a slow day here in Missouri influence every thought. Why? Because there’s a groundedness here I never want to lose. We’ve built this platform on the backbone of sincerity and rootedness. That includes weaving back into our own community, offering free workshops for parents in Holt County, and hosting story-sharing circles where the honest fear of parenting can find both voice and gentle reprieve.
Parenting from the Middle of the Map
Folks often ask me: “Why keep headquarters in Maitland?” And I get it—the outward trends say move closer to metropolitan buzz. But the truth is, parenting doesn’t come from a skyline. It comes from the middle of the map. The middle of the night. The middle of a hard moment that calls for compassion instead of perfection.
By staying right here in northwest Missouri, we honor the voices that go unheard elsewhere. Because if we can build something meaningful here, we can help parenting voices everywhere grow a little louder, a little kinder, a little wiser.
Before I Sign Off
I want you to know this: you’re not just our visitor. You’re part of this conversation. Whether you browse one story and leave with a smile, or you come each week for reflection and fresh perspectives—you are the reason we write, record, and show up. You help us carry this mission forward.
If you ever want to share your story (whether it’s chaotic, hilarious, or quietly profound), you can connect with me directly. Write me at [email protected], or if fate finds you near Harvest Lane, come by between Monday–Friday: 9 AM–5 PM. My porch is open to allies, skeptics, and fellow wanderers alike.
Thank you for being here. I mean that deeply.
All my respect and kinship,
Zayric Droshar
Founder, What U Talking Bout Family
951 Harvest Lane
Maitland, MO 64466
+1 660-935-0809