About The Publisher: Chelsea Hesketh-Youss

Hello! I'm Chelsea, your Editor and Publisher of Macaroni KID Columbia MO and Macaroni KID Jefferson City - Fulton.  I have made central Missouri my home in recent years after settling into the midwest with my family.

I am originally from San Diego, California, but before becoming a midwest mama, I studied Psychology at Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, New York, where I met my husband, Hicham. 

Our final year living in the big apple was with a newborn, our son Rayhan, we decided to head west to be closer to family and live a little more simply.  We settled in MidMO by the luck of jobs that found us and have been residing here since 2021.  After having my daughter, Raja, we decided to make a few lifestyle changes that now allow me to stay home with our children.

I found Macaroni KID while googling kid activities for a road trip we were planning out of state and learned that there wasn't anyone currently representing Jefferson City. I've since had the wonderful opportunity to expand my reach and also represent all the fun Columbia MO has to offer! To be honest, I was tired of googling kid activities and only finding results in STL or KC, so I decided to jump in and be the resource that I needed when I moved to this area. And I'm so glad I did. Discovering more about this region at a point in which it is flourishing with new businesses and a growing sense of community has been a beautiful experience.

You will catch us regularly at one of our local coffee shops or out at the parks (probably taking way too many pictures of my cuties.) We try to get out to as many events around town as possible, patron local spots and enjoy the outdoors.  If you see me out and about, say hi!

Five things the define me:

• Always cooking up something new.
• I'll never say no to a trip to the ocean.
• Finding myself again after motherhood through any creative pursuit (lately reels)
• Joy, to me, is experiencing seeing the world through my children's eyes.
• Draaaanks. Coffee. Fresh lemonade. Loaded Tea. Kombucha. Wine. Cider. And water too. Nothing beats patio sitting with something to sip on.

Macaroni KID Columbia and Jefferson City - Fulton is my small business and has been a very special way for me to put roots down and feel connected to our community. It would mean the world to me if you shared my website and this resource with your family and friends!

If you love our resource and the work I do and wish to help support my efforts to make family fun more easily accessible, you can Buy Me a Coffee.