Issue link: https://fredparent.uberflip.com/i/1359976
6 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • April 2021 PUBLISHER Leigh Anne Van Doren Tabitha & Jamie Nelle's mom EDITOR & WEBMASTER Chris Jones Quincy, Hayden & Olive's dad MEDIA & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Megan Walsh: Mia, Noelle & Adelaide's mom DESIGN & PRODUCTION Cheryl Carter, Owner, Carter Creations Alex, Kate & Jackie's mom SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING MANAGER Lauren Malloy: Olivia and Naomi's mom CALENDAR & COOL THINGS TO DO ELETTER Leigha Pecher: Jake & Luke's mom EDUCATION & INFANT ELETTERS Debra Caffrey: Aidan's mom MARKETING & EVENT INTERN Mira Dover parent fredericksburg & family Entrepreneur of the Year PROUD FOUNDING MEMBER ADVERTISING phone 540-429-3572 email leighanne@fredericksburgparent.net CALENDAR & SOCIAL MEDIA e-mail webmaster@fredericksburgparent.net EDITORIAL phone 540-429-3572 e-mail fredparenteditor@gmail.com snail mail P.O. Box 7884, F'burg, VA 22404 www.fredericksburgparent.net The publishers reserve the right to reject any advertisement, editorial or listing that does not meet the publication's stan- dards. No part of this magazine may be reproduced with out permission. Listing and advertising rates are available upon request. Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information con- tained herein, however, the publisher cannot guarantee such accuracy. Listings and advertisements are sub- ject to typographical errors, ommissions and/or change without notice. For terms and conditions please visit our website at www.fredericksburgparent.net © Copyright 2019 Nurture, Inc. All rights reserved. LIKE facebook.com/ FredericksburgParent SIGN UP www.FredParent.net TWEET twitter.com/fredparent PIN www.pinterest.com/ fredparent FOLLOW @fredparentmagazine WRITTEN BY CHRIS JONES letter to reader letter to reader Photo by Corey Miller Photography Spring Spring REBIRTH REBIRTH April is one of my favorite months. The flowers are in bloom, the trees have blossoms, the birds sing at first sunlight and the warm, fresh air has every- one outdoors. And to that, the words of Henry David Thoreau ring true: "Spring is a natural resurrection, an experience in immortality." Think about that for a moment. In spring, everything comes back to life. Is it any wonder that we experience such high energy and elevated moods during this time? In a lot of ways, our hope and optimism also resurrect in spring (which is why I like to think of March 1 as my own New Year's Day). And the darkness of winter within our hearts disappears with that first 70-plus degree day we usually see in March. In this issue, we dive into some of the fun reasons for you and your little ones to revel in spring. One is to take advantage of the many Little Free Libraries in the area. I love frequenting those. Whether picking up new books, or dropping off old books, the idea of sharing books and exposing others—and being exposed—to new worlds, characters, and philosophies is grand. Another fun thing to do in spring is gardening. Last year, I visited a local farm and talked to a farmer about the value of learning to grow your own food even when you don't have a lot of space. Small things like herbs, pep- pers, pickles and tomatoes are delicious recipe add-ins. But, if that's not your speed, you can plant some gorgeous sunflowers or other perennials with the kids. There's something wonderful about connecting while digging our hands into the earth. Their heart's open up and it becomes a wonderful bonding experience. Last, we have the second part of our Love It or List It-inspired series. This one focuses on home improvements you can make to ensure your home is your castle. During COVID, we all learned a thing or two about the value of our space and ways to use it. This article explores that deeper. Well, I hope you enjoy your first full month of spring. Be sure to take time to get out and enjoy some of the Earth Day activities we featured this month. I'll see you back here in the next issue.