Fredericksburg Parent

14 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • Fredericksburg Forward 2023 Remember all of the anticipation and fanfare that we entered the '20s with only to be derailed by COVID, inflation and talk of an impending recession? As they say, tough times never last but tough people do. In the spirit of all things new year, Fredericksburg Parent wanted to give it one more crack at bringing out the crystal ball on a fresh year to see what experts in vari- ous segments had to say about why you can expect from 2023. Here's what they told us about housing, lending, educa- tion and mental well-being (because as parents, a booster of self-care is never a bad thing!) Four area experts talk about trends you can look for in 2023 COMPILED BY CHRIS JONES Unplugging and Being More Present As a parent, one of the best ways you can influence your children to be more mindful is to lead by example. Spend a few minutes a day focusing on your breath. This can be sitting or lying down. Guided with an app or just repeating over in your mind to breathe in, breathe out. Let your children see that you take time to 'unplug.' Turn off your phone, the television and shut down the computer. Give them your full atten- tion instead of allowing yourself to be distracted by technology. Enjoy nature together even when it's cold outside! Remember, there's no bad weather, only bad clothing choices. If you're leading by example, those habits will transfer to your children and teach them how to focus on their breath, to unplug, and enjoy the outdoors. All helping to create a more mindfully based society. Filling Pandemic Created Educational Gaps "We have seen many more parents seeking out extra help for their elementary-age kids in reading and math. They are looking to catch up on skills that were missed during the pandemic or skills that they noticed their kids needed help with when working one-on- one at home." Fredericksburg FORWARD Nina Parrish, M.ED. CEO & Co-Founder Parrish Learning Zone Anne Kemp Director Dragonfly Yoga

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