Fredericksburg Parent

6 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • April 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year PROUD FOUNDING MEMBER ADVERTISING PHONE 540-429-3572 EMAIL leighanne@fredericksburgparent.net CALENDAR & SOCIAL MEDIA EMAIL webmaster@fredericksburgparent.net EDITORIAL PHONE 540-429-3572 EMAIL 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 guaran- tee such accuracy. Listings and advertisements are subject to typographical errors, ommissions and/or change without notice. For terms and conditions please visit our website at www.fredericksburgparent.net © Copyright 2023 Nurture, Inc. All rights reserved. LIKE facebook.com/FredericksburgParent SIGN UP www.FredParent.net PIN www.pinterest.com/fredparent FOLLOW @fredparentmagazine parent fredericksburg & family WRITTEN BY CHRIS JONES editor's note editor's note Photo by Corey Miller Photography Planting Planting Good Seeds Good Seeds 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: Alex, Kate & Jackie's mom CALENDAR & COOL THINGS TO DO ELETTER Caroline Murray: Nate and Brendan's mom EDUCATION & INFANT ELETTERS Debra Caffrey: Aidan's mom SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR Jessica Trask: Cye, Asher and Ragan's mom SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Mira Dover MARKETING & EVENT INTERN Ragan Trask There's an old saying that goes, "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now." While this is about planting literal trees to replenish the earth, this can be taken in a figurative direction, as well. As parents, we're planting the seeds of a lifetime of great memories with my kids, particularly after busy seasons of working and extra-curricular activities. Spring conjures up a time for me to capitalize on the longer days to enjoy more time outdoors experi- encing life with my kids. The world can be chaotic and busy. As parents, we don't always get to be at every game, attend every school event and go to every practice, but we can make up for that—plant that tree now—by finding other ways to show them they're important to us and that we care. That's where all of the great opportunities Fredericksburg has to offer come in. When the weather breaks, some of my favorite family activities are to explore our surroundings, go canoeing and boating, throw and kick vari- ous types of balls on the sports fields at the field house, and hike gorgeous nature trails. We also find time for arts festivals and live music when we can. Reminding our children that there is a world beyond the classroom, the Xbox and the iPhone. When I was a kid, my dad and I would sit on the front porch at night and talk about the stars and planets as we identified constellations in the sky. That seed grew into a lifelong love of astronomy that I share with my kids today. Other things my father planted within me are a love of country music (the storytelling), an appreciation for sitting on the porch and watching sun- sets and walking as a form of moving meditation. What seeds can you plant today? We may not get to be at every event our kids participate in, but those small moments in between can be more memo- rable than all of the games, recitals and practices combined. They were for me. What seeds can you plant today?

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