6 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • June 2026
Entrepreneur
of the Year
PROUD FOUNDING
MEMBER
ADVERTISING
540-429-3572 •
megan@fredericksburgparent.net
EDITORIAL
540-429-3572 •
amanda@fredericksburgparent.net
P.O. Box 7884, F'burg, VA 22404
www.fredericksburgparent.net
LIKE
facebook.com/FredericksburgParent
SIGN UP
FredParent.net
PIN
pinterest.com/fredparent
FOLLOW
@fredparentmagazine
parent
fredericksburg
& family
PUBLISHER
vandoren@fredericksburgparent.net
Leigh Anne Van Doren:Tabitha & Jamie Nelle's mom
EDITOR
amanda@fredericksburgparent.net
Amanda Danaher: Emma, Wyatt, Grant, Jack and Thea's mom
MEDIA & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
megan@fredericksburgparent.net
Megan Walsh:
Mia, Noelle & Adelaide's mom
DESIGN & PRODUCTION
cccarter1@mac.com
Cheryl Carter:
Alex, Kate & Jackie's mom
WEBMASTER
caroline@fredericksburgparent.net
Caroline Murray:
Nate & Brendan's mom
CALENDAR & ELETTERS
amanda@fredericksburgparent.net
Amanda Danaher:
Emma, Wyatt, Grant, Jack and Thea's mom
SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR
jessica@fredericksburgparent.net
Jessica Trask:
Cye, Asher & Ragan's mom
SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
laura@fredericksburgparent.net
Laura Carter: Alison and Michael's daughter
The publishers reserve the right to reject any adver-
tisement, editorial or listing that does not meet the
publication's standards. No part of this magazine may
be reproduced with out permission. Listing and adver-
tising rates are available upon request. Every effort
has been made to assure the accuracy of the informa-
tion contained herein, however, the publisher cannot
guarantee 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 2026 Nurture, Inc. All rights reserved.
letter to reader
Amanda Danaher,
Frederickburg Parent
and Family Ac ng Editor.
It happened in the time it took to look away.
Last summer, we brought all five of our kids to our
local pool for a relaxing day in the water together.
We settled into the fun with me at the edge and
my husband in the pool with the kids. The younger
two were splashing and kicking with our help, and
our 7-year-old son, an experienced swimmer who
had already passed the pool swim test, was swimming confidently toward us.
I turned for just a moment to help one of our toddlers. When I looked back, I
did a quick head count and saw our son underwater. No big deal, right?
He stood out in a neon orange swimsuit and rash guard, so he was easy to
spot, but something still didn't feel right. Then I noticed he wasn't fully resur-
facing, just the top of his head bobbing above the water and one small hand
reaching up.
I knew.
We weren't far. My husband was almost standing next to him. I called out and
my husband immediately reached down, lifted our son by his rash guard out of
the water and set him safely on the pool's edge beside me.
He was okay. A little rattled, but okay.
What stayed with me was how quiet it all was. No splashing. No screaming.
Just silence.
We were close. We were engaged. He was wearing bright, visible colors. And
even then, it happened in seconds.
It made me think about how easily that moment could have gone unnoticed if
we had been distracted, farther away or if he had blended into the bottom of
the pool instead of standing out against it.
That day changed the way I think about water safety, not in fear, but in aware-
ness.
In this issue, we spoke with lifeguards, first responders and water safety
experts so you do not have to guess what matters most at the water's edge.
They break down what to watch for, what to stop doing and how small habits
can make a life-saving difference.
And because summer is also about having fun, you'll find our guide to pools
and splash pads, six Virginia waterfalls to add to your summer bucket list and a
look at our Rappahannock Swim League families who know organized chaos is
just part of the season.
So here's to a summer soaking it all in, but also staying present, engaged and
safe, so no moment slips by unnoticed and every memory is a good one.
XOXO
When a Second
Changes
Everything
