A Book Nook
REVIEW:
Fostering Intellectual Expansion
By Linda Ligon, Family & Kids
Helping your child grow intellectually does not always involve more structured studying or extra tutoring. Encouraging intellectual growth can be as simple as providing an environment that allows your child to explore the world around him and follow his interests. Providing such an environment at home may mean having some flexibility in your household rules and your parenting style.
Rethink strict daily routines. Having a set order in your child’s daily routine when it comes to bedtime routine and getting ready for school in the morning promotes healthy sleep and a good start to his day. Having household rules, such as a cut-off time for screen use, some quiet time for reading or meditation and brushing teeth before bed, are a part of this. However, it is possible to have some flexibly in other parts of your child’s schedule, such as dinner time and the daily schedule on weekends. Your child wants to eat a snack after finishing his chores and homework and then play outside until 6 pm instead of coming in for dinner at 5 pm? If it works for everyone else, why not be flexible on the time dinner is served. On the weekend, avoid overscheduling your family. Instead of a strict schedule that fills up the entire day on Saturday, leave some time free for a spontaneous activity, such as a visit to the park to allow your child to search for rocks for his collection.
Teaching a growth mindset means admitting you make mistakes.
Growth means taking risks and learning from mistakes. Many parents fear that admitting that they make mistakes will cause their children to respect them less. However, sharing a disappointment and how you overcame it is a good
way to model a growth mindset. Your goal is to teach your kids to view a mistake as a learning experience, not a permanent roadblock. Choose an age-appropriate example that your kids will understand and relate to. Your child will respect you more, not less, for sharing your experience.
When your child is curious about a topic, let her do the research. It is exciting when kids show interest in a topic, such as how a car works, and we want to help them learn as much as possible about it. However, instead of flooding them with information and then hoping they will learn it, turn the question around in a way that requires them to search for the answer. For example, if your child asks how gas makes the car engine run, ask him to share his hypothesis with you (without an AI assisted search of the internet). This encourages critical thinking and a desire to dig deeper into a topic. Then, show him how to use physical resources, such as a library, and reputable online sources of information to answer his questions.
Have a ‘creative corner’ set up where a little bit of mess is OK. In this space, it is okay to create a LEGO project and then leave it for later instead of cleaning it up and putting everything away. Running out of time to complete a drawing is not a problem in this space. The drawing can stay on the table in the creative corner until after your child gets home from sports practice. Some toys were left scattered all over the floor in the creative corner? The chaos of a few toys left out of their designated storage location encourages problem-solving and creative, open-ended play. Have a ‘cleanup day’ scheduled every week to keep the mess contained and art supplies restocked.
s ‘ summer give them a
Summers of the 80s used to be a highly anticipated time of slowing down. That last school bell ringing signaled awaiting freedom, exploration, and play for each anticipating child. In May 2026, families already have a pre-built schedule of activities, summer camps, and makeup appointments. Reimagining a 1980s summer in 2026 merges time in your own backyard with your favorite neighborhood spaces and underlines effortless and economical options.
At home, unplug the TV and WIFI during the day. Children forty years ago spent a majority of their summer exploring their yards and neighborhoods from morning to dinner in the heat, humidity, and, yes, even the rain. No need to add that trendy outdoor toy or blow-up gadget to your cart, household items you may already have maximize their imaginations. Here are some easy and affordable items and ideas to keep your kids outside longer.
q Small trowels, buckets and clear jars with lids are great for digging in the dirt or flipping rocks in search of flowers, bugs, and small critters.
q Leftover construction materials like bricks, cinder blocks, wood, and nails make for open-ended engineering invitations. Building may lead to a game or a show!
q Save the hoses, buckets, sponges, spray bottles and cups for the afternoon heat. From water fights to potion-making, children have endless opportunities to get wet, cool, and create. Setting up a space as a mud kitchen gives parents who need to contain the mess a designated “yes” space for their child.
q All the wheels! Biking, skateboarding, and skates encourage them to move their bodies.
q Let the rechargeable wheels hang out in the garage and prioritize kid-powered ride-ons.
q Let your house be the neighborhood hangout. Inviting friends keeps sibling arguments to a minimum and expands the creativity pool. More friends, more ideas! Let it turn into a backyard campout.
When it’s time to get out of the house, plan to be out all day in a centralized location. Pack water bottles, snacks or lunch, bikes, bathing suits, and a change of clothes. Prioritize walking or riding bikes to area locations to make it feel more like an adventure. Here are some ideas to get outside in our city and embrace a 1980s Summer.
Uptown Columbus:
q Set up camp at Woodruff Park.
q Stroll Broadway or nearby playground.
q Make new friends.
q Enjoy a book, conversation, or new craft.
q Play a pick-up game of frisbee or kickball
q Bike the Riverwalk,
q Explore the river at low flow. The eddy at Waveshapper Island and the boat ramp below the Phenix City amphitheater make excellent shell, rock, and critter hunting. Be sure to bring everyone life vests, collection buckets, and nets.
q Be a good steward, pick up some river trash.
q Enjoy a picnic or local lunch near Broadway.
q Don’t miss out on the epic sunsets over the Chattahoochee River.
Midtown Columbus:
q Set up camp at Dinglewood Park.
q Hunt for fairies or create an impromptu play at the nearby Red Frame.
q Take in storytime at Columbus Bound bookstore, play disc golf or explore nearby Weracoba Creek, or ride the new children’s pump track.
q Picnic or enjoy lunch at Midtown Coffee or Jarfly.
q Bring along materials for drawing or painting the scenery.
Prioritize doing more by doing less with your kids this summer. Less structure, more freedom. Embrace discomfort when it gets hot and sticky and prepare for messy, wet kids. Remember the detox may come with a little pushback, but when they slide into that 1980s mindset, the results are pure magic.
By Olivia Rose, Owner of The Wellness Womb, Rising Waters Folkworks and local mom of two
By Tiffany Wilson Chattahoochee Valley Libraries
Every summer kind of sneaks up on us, and suddenly families are trying to figure out how to keep kids reading, thinking, and doing something other than staring at a screen all day. That’s where we come in!
This year at Chattahoochee Valley Libraries, we’re inviting everyone to take part in our Summer Reading Challenge: Unearth a Story. The idea is simple—read books, log your time, and earn prizes just for participating. No stress, no pressure… just reading that actually gets rewarded.
What we love about it is that it meets people where they are. Some kids are reading chapter books, some are just getting started, and some families are reading together at bedtime. It all counts. And reading is really just the beginning of what’s possible.
Your Library card opens the door to more than books. Families can check out free experience passes and turn an ordinary week into something memorable—a museum visit or an attraction without the added cost. It’s one of those things people find once and then start planning their whole summer around.
HOO’s PICKS
Highlight On
New Horizons Behavioral Health is a public nonprofit organization of community-based behavioral health care, offering a full range of mental health services, addictive diseases treatment and developmental disabilities programs for adults, children and families in Clay, Chattahoochee, Harris, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Stewart and Talbot counties. Help to families affected by intellectual and developmental disabilities is provided through the organization’s Family Support Services program.
Family Support Services is a need-based program that provides funding and services to help maintain a cohesive family unit and to assist the individual with living at home in the community. The assistance consists of the highly individualized support services and/or goods necessary to keep the family together, prevent institutionalization and allow the continued care of a family member with intellectual or developmental disabilities in the family’s home.
The following services are provided by the program:
• Respite Care
• Recreation and Social Community Integration
• Incontinence Supplies
a story
Inside the branches, summer stays busy in the best way. Storytimes are happening, kids are creating, and there are hands-on programs that let children explore, build, and try new things. You’ll find take-and-make kits, scavenger hunts, book bundles and even opportunities for kids to experiment with musical instruments—all designed to spark curiosity in different ways.
And if you really want to plan it out, pick up a copy of our Summer Reading Program Guide the next time you visit. It’s the easiest way to map out your summer and make sure you don’t miss anything happening at your branch.
Of course, the Library is still here for the everyday essentials too—free internet, computers, books, and staff who are always ready to help you figure things out.
At the end of the day, “Unearth a Story” is really about this: you never know what a book, a program, or a simple visit might lead to. So stop by a branch or visit www.cvlga.org to see what’s happening this summer. You might come in for a book. But you’ll probably leave with a summer that looks a whole lot different than you expected.
• Supported Employment
• Specialized Nutrition
• Family Support Transportation; Medical Appt.
• Dental Services
• Environmental Modifications
• Specialized Equipment
• Assistive Technology
The following individuals who meet the following criteria may be eligible for the Family Support Services program if they are age 3 or older, reside in a family unit, and have a diagnosis of developmental disability.
The definition of developmental disability used to determine eligibility for the Family Support Services program is a diagnosis of an intellectual disability prior to age 18 years or a severe chronic disability, such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or autism spectrum disorder.
To find out if your child or adult family member is eligible for the Family Support Services program, visit the New Horizons Behavioral Health website at https://www.nhbh.org/ and fill out the Family Support application.
RESOURCES: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6659987/
ADHD Communication TIPS
By
If you are parenting a child who has ADHD, it can be a challenge to communicate with her. Here are some tips on how to more effectively communicate with a child who has ADHD and reduce the frustration and the hurt feelings that may result from poor communication.
Before trying to communicate with your child, make sure you have her attention. Most of the time, we look for social cues, such as someone making and maintaining eye contact, to judge if someone is listening to what we have to say. However, it can be hard for a child with ADHD to slow down enough to maintain eye contact, and she may actually be listening to you even though she cannot maintain eye contact.
If your child has trouble making eye contact, see if she is listening by initiating the conversation and then wait for a response that indicates she is listening. You could call her name and ask her to acknowledge you, or you could designate an object, such as a stuffed animal, as the ‘listening object.’ When you want to speak with her, ask her to put down what she is doing for a moment and pick up the ‘listening teddy bear’ to show you she is paying attention. Kids with ADHD have minds that are moving at high speed, and some kids with ADHD may fidget while listening. However, by observing your child, you can start to ‘tune into’ the cues that indicate your child is listening and which ones indicate she is distracted.
Next, once you have your child’s attention, keep your communication simple and brief. A child with ADHD has a mind that is racing ahead
at full speed, and you will not have her attention for long. She will absorb information given in simple step-by-step instructions provided one at a time better than a big ‘download’ of information provided all at once. After each step, ask her to repeat back what she heard you say, give her a chance to perform the step and then move on to the next one. For example, instead of listing all the chores you need her to do after school all at once, you could provide instruction on each chore, one at a time.
Communication aids can help greatly when it comes to breaking down information into small, manageable pieces for your child. You could create pictures of each chore or each step she needs to do to get ready for bed and guide her through the steps one at a time by handing her a picture. Children with ADHD respond well to visual cues. As your child grows, help her to become more independent by creating a poster with pictures of each step in the process so that it is easy for your child to follow along.
When providing instructions for your child, either through visual aids or by talking to her and providing step by step instructions, make your expectations clear but also give her some choices. For example, you could tell her she needs to read before bedtime but let her pick out the story you will read with her. Your child feels some ownership over the process when she is allowed to make choices and is more likely to cooperate. However, if she does become agitated and refuses to comply, give her some time to calm down before talking to her again.
Linda Ligon, Family & Kids
cal Ce brations for of ‘me ca
freedom 250 independence celebration fort benning • june 27
Two multiplatinum acts, Gavin DeGraw and Plain White T’s, are set to coheadline Fort Benning’s Freedom 250 Independence Celebration presented by the Russell County Commission on June 27. Festivities kick off at 4pm and include military demonstrations, food vendors, children’s activities and a large fireworks display to celebrate our nation’s 250 years of independence.
Gavin DeGraw, the GRAMMY® Award-nominated multiplatinum singer and songwriter renowned for his signature fusion of pop, soul, country, folk, and funk, first captured hearts with his 2003 Platinum-certified debut album, Chariot, which delivered the Gold single “Follow Through” and Platinum hits “Chariot” and the iconic “I Don’t Want To Be.”
Since emerging in 1997, the Chicago quartet Plain White T’s have made a lasting impact with their catchy pop rock anthems. Their iconic single “Hey There Delilah” reached quadruple Platinum status, held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and garnered two GRAMMY® nominations in 2008. Known for their infectious melodies and engaging performances, Plain White T’s continue to be a dominant force in the music scene.
The 2026 Independence Celebration will also include a Kids Zone sponsored by Fort Benning’s Qualified Recycling Program, 34-foot jump towers, a variety of food trucks, and an entire field dedicated to celebrating Freedom 250 with static military displays and demonstrations. The Maneuver Center of Excellence Band concludes the evening with a patriotic score choreographed to the fireworks show.
The entire community is invited to join our Soldiers and their families for a free concert, fireworks and more! The event will be held on York Field, located on Eckel Avenue in front of McGinnis-Wickam Hall, Building 4. Visit benning.armymwr.com for more information and gate access procedures.
freedom fest • July 4 national infantry museum
This free, community-wide event honors the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and supports the Georgia US250 campaign. Guests of all ages are invited to enjoy live music, military displays, family activities, historic reenactors, food trucks, and patriotic experiences at the National Infantry Museum from 10am-5pm.
Live music is a highlight of FreedomFest, and this year’s lineup features an exciting mix of regional talent and nationally recognized performers, culminating in a powerful headlining performance by Keni Thomas! A former member of the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Keni brings a deeply personal perspective to the stage, blending country music with stories of service, leadership, and resilience.
Joining him are dynamic performances from John Cox and GP-38, whose engaging sets are sure to keep the atmosphere lively throughout the event. The day’s soundtrack is sure to be both entertaining and meaningful—honoring the spirit of American history while ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy.
FreedomFest features a full day of patriotic programming, beginning with cannons firing and family activities, live entertainment, movies, and special performances happening throughout the day. For a detailed agenda including activity times and performances, be sure to visit nationalinfantrymuseum.org.
Dining Deals for Kids
With deals this good, save the mess and dine out!
MONDAY
Sapo’s
5pm until close: free kid's meal with adult entrée, dine in only
tuesday
Denny’s
4-10pm: Up to two free kids entrées with adult entrée for kids 10 and under
The Food Mill
Make it a family night! Buy a family meal, get 2 kids meals for free!
Ruby Tuesday
5-10pm: Kids 12 and under eat free with adult entrée
wednesday
Your Pie
Kid's meals half off with adult entrée
Crumbl
Free mini cookie with purchase of regular cookie
Does your restaurant have a special offer for kids?!
Let us know and we can promote it here for FREE to 20K parents!
Email it to us at: Tammy@familyandkidsga.com
Thursday
Tuesday's Street Tacos & Burritos
Free kids meal with adult purchase; dine-in only
friday
Denny’s
4-10pm: Up to two free kids entrées with adult entrée for kids 10 and under
Ruby Tuesday
5-10pm: Kids 12 and under eat free with adult entrée
SUNDAY
Vallarta Mexican Restaurant
Free kids' meal with the purchase of adult entrée
everyday
Bruster’s Ice Cream
Kids under 40” get free baby cone
McAlister’s
Kid’s meals are $2.79 with dine-in order
All locations are Columbus, GA unless noted. Specials are subject to change without notice, so please verify them directly before dining. Send kids deals to Tammy@FamilyAndKidsGA.com.
1
Family Fun Night: Unearthing Georgia with Historic Westville. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
1 Summer Craft Series. Ages 6-11. 11am. RSVP. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
June Events
8 Simple Steps: Play. Ages 0-5. 10am. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
8 Summer Cinema. Families. 10am. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855
1-5 Camp NIM Kids. 9am-4pm. Ages 7-8. NIM; 706-685-5800
2 Unearth a Story with Fiddlin’ Dan. Families. 10am. N. Columbus Library; 706-748-2855
2 Little Sprouts. 10am & 2:30pm. Ages 0-5. $5/family. Columbus Botanical Garden, 706327-8400
2 Brick Archaeology: Machu Picchu. Ages 6-11. 2pm. S. Columbus Library; 706-683-8805
2 Pony Bead Party. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
3 Summer Cinema. Families. 2pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
3 Gallery Play Date. 10-11am. Ages 6-24mo. Columbus Museum; comuga.org
4 Unearth a Story with Fiddlin’ Dan. Families. 11am. Mildred L. Terry Library; and 3pm. South Columbus Library
5 Unearth a Story with Fiddlin’ Dan. Families. 10am & 2pm. Columbus Library; 706243-2813
5 Phenology Friday. 9am-12pm. All ages. $8-$12. Columbus Botanical Garden, 706327-8400
5 Concert: Frankie Mincey. 6:30pm. Midland Commons; 706-987-3723
5-7Group childbirth education. Fri 6-8pm, Sat 9-11am, Sun 12:30-2:30 pm. $125 per couple; The Wellness Womb, 1329 Wynnton Rd; Thewellnesswomb.com
8-12 Camp NIM Kids. 9am-4pm. Ages 7-8. NIM; 706-685-5800
9 Stories on Stage. Families. 2pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805
9 Kid’s Art Studio. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
10 Gallery Play Date. 10-11am. Ages 2-4. Columbus Museum; comuga.org
10 Summer Cinema. Families. 2pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
11 Kids Fire Safety Day. 4PM-6PM. Golden Donuts, Wynnton Road; grammer.golden@ gmail.com or 706-243-1468
11 Rock ‘N’ Roar! A Summer Discovery Series. Ages 6-11. 3pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855
12 Summer Cinema. Families. 2pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
12 Grannycore: Crochet Circle. Families. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
13 Second Saturday Tours. 11am. $8-$12. Historic Westville; 706-221-9330
13 Simple Steps: Play. Ages 0-5. 10am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
14 Trimester Tea. 1-2 pm. Pregnant or early postpartum social hour. The Wellness Womb, 1329 Wynnton Rd; Thewellnesswomb.com
15-19 Kids Week: Preschool & Special Needs. 9am-Noon. Cascade HIlls Church; cascadehills.com/kids-week
15-19 Camp NIM Kids. 9am-4pm. Ages 9-12. NIM; 706-685-5800
15 Creative Kids’ Theatre. Families. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
16 Budding Naturalists. 10-11am. $7.18. Columbus Botanical Garden, 706-327-8400
16 Crafty Kids: Juneteenth Affirmation Artwork. Ages 6-11. 2pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805
16 Pony Bead Party. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
16 Juneteenth Celebration. Families. 5:30pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
17 Gallery Play Date. 10-11am. Ages 6-24mo. Columbus Museum; comuga.org
17 Summer Cinema. Families. 2pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
18 Rock ‘N’ Roar! A Summer Discovery Series. Ages 6-11. 3pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855
20 Simple Steps: Play. Ages 0-5. 10am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
20 Intro to D&D for Kids. Ages 6-11. 11am. RSVP. N. Columbus Library; 706-748-2855
20 Uno, Dos, Tres Crafts! Ages 4-8. 3pm. RSVP. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
20 Summer Night Market. 4pm. Midland Commons; 706-987-3723
22 Simple Steps: Play. Ages 0-5. 10am. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
22 Summer Cinema. Families. 10am. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855
22 Ukulele for Beginners. Families. 3pm. RSVP. N. Columbus Library; 706-748-2855
Events
22-26 Kids Week: Kindergarten-5th Grade. 9am-Noon. Cascade HIlls Church; cascadehills.com/kids-week
22-26 Camp NIM Kids. 9am-4pm. Ages 9-12. NIM; 706-685-5800
23 Unearth Soil with Dinosaur Terrariums. Families. 2pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805
23 Kid’s Art Studio. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
23 Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday. Families. 6pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706243-2782
24 Gallery Play Date. 10-11am. Ages 2-4. Columbus Museum; comuga.org
24 Seedling Storytime. 10-11am. $7.18. Columbus Botanical Garden, 706-327-8400
24 Summer Cinema. Families. 2pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
25 Rock ‘N’ Roar! A Summer Discovery Series. Ages 6-11. 3pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855
26Dads & Dinos: A Father’s Day Dinosaur Adventure. Families. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
27 La Calavera Catrina Family Day. 10am2pm. $8-$12. Columbus Botanical Garden, 706-327-8400
27 Freedom 250 5K. 8-9:30am. $30-$45. 1100 block of Broadway; runsignup.com
27 Independence Day Celebration. 4-11pm. Free. York & Gardner Fields, Fort Benning; benning.armymwr.com
29 American Girl Book Club: The Historical Girls. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
30 Pony Bead Party. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
30 Pony Bead Party. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
30-2 Summer Camp. 9am-1pm. Ages 3-6. $150. RSVP. The Little Village on 13th; fountaincitybabysitting.com
JULY 3-5
Star Spangled Beach Party & Fireworks. All day. Callaway Gardens; 855-885-3841
4 Freedom Fest. 10am-5pm. Music, demonstrations, activities, movies and more. NIM. Nationalinfantrymuseum.org
WEDNESDAY
Simple Steps Storytime. Ages 0-5. 11am. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
Discovery Hub. Ages 3-5. 11am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
Story Time with Grammy Trish. 11am. Columbus Bound Bookshop; 706-243-1034
THURSDAY
Simple Steps Storytime: Families. Ages 0-5. 10am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
Simple Steps Storytime: Families. Ages 0-5. 11am. South Columbus Library; 706-6838805
LEGOS® in the Library. Families. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
MONDAY
Weekly
Simple Steps Storytime: Babies & Toddlers. Ages 0-36 mo. 10am. Columbus Library; 706243-2813
TUESDAY
Simple Steps Storytime. Babies & Toddlers. Ages 0-24 mo. 10am; Preschoolers. Ages 3-5. 11am. N. Columbus Library; 706-748-2855
Tuesday at 10. 10-11am. Ages 4+. Columbus Museum; comga.org
Golden Donut Movie Day. Noon-2pm. Ages 5-12. RSVP Required. Wynnton Road; grammer.golden@gmail.com or 706-243-1468
Get On Board With Board Games: Chess & More. Families. 4:30pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
Golden Game DAY. 1pm-3pm. Bring your board games and have fun. Golden Donuts, Wynnton Rd. RSVP grammer.golden@gmail. com or 706-243-1468.
FRIDAY
Simple Steps Storytime: Rhythm & Rhyme. Ages 0-5. 10am. Columbus Library; 706-2432813
Story Time Tour. 10-11am. Ages 4-10. Columbus Museum; comga.org
SATURDAY
Market Days. 9am-Noon. 900, 1000 & 1100 blocks of Broadway; uptowncolumbusga.com
Please call ahead to confirm event dates, times and age appropriateness, in case changes were made after the info was obtained.
A Book Nook REVIEW:
DO NOTHING
by Celeste Headlee
Efficiency has become a modern religion, and we are all its exhausted disciples. We live in a world that treats a nap like a moral failure and a full calendar like a trophy. We check our emails in the school pickup line, listen to podcasts at 1.5x speed so we can "consume" more, and spend our vacations wondering if we should be documenting them for the people we left behind at the office. We have forgotten how to simply exist without a metric to prove we were productive.
Celeste Headlee’s Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving is the intervention we have been desperately avoiding.
This isn't a book about "time management" or finding a better way to organize your to-do list. In fact, Celeste argues that those very tools are the weapons the Industrial Revolution used to steal our humanity. She takes a flamethrower to the idea that our worth is tied to our output and asks a terrifyingly simple question: When did we decide that being a person was a job?
Here are some truths that made me put my phone in a drawer and go sit on the porch:
Lessons to Learn
1. We are working harder than medieval peasants.
This was the historical "gut punch" for me. Celeste dives into the history of labor and shows that before the clock became our master, humans had far more leisure time than we do now. We have been sold a lie that technology would free us, but instead, it has just made us available for work 24/7. Girlll, realizing that I have less "unstructured" time than a 14th-century farmer made me want to go back and apologize to every version of myself that felt guilty for being "lazy."
2. The "Cult of Efficiency" is killing your brain.
She breaks down the science of what happens when we never let our minds wander. We think we are being high-achievers, but we are actually just burning out the parts of our brain
responsible for deep thought and genuine connection. True creativity requires the "void," and we have spent the last decade trying to fill every void with a notification. We aren't getting more done; we are just getting busier at doing things that don't matter.
3. The "Life Admin" trap.
Celeste names that specific, low-level hum of anxiety we all feel—the endless chores, the scheduling, the digital housekeeping that occupies our "off" hours. She shows how we have turned our personal lives into a series of tasks to be managed rather than experiences to be enjoyed. We are so busy "optimizing" our lives that we have forgotten how to live them.
4. Reclaiming the "Idle" Hour.
The most radical advice in the book is her call to reclaim true leisure. Not "productive" leisure like a hobby that could become a side hustle, but actual, purposeless idleness. Sitting. Looking at the birds. Talking to a friend without checking the time. She provides a path back to being a "human being" rather than a "human doing."
I finished this book and felt a profound sense of grief for all the hours I’ve spent trying to "optimize" my joy. I realized that my addiction to busyness was just a way to avoid the quiet, and that the quiet is exactly where the healing lives.
If you feel like you are running a race with no finish line, please read this. It won't give you a better calendar. It will give you the courage to throw the calendar away for a while. You aren't a machine. You aren't a brand. You are a person. And it is high time you started acting like one.
Summer Camps & Activities
Summer Camps & Activities
Summer Camps & Activities
Summer Camps & Activities
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Schwob Prep offers professional instructi and group lessons from beginner to advan
Summer Camps & Activities
AREA PLACES TO
HOO’s PICKS
Beat the heat and take the kiddos to swim or splash at these locations nearby.
Carver Park Splash Pad
Fenced concrete area with splash pad. parks.columbusga.gov/Facilities-Centers/Pools-Splash-Pads
Chewacla State Park
26 acre lake with swimming area and playground. alapark.com/parks/chewacla-state-park
City Services Splash Pad parks.columbusga.gov/Facilities-Centers/Pools-Splash-Pads
Columbus Aquatic Center
Olympic pool with a diving area. parks.columbusga.gov/Facilities-Centers/Pools-Splash-Pads
Double Churches Pool
Features a diving board, zero entry pool and water slide. parks.columbusga.gov/Facilities-Centers/Pools-Splash-Pads
Flat Rock Park
Park with creek and small waterfall. parks.columbusga.gov/Parks/parks
Great Wolf Lodge
Indoor water park with slides and swimming areas. greatwolf.com/georgia
Idle Hour Splash Pad
Phenix City park with splash pad. phenixcityal.us/portfolio-items/idle-hour-park
Liberty Bell Pool
A large, spring-fed pool located within F.D.R. State Park. gastateparks.org/FDRoosevelt#LibertyBellPool3676
Phenix City Youth Sports
Large swimming area with zero entry, water slide and water features. phenixcityal.us/portfolio-items/youth-sports-complex
Psalmond Road Pool
Large pool with swimming lanes, zero entry, water features and slide parks.columbusga.gov/Facilities-Centers/Pools-Splash-Pads
Rigby’s WaterWorld
Water park with slides and kids’ area in Warner Robbin rigbyswaterworld.com
Rigdon Park Pool
50-meter pool with zero entry, water features and nearby playground. parks.columbusga.gov/Facilities-Centers/Pools-Splash-Pads
Rush South Splash Pad
Uptown Columbus park with splash pad. facebook.com/WoodruffParkColumbus
Robin Lake Beach
Large lake and beach with boat rentals and inflatable water course. callawaygardens.com/beach/
Shirley Winston Pool
Large pool with swim lanes, slide and splash pad. parks.columbusga.gov/Facilities-Centers/Pools-Splash-Pads
Waterworld
Water park with slides and kids’ area in Dothan, AL. waterworlddothan.com
West Point Lake Beaches
Public beaches on West Point Lake in Georgia. westpointlake.info/POI/Beaches
Whitewater Express
SUP, kayak and tube rentals or guided rafting down Chattahoochee River. chattahoochee.whitewaterexpress.com
HOO’s HEALTHY
Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (or FPIES) is a rare non-IgE mediated food allergy that primarily affects young kids. It causes severe, delayed gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhea, which start about one to four hours after consuming trigger food.
FPIES is a reaction to certain trigger foods, such as milk, soy, eggs, grain and shellfish. Unlike typical food allergies, FPIES affects T cells and the reaction is delayed and mostly limited to the gastrointestinal system. In contrast, typical food allergies are IgE mediated (involve antibodies) and cause inflammation that can lead to wheezing, facial swelling, difficulty breathing and hives.
Children with FPIES often have other types of allergic conditions such as eczema or IgE-mediated food allergies. A family history of allergies, asthma and eczema can increase the risk of FPIES. Dietary changes, such as transitioning from breast milk to formula or introducing solid foods, can also increase the risk of FPIES. FPIES mostly affects infants and young children and usually starts at about four months of age. Many children outgrow FPIES by the age of five.
By Linda, Ligon, Family & Kids
What is: FPIES
The severe vomiting and diarrhea caused by the reaction to a trigger food can lead to lethargy, dehydration and unintended weight loss. Other symptoms may include pale skin, abdominal pain, low blood pressure and hypothermia. A severe reaction requires immediate medical treatment, as it can lead to lifethreatening shock.
FPIES is mainly diagnosed through medical history and eliminating infections. The symptoms of FPIES are sometimes confused with those of sepsis or infections. The acute reactions caused by FPIES are prevented by strictly avoiding the trigger foods once they are identified.
If an acute reaction occurs, the treatment involves rehydration, which may involve receiving IV fluids in the ER to counter the dehydration and falling in blood pressure caused by severe vomiting and diarrhea. It is important to have an emergency action letter for caregivers that contains your child’s medical information and can be provided to the ER medical staff in an emergency.
Tips - forToddler Challenges
When your toddler reaches 24 months, it may seem like a multitude of challenging behaviors appear all at once. Here are some tips on how to manage frustrating toddler behaviors.
My toddler likes to scream
Toddlers are just learning how to use words to communicate and find it much easier to express both excitement and displeasure by shrieking and screaming. If your toddler is shrieking loudly in public, it can be rather distressing, since not everyone around you may be understanding.
If you have a ‘happy shrieker,’ calmly pick her up and say quietly, ‘It’s OK to be loud outside but inside, we have to use our quiet voice even when we are happy.’ If your toddler is screaming out of displeasure, remember that toddlers are still learning self-regulate and how to follow rules. Your best bet is to distract your toddler by switching her attention to something else, along with gently reminding her that it is not OK to scream in public.
My toddler screams ‘Mine!’ all the time
When your toddler is interacting with others and keeps saying ‘Mine! My toy!’, it can be a bit frustrating. This is a sign that your toddler has reached the developmental stage of realizing she is a separate individual and is starting to establish her identity. However, toddlers do not have the ability yet to empathize with others and they have difficulty sharing. To reduce the number of instances of your toddler angrily yelling ‘Mine!,’ referee their playtime by asking your child what she wants to play with first and then remind her when her time is up and ask her to share it. If your child has a toy that is special to her, it is a good idea to ask before the playdate if she wants to share it and put it out of sight if she does not.
However, do not force your toddler to share by grabbing the toy away from her. If you forcefully take it away, you are sending the message that it is OK to snatch a toy from someone. Instead, find another toy for her playmate to play with, and keep consistently working with your toddler on the concept of sharing at each playdate she attends.
My toddler takes off all her clothes
This could be due to a combination of reasons. Your toddler may be starting to recognize the need to use the potty and is acting upon it. She may also be acting out of discomfort. Maybe her diaper is wet or the fabric of her dress is itchy. Toddlers also sometimes embark on a streaking phase because they enjoy the reaction and attention they get from adults or because they have just learned to dress and undress and want to practice undressing.
If your toddler is going around in the nude but will not sit on the potty consistently and has accidents, your best strategy, for now, is to make it more difficult for her to undress. Choose one-piece outfits that zip or button in the back. Put your toddler’s diaper on backward and duct tape it, being careful not to get the tape on your toddler’s skin. If you are working towards potty training, embrace the times that the diaper and clothes come off and require them to go sit on the potty each time…clothes off, means potty on! This may become bothersome for them and will help to reduce streaking. Also try giving your toddler control over her clothes and discuss the boundaries for undressing only in private conditions.
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