Delivering JOY!

Award-Winning Maternity Care

As the leading provider of family-centered maternity care in the River Region, Baptist Health works to make your childbirth experience one of comfort, joy and love. We offer a wide range of labor and delivery services–including childbirth classes, breastfeeding support, maternal fetal medicine specialists, NICU and an OB emergency department.

It’s why we deliver more babies than any other healthcare provider in Central Alabama. Learn more at BaptistFirst.org

Celebrating Dad!

Moving with Kids

A few weeks ago, I was feeling nostalgic and decided to take a walk in one of the local neighborhoods where I grew up. For most families, the phrase “we moved around a lot” means they relocated to different cities. However, our family moved around a lot in the same city throughout my childhood. So where I walked recently allowed me to walk past three houses we lived in... yes, in that same neighborhood! Memories flooded my mind and heart as I was reminded of friendships on each street, front yard football games, trick-or-treating until my pillow case was overflowing, and riding my bike to the elementary school at the front of the neighborhood. I even took a few videos with my phone and sent them to my sister in Orange Beach to see if she could guess precisely where I was!

While I love to travel and do so often, I’ve never had much desire to move away from this area. For starters, the River Region is in a great central location. It is close to the lake, beach, and fun cities like Atlanta, Nashville, and New Orleans. Besides these conveniences, we’re also a family-friendly community offering fun attractions, activities, kid-friendly dining options, excellent education choices and medical care, plus so much more.

As we welcome summer, we are excited to welcome new families to the area with our 2023 Family Newcomers Guide! Whether you’ve arrived due to a job transfer, are a military family newly stationed here, or have landed here for another reason, we want to help your family get to know our great community. And if you have lived here a long time like me, share this issue with new neighbors and families at church and school.

Our Newcomers Guide lists our top picks in categories like Where to Learn, Where to Play, Where to Eat, and Where to Grow. In addition, you’ll find recommendations for pediatricians, childcare centers, schools, annual events, restaurants, local attractions, and more. Our advertisers are highlighted, and we hope you will check into the services they are excited about providing for your family. Also, you’ll want to follow some of the excellent advice Kailyn Rhinehart provides in her article, 7 Effective Tips for Moving Into a New House with Kids.

June 18 is Father’s Day, and in her article, 10 Fun Ways to Celebrate Dad, Rebecca Hastings shares fresh, fun ideas for honoring the father or father figure in your family’s life. And make sure to check out our 4th of July listing for all the exciting happenings coming our way to celebrate Independence Day!

Here’s to cherished fathers, new River Region families, and a summer full of making memories with the ones we love!

River Region Parents Magazine is founded on the principle that parenting is an exciting, diverse, challenging, and significant role in our community. River Region Parents Magazine is a community advocate for families and the parenting process.

Founder Marty Watson (1950-2006)

Editor DeAnne Watson editor@riverregionparents.com

Research Editor

Wendy McCollum

Contributing Writers

Dr. Melvin Brown

Kristi Bush, LSW

Richard Dennis

Rebecca Hastings

Jan Pierce

Kailyn Rhinehart

Kimberley Carter Spivey Works of Wonder Therapy

Cover Photography

Lisa Smith www.studiopanache.net

Publisher Jason Watson jason@riverregionparents.com

Advertising Department (334) 213-7940 ext. 703 adservices@keepsharing.com or Text 334.328.5189

Digital Manager

Scott Davis

Ad Design Tim Welch

by Works of Wonder Therapy www.worksofwondertherapy.com