From the Editor: Our Seasons

By Tina Eichner

With the school year seemingly starting earlier and earlier and the summer heat lingering longer and longer, seasonal transitions get blurry.

August is definitely still summertime, but the lure of football season and pumpkin-spice everything are beckoning. The Halloween retail push began on July 5 for goodness sake!

But as I write this, I am sitting and trying to savor summer just a bit longer. We just got back from an amazing family vacation creating memories I will treasure for a long, long time. This is what summertime is for!

I also managed to keep the outdoor flowers alive through July and there have not been nearly enough trips to the farmers market and subsequent grilled dinners. Summer is not quite over yet!

Even though my kids are grown, being married to a teacher means that the rhythm of our home follows the cadence of the school year.

In the summer we get to slow down, breathe, play, spend time with those most precious to us, and focus on endeavors we may not always have time for. I hope your summer was filled with fun, joy, wonder, and peace - for your entire family.

I remember the back to school supplies shopping and the outings for new clothes. The haircuts and the school physicals. The sports sign-ups and the last minute summer reading assignments. There are a lot of “things” that happen to get our kiddos ready to go back to school.

As you work through the list over the next few weeks and prepare for everything to be just right, here’s a thought for one of those remaining family BBQ dinners on the patio: talk with your kids about kindness.

The start of the school year is exciting and many kids can't wait to get back to a new classroom, old friends, and activities they love! Packing the new backpack and lunch bag and donning the new shoes.

But for too many kids, school can be stressful, sad, or even lonely. In our culture today there is a lot of talk about inclusion, and there are many, many ways to define it. If we really want to make the world a better place we need to start that movement at home. Talk with your kids about the girl sitting alone at lunch or the boy watching from the edge of the soccer field. A smile, a kind word, and an invitation to join the group - that is what will change the world! Ask your child what they think kindness and inclusion looks like.

As parents we model this every day in how we interact with friends, family, neighbors, and even strangers. Our kids are always watching. What are we showing them?

Finally, if you have the desire and means to help make the start of school easier for a kid who could use a little help, our many, many community organizations are a great place to dial in. For one, you could start with A Precious Child. Learn more about the organization and its programs on page 32 in this issue and at www.APreciousChild.org.

Wishing you a beautiful end of summer and a great start to the school year. Thanks for reading,

Tina

Tina Eichner, Editor & Publisher

Correction: Please note that in the July issue we included an incorrect website address for Lifewave X39. Lifewave Offers Innovative Wellness Products including the patented Age-Reversing X39 Phototherapy Patch, designed to help enhance well-being! To learn more visit: www.thisisitinfo.com and https://lifewave.com/BPLuna or email bernadetteln3@gmail.com.