Living in the Deep South, we cannot rely on the weather to tell us when fall has arrived. As you know, it gets a little tricky. Like recently when we were teased with some cooler nights only to be jolted back to 90-degree afternoons. It is definitely not like the Lifetime movies with the leaves changing colors and crisp nights by a fire. Fall in the Deep South may include iced pumpkin spice lattes, or we may be trick-or-treating in parkas. We never know!
So, what DOES signal the start of fall to you? Is it the day pumpkin spice everything hits the shelves? Is it a specific date on the calendar? Or, are you like me and anxiously awaiting the first football game? I don’t know what it is, but something about hearing the band playing and the fans cheering screams “fall” to me.
I have a child who is a freshman in college now, and I am not sure who was more excited for her to attend her first football game, her or us. Because she is attending our alma mater, it is most certainly bringing back all kinds of memories and feelings for me. And yes, I am most definitely living a little vicariously through her right now. She has found her fit, and seeing her happy and thriving brings me so much joy.
Watching a child go through the college application process is both exciting and nerve-wracking. You have to balance guiding and letting go and, ultimately, let them make their own decision. The last thing you want is to have your child attend a school they feel is not a good fit for them. Helping your teen work through the finances of college is most certainly something parents in which parents should be involved. Whether your child is getting scholarships, financial aid, working their way through, or paying out of pocket, this is a massive investment in time and money and plays an enormous part when choosing a school. But, there are also many other factors to consider. Majors offered, class sizes, extra-curricular programs, social opportunities, distance, and more come into play when considering schools. So, where do you begin guiding them in their search with so many factors? Your first step may be reading this month’s feature, Countdown to College: Tips to Help Students Find Their Fit, by Janeen Lewis. Lewis has some excellent points to consider as you help your teen with their college search.
Working on this October issue is something else that gets me excited for fall. I get so pumped when I see the variety of fairs, festivals, pumpkin patches, and other events for families. We all love these fall festivities so much that we dedicate an entire magazine section to these experiences. Our Fall Festivities and Halloween Fun Guide is the perfect place to start planning your fall family fun. Don’t stop there though… make sure you flip over to the Family Calendar for even more local happenings.
You don’t have to wait for a football game or pumpkin patch to start celebrating the season with your family. You can do plenty of activities at home to kick off the fall. Katy M. Clark has some fun ideas in her feature, 8 Ideas for Fall Theme Walks to Explore Your Neighborhood, and I bet your kiddos can come up with even more ideas.
Whether finding helpful college tips or the perfect fall outing, we hope you enjoy this issue as much as we have enjoyed putting it together for you!
Author: Lynn Knighton
Lynn has called the Mobile Bay area home since 2006 with her husband Brad and their 3 daughters. Following the sale of her Abrakadoodle franchise, Lynn still wanted to serve families and help them thrive. Becoming the Publisher of Mobile Bay Parents was the perfect opportunity. Now she invests into family's lives each month by providing the with the area's #1 go-to resource for moms and dads.
