Just like that, summer has wrapped up, the kids are back in school, and the days and nights are turning cooler.
My nest is empty for the first time ever, but with my mom living with us, a friend described it as a haven now, which I love and am embracing. It’s a season of change, for sure.
In this issue, we’re introducing you to four women who know a thing or two about change. Christine and I loved finding just the right mix of career switchers to profile for our cover story, and I know you’re going to love learning more about each of their journeys.
Reading about them took me right back to my own career switch 17 years ago (happy anniversary to RFM!). I could never have predicted that I’d be a business owner one day, let alone a magazine publisher. No one goes to college with the dream of starting a magazine, at least I sure didn’t. In fact, I never really knew what I wanted to do when I grew up — even after I was grown (some days I say I still don’t know!).
There seems to be so much pressure on kids these days to figure it all out — in middle school even, so they can apply to the right specialty center for high school. Even now, I barely know what an engineer does — how does a 13-year-old know?! I don’t know too many people who are doing what they thought they’d be doing or what they majored in, so I tell kids not to be too worried if they don’t have it all figured out just yet. It almost always has a way of working out.
Also in this issue, we’re taking you to Maymont’s newly renovated Virginia Wildlife Trail. I had the opportunity to tour the trail with our writer, Joan Tupponce, and the amazing Krista Weatherford, Maymont’s director of programming and curator of natural resources. Krista told us so many fun facts that you’ll read about in our article, and if you haven’t visited it yet, be sure to put it on your fall bucket list.
For our travel feature, I didn’t see this one coming, but as it turns out, Miami is a fabulous place for families to visit. Longtime RFM writer Brandy Centolanza takes us from one end of the city to the other, hitting all of her favorite spots along the way. And lucky me, I have a niece there, so I have even more reason to plan a family vacay to Miami!
This is our official annual education issue, so be on the lookout for back-to-school tips to help you get your home organized, quick and healthy recipes for busy weeknights, ways to save for education expenses, and a solid plan to fight those school germs. Plus, we’re introducing you to our friends over at Sportable in our non-profit spotlight and telling you how you can help them out this fall and beyond.
Everyone’s favorite community calendar is packed full of things to do to usher in fall in RVA, plus we’re giving you a rundown of private school open houses and admissions events at the front of the calendar.
Thanks for picking up this issue — enjoy it and enjoy all that an RVA fall has to offer!
Best wishes,
Margaret Thompson, Founder & Publisher
