This is the eleventh time I’ve written an April publisher’s note, and if I were to look back (which I never do; reading my own writing makes me cringe), I’m sure they have all started with talk of the joys of springtime and summer camp planning and the many events our family plans to attend around the area this month, referring readers to our jam-packed April calendar in the back of the magazine.
Then the spring of 2020 arrived. Here I sit, halfway through the week that is changing by the second, with school closings extending out further and further, and not just our city, but our entire nation and countries around the world, literally shutting down. I worry about not only my business, but so many other small businesses who depend on people in their stores, restaurants, salons, fitness facilities, and more. I know you’re worried, too, about your kids, your parents, your grandparents, your businesses, and at this point, possibly your very sanity. But we’re in this together, and now, more than ever, we need to lean on each other and find inspiration where we can.
To that end, we are forging on with another inspiring, albeit smaller, issue of RFM. After a week’s worth of chopping up the calendar, we finally made the decision to not print a calendar at all, and instead, remind you that we are constantly updating our online calendar at RFMonline.com with all of the latest cancellations, (and fingers crossed!) rescheduled and new events. We WILL get past this time in our lives that future generations will read about in history books, and life will get back to normal – sooner rather than later, we hope.
While you’re checking out the calendar on our website, you’ll also find over ten years’ worth of Kids Can-Do crafts, one from most every issue of the magazine since we started back in 2009 (click on Departments, then Kids Can-Do). These are fairly simple projects you can complete with your kids while you’re all home together, and most of the crafts can be made with items you already have at home. My boys and I had a great time making the marbled clay bowls from last month’s issue – you can check them out on our Instagram page!
Also under the Departments tab, you’ll find What’s Cooking, with links to all of the recipes we’ve printed in the magazine – and that’s a LOT of them! Cooking as a family is great for practicing math and reading skills, teamwork, and the art of compromise when no one can seem to agree on what to make!
Finally, you know what’s not canceled? Spring! Thank goodness this craziness is happening during the perfect time of year to get outside and enjoy nature (seasonal allergies aside – here’s to you, Zyrtec!). Head down to the James River, take bike rides together, go exploring in the woods, and plant a garden as a family to enjoy the blooms of spring.
All the best to you and your family!
