July 2022
You Need to Try This Family Vacation It Educated and Entertained My Kids!
For spring break this year, my family took an unusual trip: We traveled back in time to the American Revolution! I’m only exaggerating a little. We didn’t exactly step into a time machine in 2022 and venture out into 1776. But we did travel through American history together. We spent a week in late April visiting Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. We saw the sites of Jamestown Colony and the Battle of Yorktown, then wrapped up our vacation with a stay in Washington, D.C. — it was fantastic! In the capital we visited the White House, took our kids to a half-dozen museums, and even stopped by the National Archives Building. It was amazing to see the original copies of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights up close. That was probably my favorite stop. On the way home, we squeezed in even more history by visiting Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia plantation, Monticello. It was surreal to tour his home, peek into his office and bedroom, and explore the expansive flower, vegetable, and fruit gardens. You might think this trip would be boring for three kids under 10 years old, but they actually loved every minute of it. My son Rami is a little history buff (he’s even obsessed with the musical “Hamilton” to the point that he has a Hamilton pillow) but I think Hanna had just as much fun. She’s not as into history as her brother, but she loves art and fashion, so we made sure she got to experience those things. She was in awe of the dresses and other clothing we saw in museums from the 1700s, loved looking at the flowers in Jefferson’s garden, and was thrilled to learn to write with a quill pen as part of the immersive kids’ activities.
Meanwhile, Rami was open-mouthed in admiration of everything we saw. Colonial Williamsburg has so many activities for kids, including everything from bracelet-making and bookbinding to ghost tours. Rami loved the live Revolutionary War reenactments, and he and his sister were both floored when the actors playing Jefferson and Washington came over to speak to them personally. I think even baby Amir was in awe of the Founding Fathers! If you’re looking for a special way to spend Fourth of July weekend with your kids, I highly recommend this type of history-themed vacation. It’s entertaining, educational, and there truly is something for everyone if you plan your days right. Many of these historic landmarks are big during the Fourth — Colonial Williamsburg, for example, hosts “a full day of patriotic festivities, including public readings of the Declaration of Independence, musical performances, and a dazzling fireworks display to cap the evening” — but they’re fascinating places to visit any time of year. Don’t knock time traveling through history until you try it. It might be just the bonding experience your family needs right now. I know it brought us closer! “You might think this trip would be boring for three kids under 10 years old, but they actually loved every minute of it.”
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Say Goodbye to Custody and Divorce Worries
2 VIRTUAL EVENTS TO HELP YOU THROUGH
HAPPILY EVER AFTER DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUP MEETING (VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP) When: Thursday, July 14, at 6:30 p.m. Register: AtlantaDivorceLawGroup.com/happily-ever-after-divorce-support-group After you file for divorce, you might feel yourself growing distant from your married friends. They may not understand the hopelessness you feel or the unanswered questions bouncing around in your head. This is tough to reconcile with, but the good news is there are people who know what you’re going through — and you can find them at our Happily Ever After Divorce Support Group.
Our complimentary divorce support groups and seminars are available online! Register for these upcoming events to gain knowledge, resources, and emotional support that will help you feel empowered while you go through major life changes. CHILD CUSTODY BOOTCAMP (COMPLIMENTARY WEBINAR) When: Tuesday, July 5, at 6:30 p.m. Register: AtlantaDivorceLawGroup.com/webinars/child-custody-bootcamp There’s a reason staying married “for the kids” is a popular trope in pop culture — dividing child custody is one of the scariest parts of divorce! If you’re facing it right now, you might be wondering things like: How do I protect my kids from this conflict with my ex-spouse? How can I get as much custody as possible? What’s a “normal” custody schedule, and what are my options? Take a deep breath. Our team will go over the answers to all of these questions and more in our upcoming Child Custody Bootcamp webinar! The free, online event is a great resource for everything related to custody. Sign up today to reduce your custody-related stress.
This support group for people who are divorced or are going through the process meets virtually once a month. It’s led by Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Kathleen Shack, the
founder and CEO of Family Solutions Counseling, LLC. Kathleen has been guiding families through the divorce process for years, and she’ll help you and your peers explore your feelings, grow, and move on. To register for this month’s free event, follow the link listed on this page!
Here at ADLG, we’re not letting COVID-19 slow us down. Sign up for these virtual events to get the information and support you need without leaving home.
AMERICA ON THE SILVER SCREEN 5 Patriotic Movies the Family Will Love
‘NATIONAL TREASURE’ You may be surprised to learn that “National Treasure” is an action-packed movie with a PG rating! Loaded with history, the movie follows a passionate historian and a team
“You’re killin’ me, Smalls!” is probably what you will say to your kiddo when they say they haven’t watched “The Sandlot.” You may even discover they haven’t seen many America-themed classics! So, we have just the lineup for your next family movie night. In the spirit of Independence Day, check out these family- friendly American movie favorites. ‘THE SANDLOT’ An obvious choice but a good one, “The Sandlot” follows a group of neighborhood kids in the 1960s who gather at the local baseball diamond to play ball. It chronicles the feeling of summertime freedom, the gut-wrenching fear of local legends, the awkwardness of first crushes, and the true meaning of friendship. Plus, that Fourth of July scene will have the family in stitches!
of unlikely heroes as they search for a hidden treasure, and the location has been written on the back of the Declaration of Independence. (Be sure to check out the sequel, too, and the third movie, which is slated for a 2022 release.) ‘AN AMERICAN TAIL’ Follow Fievel the Russian mouse as he immigrates to America with his family in 1885. With action and anxiety-inducing antics, “An American Tail” provides younger children with history and a glimpse at the beauty of the American Dream. Plus, it’s nostalgia fodder for their parents, who likely grew up with Fievel and his family! ‘A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN’ Packed with Hollywood stars, “A League of Their Own” is inspired by the All- American Girls Professional Baseball League. Created in the depths of World War II, the league ran for 12 seasons. In the movie, two sisters must find a way to overcome their personal differences to make their baseball league a standout sport. (If you enjoy the movie, be sure to watch Amazon’s TV series!) ‘MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON’ This is one black-and-white film your politically active teens may enjoy. When Jefferson Smith becomes a U.S. senator, he’s taken under the wing of Senator John Paine, but Smith soon learns Paine has more nefarious ambitions. In the film, your family will see Congress in action — and a little ribbing, too!
Check your local library or favorite streaming service to watch these titles.
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DON’T MISS THESE 3 FESTIVALS TRAVELING FOR THE FOOD?
According to AAA, millions of Americans take “culinary-focused vacations” every year. We’ll travel to Philadelphia for cheesesteaks, Texas for barbecue, Louisiana for gumbo … you get the idea. Our culture loves to eat! If you’re a traveling foodie, you are in luck: Add these three summer festivals to your must-visit list for this summer or future food-finding trips.
chicken, enjoy whole fish, and drink icies straight from hollowed-out pineapples. Six celebrity chefs will make appearances this year to compete in food contests and show off their Jamaican roots and/or dishes. When attendees aren’t eating, they can relax at a musical or cultural performance.
PIEROGI FEST (INDIANA) July 29–31; PierogiFest.net
KEY WEST LOBSTERFEST (FLORIDA) Aug. 11–14, KeyWestLobsterfest.com
The Polish pierogi is a humble food: mashed potatoes and cheese wrapped in soft dough and either fried, baked, or grilled to perfection. But simplicity should be celebrated! In Whiting, Indiana, Pierogi Fest is a three-day affair that brings in more than 300,000 people for events like a Polka Parade, a pierogi toss, and, of course, pierogies stuffed with everything from cheese to alligator meat. Of course, there’s also a beer garden, because as the organizers put it, “Beer and pierogies go together as well as peanut butter and jelly.”
This year is the 25th annual Key West Lobsterfest! Seafood lovers come from all corners to enjoy the crustacean-crazed festival, which includes a cinematic lobster boil at sunset, a lobsterfest pool
party, a pub crawl, and an all-you-can-eat-and-drink lobster brunch. Head to the website to learn more and score delicious lobster recipes — even if you can’t attend! Want more food festival intel? We’ve got you. Visit Insider.com and search “food and drink festivals” for a list of 28 top food attractions, ranked by Yelp reviews.
GRACE JAMAICAN JERK FESTIVAL (NEW YORK) July 31; JerkFestivalNY.com
Yes, New York City is home to fantastic pizza and bagels, but it’s also a Caribbean food hub! At this festival, visitors can stuff themselves with jerk
CONCIERGE PARTNER’S CORNER Rusty Clifton with Fairway Insurance Advisors
What Our Clients Are Saying!
After divorce, a thousand things you may never have thought about suddenly become your responsibility. Your ex used to pay the power bill — what’s that login again? Your ex used to drive the kids to their play dates — where can you find little Jessica’s address? You never needed to manage your own life insurance because you were covered on your ex’s policy — where do you start? Our team can’t help with those first two problems, but we do know someone who’s an expert in the latter: Agent Rusty Clifton, vice president of Fairway Insurance Advisors. Rusty and Chrystal, his wife, founded Fairway Insurance Advisors in 2011. For the last 11 years, they’ve been helping people like you get the personal and business insurance they need at an affordable price.
Fairway can set you up with all of the insurance policies necessary to protect you and your family, including home, condo, or renters insurance; auto, watercraft, and motorcycle insurance; life insurance, flood insurance, pet insurance, and more. If you’re an entrepreneur, you can also work with them to insure your business and bring all of your policies under one roof. Rusty is a Georgian through and through, and he’s a pleasure to work with. To get insurance help today, call his direct line: 678-467-1407.
“The Atlanta Divorce Law Group is a dedicated group of professionals and top attorneys who are highly knowledgeable regarding securing the best possible outcomes for their clients. Even the website has a wealth of information to assist any woman through the daunting and emotional process of divorce. Without hesitation I have referred several friends to Atlanta Divorce Law Group as a trusted advocate and advisor to help navigate the waters of divorce.” –Teona D. “It was a pleasure working with Atlanta Divorce Law Group on an interjurisdictional matrimonial matter. Their lawyers are intelligent, strategic, and attentive to detail, and their support staff is helpful and prompt. I highly recommend this firm for your family law needs.” –Alexandra H.
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Protect Your Garden From Heat WITH HELP FROM YOUR KIDS
Not all gardening tasks are suitable for the entire family. Fertilizers can be dangerous, and you definitely don’t want a young child wielding sharp tools. But there’s one gardening project you and the kids can tackle together: protecting your plants from the heat. Last June, heat waves scorched the country, sending temperatures in Portland, Oregon, of all places to 110 degrees F. This is uncomfortable at best, and at worst a massive heat wave can ruin an entire spring’s worth of effort in the garden. To avoid that, rope your kids into helping you with easy heat solutions like these: 1. Build shade covers — Shade helps people survive the heat, and it’s great for plants too! You can overlay greenery with umbrellas, canopies, “garden fabric,” or even bed sheets draped over your plants. If you have spare lumber or PVC pipe, build a trellis to hold up your shade cover. YouTube has plenty of tutorials for this — just search “Garden Shade DIY.” 2. Spread organic mulch — Adding 2–4 inches of light-colored mulch around your trees, shrubs, and other plants will protect the soil from the sun and keep it damp and cool. 3. Swap out terra cotta pots — Unsealed terra cotta pots are terrible at retaining moisture. If you water a plant in terra cotta, it won’t be long before that water evaporates. To avoid this, enlist the kids to repot your plants in
oversized, light-colored plastic nursery pots. (Some nurseries give these away for free!) 4. Water, water, water — Your garden will dry out twice as fast during extreme heat, so take shifts as a family checking
the soil and watering when needed. Don’t rely on your sprinkler system or usual watering schedule.
These tips should help protect your delicate fruit and vegetable plants. Next year, get a head start by asking your local nursery to help you choose drought and heat- tolerant species for your region and
beefing up your soil with organic matter. According to Farmers’ Almanac, soil rich with 5%–9% organic matter (think compost, manure, and decomposing leaves) retains more water, saving you trips with the hose.
Think Ahead to Back to School And Start Co-Parenting Now!
Did you know that July is Purposeful Parenting Month? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services chose this month because kids are typically out of school and can spend more time with their families. It’s a great reminder to slow down and think before making decisions like sending your child to sleep-away camp or enrolling them in a new sport.
After divorce, purposeful parenting — and specifically purposeful co-parenting — are more important than ever. If you share custody with your ex-spouse, you need to have an open line of communication and work together to navigate the chaos of summer vacations, Fourth of July, and more. In fact, we’d recommend that you start communicating now on a big milestone coming up for your kids: back-to-school season. Here are four things you can start talking about today so they don’t sneak up on you in August. 1. A structured schedule: This is vital for things like school pickup/dropoff and managing after-school activities. A written schedule will help you and your co-parent keep track of your kids’ plans, and ensure everyone knows where they’re expected to be and when to be there. 2. Homework help: Try to make sure you and your ex are both supporting your child when they need help with their schoolwork at your house. If you’re
great at math and your ex rocks at English, you could also consider splitting help by subject.
3. School activities: As much as possible, try to attend your child’s activities and events (like orientation and parent-teacher conferences) together. Presenting a united front is important for your child’s growth and development. (If you and your co-parent have a high-conflict relationship or the court has issued a no-contact order, this may not be possible, and that’s okay. Just do your best!) 4. Separate backpacks: Chat with your ex about the possibility of having two backpacks for each of your children — one for each house — that you, as parents, are responsible for. This will shift the stress of dragging schoolwork from house to house off of your children and on to you.
Happy Purposeful Parenting Month, and good luck!
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