Hey Palmetto Parents!

I hope you are having a great first full week of school. Our youngest starts preschool tomorrow and I am so excited for him to be with all his little friends. We also start soccer this weekend and it’s my daughters first practice with ‘coach mom’. It will be an interesting season!

If you are like our family and got into soccer from this summer’s World Cup, this fall is a perfect chance for you to support our local minor league team. The Charleston Battery is a great place for you to spend an evening with the family.

There are two great events this weekend which are the Faith and Family Night at the Joe and a Crab Feast that has been making its way all over the east coast. Should be a cracking time!

Speaking of sea food, I tried Fleet Landing for the first time and was offended that I didn’t come sooner. More details on what makes this spot so special below.

Finally, I have a few scheduling tips for the first few weeks transitioning from summer into the school year. Take a look!

Have the best week and enjoy this week’s newsletter!

If your kids are anything like ours, soccer season is officially one of the most exciting parts of fall! We’re so excited to get our kids back on the field this year, and watching the Charleston Battery is such a fun way to get them even more excited about the sport. The Battery plays at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, and the setting makes for such a fun family outing, especially once those cooler fall evenings start rolling in.

This year feels extra exciting with the 2026 World Cup having happened right here in North America, and our kids have been soaking up all the soccer inspiration. There is something so fun about watching professional players up close and then watching your own kids run around the field pretending they’re the next World Cup star. The Battery has also leaned into inspiring young players through its youth programs, making a professional match a great way for kids to see the sport at another level.

A Battery game is also one of those activities that works for the whole family. You get an energetic atmosphere, food and drinks, soccer that keeps moving, and a beautiful Lowcountry backdrop at Patriots Point. It feels like a big event without being overwhelming, and you don’t have to be a huge soccer fan to have fun. Pack a light jacket, grab some dinner, let the kids cheer their hearts out and enjoy one of those perfect Charleston fall evenings.

And if you’re looking for a game to put on the calendar, the Battery has several home matches throughout the fall, including Back to School Night on August 22, followed by home games in September and October. Because cooler weather, soccer and tired kids who have run around for 90 minutes sounds like a pretty great combination to us!

If you have yet to take the family to a River Dogs game this summer, now is your chance! Head to Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park on this Saturday, August 22 for Faith & Family Night with the Charleston RiverDogs, Charleston Southern University, and Heaven FM. The RiverDogs take on the Hill City Howlers at 6:05 pm, with gates opening at 5pm, giving families plenty of time to grab food, find their seats, and enjoy the pregame festivities.

The evening will include a pregame prayer led by alumnus Chris Singleton, the national anthem performed by student Lindy Turner, and a ceremonial first pitch by Corey Addy. The first 500 fans will also receive a special RiverDogs and Charleston Southern co branded picnic blanket, so arriving early is a great idea!

After the final out, stick around for a live concert on the field to wrap up the night. Discounted tickets are available through group ticket blocks, making this a great option for families looking for an affordable Saturday night activity with baseball, music, and a little Lowcountry fun!

Calling all crab lovers! The Southeast Crab Feast is coming to Charleston this Saturday, August 22, bringing a true Lowcountry coastal tradition to life with an outdoor seafood feast the whole family can enjoy. The feast will be at Wannamaker Park from 1-4pm. Guests will enjoy all you can eat fresh blue crabs, one side of fish and chips, music, and a fun, family friendly atmosphere.

If your kids aren’t into seafood, they can still have a great time enjoying the fresh air, listening to the music, and burning off some energy while you dig into the crabs. Just make sure to bring plenty of wipes or a few pairs of gloves because things are bound to get a little messy!

Tickets are limited, and this event has historically sold out. Families are encouraged to grab their tickets early. Bring your own dipping sauces, special seasonings, or crab mallet, but large coolers, beverages, and large bags are not permitted. Soda and bottled water will be available for purchase, and all attendees must have a ticket.

If your family loves seafood, this is one to add to the summer calendar. Come hungry, get your hands messy, enjoy a taste of Lowcountry tradition, and leave with full bellies and hopefully some tired kids!

If you haven’t been to Fleet Landing you are probably not from Charleston, and what are you waiting for?! This classic Charleston staple needs to be put on your list. Located right on the Charleston Harbor, it’s has the kind of waterfront setting that makes you want to sit outside, order a drink, and pretend you don’t have approximately 47 things waiting for you at home. If you can snag an outdoor table, do it. The harbor breeze is perfect, and after dinner, you can walk over to the Pineapple Fountain and soak up all the Charleston date night vibes. Or let your kids run wild in the fountains, I have no judgment!

I recently went for a girls’ night, and we had so much fun. We didn’t have a reservation, so we ended up waiting until 8:45pm for a table, which is essentially midnight in parent years. But honestly? We had such a good time chatting that it was totally worth the wait.

The food was amazing, and I love that Fleet Landing feels nice without being overly fancy or stuffy. You can dress up, but you can also show up feeling a little more casual and still fit right in. They have a raw oyster bar, plenty of seafood, and some seriously good appetizers. We started with the fried green tomatoes and crab cake bruschetta with a sweet and savory sauce, and both were a huge hit. We also tried the seasonal watermelon salad topped with a creamy whipped cheese, which was light and refreshing. For dinner, we all ordered the catch of the day, and it was exactly the kind of seafood I love. It felt special and fresh without being crazy expensive upscale seafood, but it also wasn’t your typical fried fish situation. Basically, it was the seafood sweet spot.

They also have plenty of beer and wine options and some fun drinks, plus longtime favorites like the flank steak salad and their popular seafood pasta. And please save room for the lemon pound cake because apparently we parents are very good at finding room for dessert even when we swear we’re full. My neighbor has been taking her family to Fleet Landing and told me she has had an A plus experience every single time. It’s one of her favorite Charleston restaurants, and she especially loves that she can enjoy it while navigating her gluten free allergies.

To showcase their skills, Fleet Landing even has a cookbook with more than 60 fan favorite recipes from the restaurant’s first two decades, along with stories and photos about its history.

Fleet Landing is located at 186 Concord Street, just a short walk from Waterfront Park and the City Market. They serve lunch daily from 11am to 3:30pm and dinner from 5pm to 10pm, with the main bar and raw bar open during the transition for drinks and snacks. There’s a parking garage across the street and some street parking nearby. And seriously, make the reservation. Especially if you’re going on a weekend. We learned our lesson the hard way, but thankfully an 8:45 dinner with girlfriends was worth letting my husband handle bedtime at home.

If you’re looking for a Charleston restaurant that gives you great food, beautiful views, a relaxed atmosphere, and a little bit of that Lowcountry magic, Fleet Landing is absolutely worth checking out.

Even though we’re doing school a little differently this year, I’ve been reminded that there is something really refreshing about starting a fresh schedule. The first week can feel chaotic as everyone learns new routines, teachers, drop off times and expectations, but it’s also a great opportunity to reset how your family handles the everyday stuff. If you tend to be the family organizer, it is okay to be overwhelmed, but you don’t have to stay there!

One thing that has worked really well for us is making sure the kids know exactly what they are responsible for the night before. Write it down on a simple chart! For some reason, putting something on a chart makes my kids about 73% more motivated to actually do it. Keep it simple and only focus on four things. Maybe it’s pack your backpack, put your shoes by the door, pick out your clothes and pack your lunch. Once those four things become automatic, you can add something else. You don’t need a 15 step routine for a second grader who can barely remember where he put his shoes.

And ask for help! The morning routine does not have to fall entirely on one parent. Talk with your partner the night before and be specific. “Can you handle breakfast tomorrow?” “Can you make sure backpacks are in the car?” “Can you get the kids dressed while I pack lunches?” Giving someone a specific job is so much more helpful than silently hoping they notice what needs to be done. And let your kids help, too. Last year, my son would come home and unpack his lunchbox while packing it back up for the next morning. It became his responsibility, and I loved that it gave him a little ownership over something that affected his next day. He knew what he had packed, what he had eaten and what he needed for tomorrow, which made him feel more prepared and in control.

Finally, remember that you are not trying to create the perfect family routine overnight. Pick four things to work on, get everyone used to those, and then build from there. Your kids are learning a new rhythm just like you are. Some mornings will be smooth, and other mornings someone will be crying because their sock “feels weird” five minutes before you need to leave. That’s parenting. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s creating a routine that makes your family feel a little more prepared, a little more independent and hopefully a whole lot less frantic.

Have the best week!

Love, Jenna