Good morning!

Our family is back from our adventures abroad—and while the trip was incredible, it feels good to be home. One of our first stops was Biscuit Belly for to-go breakfast, where we were greeted with a warm hug from our favorite employee. It was such a simple moment, but it reminded us why we love living here.

Yes, Summerville has its challenges (we’re all thinking traffic), but there’s a reason it keeps showing up on lists of the most desirable places to live. After such a great trip we’re happy to come home to a place we love.

If you’re starting to plan for the fall, Summerville Parks and Recreation’s fall sports registration is live! Spots are filling up fast so register soon. Available sports include t-ball, baseball, flag football, soccer, and pickleball. The registration deadline is July 22nd.

The school year will be here before we know it! For the next two weeks we will be featuring Summerville teachers’ wish lists if you’d like to support a local teacher by purchasing supplies for their classroom. If you’re a teacher that would like a chance to be featured on this list, add your information here.

As someone who’s had three lower back surgeries and deals with chronic back and neck pain, I (Daniel) don’t take spine care lightly. Last December, after a neck injury from running, I was this close to having another surgery. But before going down that road, I started seeing Dr. Stoller at Active Care Family Chiropractic. They’re right in the middle of Summerville in Hutchinson Square.

Through regular adjustments, cupping, and personalized therapy, I avoided surgery completely—and now I’m back to running and staying active again. I can’t tell you how relieving it is to not have to get surgery anymore and to be back to regular exercise.

They’ve helped me so much that even my wife has started going.

If you’ve got little kids at home, you know how tough all the bending, lifting, and carrying can be on your body. Dr. Stoller has made a real difference for both of us.

Active Care Family Chiropractic offers a number of services, including:

If you’re dealing with pain or just want to feel better in your day-to-day life, I genuinely recommend giving them a try. Mention Palmetto Parents when you book your first visit and you’ll get 50% off—this includes the exam, x-rays, and first treatment.

🗓️ Schedule an appointment today by calling (843) 871-2472 and take care of yourself, because you’re worth it.

Due to federal regulations, they cannot offer free or discounted services to Medicare or Medicaid patients.

This weekend we took a little adventure downtown to the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History at the College of Charleston, and it was a hit with the kids! We found easy street parking just a block away and headed into the exhibit, which had wide, empty hallways perfect for little legs to run around in. There were plenty of dinosaurs to see up close, and the best part—kids could dig for their very own fossils and take them home!

Afterward, we strolled over to the Charleston Farmers Market in Marion Square and had a picnic in the park. The whole outing was super doable with kids: clean restrooms at the museum, only had to park once, and we got a mix of indoor fun and outdoor sunshine. Highly recommend for a simple, memorable family day!

Entry to the museum is free and it is open six days a week (closed on Wednesdays) from 11am-4pm.

-Jenna

If you’ve been here a while, you already know how much we love storytime at Main Street Reads—especially when it’s led by the amazing Auntie Leslie. Every other week, she brings her warmth, creativity, and thoughtful planning to make each gathering feel special. There’s always a fun theme, a sweet surprise for the kids, and a story that sticks. Here’s what’s planned for July:

Who says you have to wait until December for a little holiday magic? Summerville is bringing out the jingle bells early with a festive Christmas in July celebration—and there’s something for everyone.

🎅 Third Thursday: Christmas in July
On Thursday, July 17 from 5:30-8:30pm, head to Hutchinson Square for an evening of holiday cheer—summer style! This month’s Third Thursday theme is all about bringing a little yuletide joy to the heat of July.

Here’s what to expect beyond the normal food trucks and vendors:

🛍️ Sidewalk Sale: July 17–19
While you’re downtown, take advantage of the Christmas in July Sidewalk Sale hosted by Summerville Dream. Local shops will be offering deals and festive cheer all weekend long—perfect for getting a head start on holiday shopping while supporting small businesses.

🎁 Christmas Farmers Market: Saturday, July 19 | 8am-1pm
The celebration continues Saturday morning with a special holiday-themed Farmers Market. Grab your summer veggies while browsing for handmade gifts and seasonal goodies. It’s the perfect way to celebrate being halfway to the holidays—with your shopping bag in one hand and a tomato in the other!

Save the dates, wear your best Santa hat and sandals combo, and bring the whole family out to celebrate Christmas in July.

If you're near Ladson, Jonny’s Red Tacos is a great little spot for a quick and tasty family meal. It’s a small place with fun, modern touches where you order at the counter—perfect when you’ve got hungry kids who don’t love to wait. The tacos are incredible, especially anything from the birria side of the menu (don’t skip the dipping sauce!).

There aren’t official kids' meals, so you’ll have to get a little creative. We recommend grabbing a quesadilla to split between little ones and adding a side of rice, beans, or even French fries for picky eaters. There are also some lighter bowl options if you’re looking for something a bit healthier. We’d say skip the burgers—they didn’t get rave reviews from our crew—but overall, it was a fast, flavorful stop we’d definitely do again.

-Jenna

📍Location: 9616 Highway 78 Suite 13 Ladson, SC
🕒 Hours: Sunday-Thurday 11am-9pm, Friday & Saturday 11am-10pm

After traveling abroad (read: 10 hour flights with a three and one year old), I kept thinking of this, one of my favorite parenting poems, and laughing to myself. Because truly, what else could describe the sheer creativity required to parent?

How do you keep a baby from throwing a tantrum on a plane? You improvise. You turn boarding passes into puppets, earbuds into snakes, and maybe sacrifice a granola bar just so they can crumble it in peace.

How do you convince a preschooler to try authentic Italian lasagna that looks nothing like what he’s used to? You deconstruct it. Break it down into noodle squares and cheese triangles. Make a game out of something that wasn’t even on your radar five minutes ago.

And the truth is—this doesn’t end with toddlerhood. Getting a tween to be mindful? A teenager to open up? It’s all creative work. Emotional art-making. Problem-solving on your feet. Parenting isn’t just a job—it’s a series of unscripted performances, design challenges, and daily masterpieces.

So if you’re feeling drained or uninspired in other areas of life, remind yourself: you’re already doing deeply creative work. Every day. Every snack negotiation, every meltdown defused, every whispered bedtime story.

You’re not just getting through the day. You’re painting the Sistine Chapel.

Cheers to you, parent-artist. Keep going.

-Courtney

Love,

The Berks 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦