Happy 2026, Summerville!

After a full and festive holiday season, things are beginning to settle down around Summerville. But one unexpected bit of excitement this week? A wallaby was spotted hopping through a local backyard! The friendly chase—led by Summerville police—ended with the wallaby making a splash into a backyard pool before being safely rescued. He’s now back in the care of a local veterinarian who looks after him and his kangaroo companion.

We hope your year is off to a great start, whether you're jumping into new goals or simply easing back into routine and catching your breath. The sunshine and mild weather has been amazing, and we hope you're getting to enjoy it.

In our last newsletter, we recapped the highlights of 2025, and then took a little break—thanks to the infamous flu making its way through our house and delaying our holiday plans. If your season didn’t go quite as planned either, we get it. And if it did include good health and sweet memories, we’re so glad for you. We’re finally on the mend (though I slept a full 12 hours the other night, so clearly still recovering!), and holding out hope for a healthier January ahead.

We’re excited for all that’s to come this year—for Summerville, for Palmetto Parents, and for this growing community we’re so grateful to be part of. Here’s to a new year filled with connection, support, and small moments that matter.

Do you love receiving Palmetto Parents every week? For only $5/month (less than a cup of coffee!) you can become a Palmetto Parents Supporter, which is a practical way you can support us and help keep this labor of love free forever.

If you're looking for a fun, hands-on, and totally free activity to do with your kids, both our local Lowe’s and Home Depot stores have monthly workshops for kids! Read below to get the full details on times, locations, and registration links as well as a preview of the projects for the year.

Lowe’s Kids Club Workshops are typically held on the third Saturday of each month between 10am-1pm and last about 30–45 minutes, depending on your child’s age and the complexity of the project. These DIY workshops are designed for kids ages 4–11 to explore creativity, learn basic building skills, and spend quality time with you in the process. Each child builds a themed item with your help, then gets to take it home! Think birdhouses, mini lawn mowers, terrariums, and even Paw Patrol crafts.

To attend, pre-registration is required at Lowes.com/KidsClub. Spots fill up fast, so early sign-up is recommended. You can typically sign up for a workshop about a month in advance. Once registered, just show up between 10am-1pm on workshop day.

Kids can also earn physical badges at each event as part of the Builder Recognition program, working toward fun rewards like a free tool bag after collecting 12 badges. (Digital badges are available too, but won’t count toward this prize until 2027.)

Here’s a sneak peak of the 2026 Workshop Schedule:

Home Depot’s Kids Workshops are held on the first Saturday of each month between 9am-12pm and are designed for kids ages 5-12. These in-store events offer kids a chance to build and decorate a themed craft project—and take it home for free. All you have to do is register in advance to reserve a kit, then drop by your local Home Depot anytime between 9am-12pm. Your child can build their project right there at a kid-sized workstation, and the experience includes a free kit, apron, pin, and certificate.

Workshops tend to be popular, and while some locations may offer leftover kits to walk-ins later in the morning, your best bet is to register early and arrive closer to 9am. Can’t make it or missed a kit? You can also buy past kits online for just $4.98 with free store pickup. Home Depot also offers a large selection of videos that guide you through projects at home if you’d prefer to do the projects on your own time.

Here’s a sneak peek at the 2026 Workshop Schedule:

Event: Wednesday, January 14 at 9:00 AM | Wassamassaw Park

Calling all Summerville moms! There’s a brand new community in town just for you—and you're invited to the Grand Opening of FIT4MOM Summerville on Wednesday, January 14 at 9:00am at Wassamassaw Park.

FIT4MOM is a nationally loved fitness and wellness program created specifically for moms at every stage of motherhood—from pregnancy to postpartum and beyond. Whether you’re brand new to working out or already have your routine, FIT4MOM offers a supportive space to move, connect, and grow—while your kids are right alongside you.

🎉 The grand opening event will kick off with a FREE Stroller Strides workout, a total-body conditioning class that incorporates cardio, strength, and core training—all while your little one stays entertained in the stroller. This class is great for moms with babies up to six years old. After the workout, stick around for:

Whether you're looking to meet other moms, get back into fitness, or just enjoy a morning outside with your little one, this is the perfect way to start. Sign up for the FREE event here.

You can learn more about FIT4MOM and upcoming class schedules at fit4mom.com/location/summerville.

There’s a new spot in Summerville serving up bold flavors and good vibes—Global Pizza, which officially opened on December 4th inside Godwin’s Beer Hall. This family-owned food vendor is brand new to Summerville and is already making a delicious impression.

Whether you’re heading out for a casual date night, meeting up with friends, or bringing the kids along for a laid-back meal, this new pairing of craft beer and creative pizza hits the spot.

Global Pizza’s menu lives up to its name, offering an international twist on traditional favorites. You’ll find classic options like pepperoni and margherita, alongside inventive pies like:

And if pizza’s not your thing (or not your kids’ thing), there’s more to love:

Here’s when to go:
Dinner: Tuesday–Saturday | 4-9pm
Lunch: Friday & Saturday | Starting at 11am

We recently visited Godwin’s for a retirement party and were pleasantly surprised by how much we loved the unique, cozy vibe. With the addition of Global Pizza, it’s even better. Our kids had a blast playing the table games while we relaxed with food and drinks. While it absolutely works as a fun date night spot, it’s family-friendly too—a rare balance that we really appreciated.

The bartenders were welcoming, the service was great, and it felt like one of those places you’ll want to keep coming back to. Global Pizza brings something new and flavorful to Summerville, and paired with the atmosphere at Godwin’s Beer Hall, it’s a combo worth checking out.

We’re excited to see this local favorite grow—and we’ll definitely be back soon!

There’s nothing quite like parenting through sickness—whether it's your child’s third cold this winter, a stomach bug that sweeps through the whole house, or the flu that takes everyone (including you) down for the count.

These are the days that don’t make it into the highlight reels. They’re slow, messy, and often feel endless. You cancel plans. You lose sleep. You go into full-on survival mode—measuring Tylenol doses at 2am, washing the same set of sheets for the third time, juggling work while managing fevers and clingy kids. And if you’re sick too? It’s a whole different level of hard.

But here’s the truth we’re learning (and relearning): loving our kids through sickness is still parenting at its fullest. It may not look like crafts, outings, or meaningful conversations—but it is deeply meaningful. The cuddles on the couch, the hand on the forehead, the whispered, “It’s okay, I’m here”—these are the moments that speak love loudest.

And it’s okay if the routines fall apart. If the screen time stretches. If the meals are whatever you can throw together. Grace lives here, too.

So to the parent holding it all together (or barely holding on)—you’re doing enough. These days will pass. And your steady presence, even in your exhaustion, is the comfort your child will remember. Here's to healing, to deep rest when you can find it, and to knowing you're not alone in the sick-day trenches.

Love,

The Berks 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦