Quickening

September 18, 2025

This coming Monday marks the official turn from summer to fall—the equinox, when day and night balance each other in near-perfect symmetry across the globe. But don’t blink: This is also the time of year when daylight shifts fastest, often by more than a minute each day. One evening it’s light at 7:45pm... and the next, you’re wondering how it got dark before dinner.

There's a quickening that happens in families around this time, too. The back-to-school chaos has settled. Routines are smoother, shoes are paired up, sleep schedules have smoothed out. With that comes the sense that we have a little more space in our lives, and we start looking around for what else there is to do.

Local organizations and businesses have been waiting for that moment. Fall festivals are everywhere right now—many are free, and most are packed with community booths that offer a glimpse into how your town works. The people behind those tables love when kids ask, “Can you tell us what you do here?” It’s an instant way to show children that the world runs on real people doing real things—and that they can, too.

Nature is doing stuff as well, and it’s a perfect time to notice the changes in the light and the colors and the air around us day to day. The weather is cooler but not yet cold. A walk in the woods is pleasant rather than punishing. Kids see beyond their own needs better when they’re not busy being uncomfortable, so pair a little hike with a little snack and everyone is happy.

Fall offers us the perfect rhythm: to rejoin the community, to get curious about the natural world, and to help our kids see that they’re part of it all. So much of it is free; you just need to step into the momentum. Let the light lead you.

—Debra Ross, publisher

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