Summer is almost over—though it always lasts just a bit longer in Tucson—and with the kids still at home for a short time and the anticipation of a new year of school, it could not be a more perfect time to focus on parenting with presence.

Meredith Montgomery gives us insight into “Enlightened Parenting” on page 26—a great read for parents of many or few years. A passage I found particularly interesting says, “We lose sight that we’re not raising children, we’re raising adults.” The way that we parent for the first years of a child’s life will mold them for the rest of their lives—so isn’t it important that we do our very best and give as much attention as possible to the task at hand?

Two local authors also contribute their expertise to this topic, with helpful perspectives on how children deal with divorce (Ronnie Kaufman, page 29) and a reminder that our children are nothing if not copies of ourselves (Mark Pirtle, page 30).

As August is winding down, I’d like to take this time to thank our wonderful advertisers, many of whom have taken time away from their summer fun to continue to contribute their knowledge to Natural Awakenings. As the go-to resource for information on natural health, sustainable living, fitness, creative expression and personal growth in southern Arizona, we are so proud that our community only continues to grow and help our many readers.

Here’s to the parents who make a difference,

Holly Baker, publisher