Almost five years ago, I packed up my two small children and my Pennsylvania home of a decade, and trekked up to start a new life in Peterborough.

A writer and educator originally from New Jersey, never having lived in New England, I felt like a fish out of water, and I knew not a soul in town. Like any major transition, this experience was wrought with excitement but also anxiety, fear and grief. Now, five years later, I have a wonderful community of neighbors, coworkers and friends. My children and I feel at home and at peace.

The joyful work I do at The River Center is inspired and informed by my own family’s journey, but achieving this level of comfort in my town and in myself was a long process of radical self-care. I am not talking about bubble baths and spa days; genuine self-care can feel uncomfortable and frightening. It is about pushing your boundaries to do the very best for yourself: mind, body and soul. After the pandemic and in this current world, many of us find ourselves in similar seasons of transition: personally, professionally or as parents.  

During these periods of upheaval, having an anchor – a healing space, either concrete or abstract – can help ease the transition process. But too often, we wait for things to happen to us, as opposed to going out and seeking what we need or want. This is when the rich tapestry of community resources can make a difference. So the question I ask you is, what are your needs and wants?   

This fall, The River Center is excited to provide a full roster of new and continuing no-cost programming to the families and folks of the eastern Monadnock region. We have several new programs this season, in addition to continuing favorites, that will hopefully fulfill some of your own needs and wants in your self-care journey. 

For adults, a virtual Mid-Life Transitions Mindful Moments program will aim to support those of us in middle life, going through all types of changes. For our brain/body connection, we offer Now and Zen Yoga at the Peterborough Town Library. Finally, tailored for a more specific subset, I will be personally facilitating Untethered, a divorce recovery support group that will meet on Saturday mornings twice a month.  

We have many facets to our identity, and being a parent is one of my many hats I wear. When my children were younger, the early childhood programs were a place where I felt seen and heard, and many of the friendships made there have lasted me (and my daughters) over a decade. Along with continuing favorites, the new early childhood programs include Small Fries Music and Messy Mondays, where young children and their caregivers can explore messy play and art in a safe and fun space.  

If your children are a bit bigger, like mine now, we are running a Book Wizards book club for ages 8 to 10, and an Adventure Tabletop Gaming Group, a new and unique middle school program which will meet after school once a week at MAXT Makerspace.  

While socializing our children and having them learn fun and new skills is paramount, parenting is a lifelong learning process. Our new programs, Parenting Siblings and our virtual book club, Siblings without Rivalry, can help to strengthen families and give parents the confidence they need in raising multiples. We are also offering a virtual support group for grandparents, who have their own unique set of challenges and opportunities.  

If commitment to any type of program seems daunting to you, consider one-off events, such as our 7 Days of Summer Scavenger Hunt, running from Aug. 21 to 27. Open to individuals and teams, you will explore 10 towns of the eastern Monadnock region with the opportunity to win some great prizes!  

So when you think about signing up your children for enriching activities, or making the time for your own self-care, consider some of the free programming we can offer you on your journey to a fulfilling and rewarding season of life. Register at rivercenternh.org/register or call us at 603-924-6800.

Stephanie Latini joins the River Center as a Youth and Family Educator. Her enthusiasm for teaching and motivational coaching comes from her background in college instruction, as well as her training in competitive powerlifting. While she has worked with many age groups, she enjoys focusing on older teens and young adults. Hailing originally from New Jersey but now living in Peterborough, she has a passion for good food, joyful movement and lively conversation, especially with her two daughters. She is also a published poet and writer of science fiction. She received a master’s degree in liberal studies from Columbia University and was a doctoral candidate of urban systems from New Jersey Institute of Technology.