August is here. What a tremendous month here in the Lehigh Valley. Summer is in high gear and I always welcome the sunshine and hot days. The summer nights seem just a little more alive than any other time of the year. People take the time to stop their busy lives during the summer months and get together to have fun at reunions, festivals and exhibits. The bounty of summer triumphs in every slice of watermelon and each ear of sweet corn. Getting outdoors and into the beauty of nature during the summer always gives me inspiration and recharges me There is nothing I like more than going to a nice cool swimming hole with some good reading material and enjoying a dip, some new ideas and maybe a little siesta. The shrieks and shouts of children having fun splashing and playing in the water is, to me, the sound of uninhibited joy.

This August issue of Natural Awakenings is focused on Parenting with Presence. It is human nature to dream of providing our children with a better life than the life that we are living. With so many new possibilities on the horizon, that dream is stronger than ever. Our children will live longer and have more opportunities than many of us could have imagined. The key of course will be to lead a healthy life from the start.

Linda Sechrist explores the push for vaccines (page 38); Sahra Robinson helps us stress less and parent more (page 36); Avery Mack gives us some tips for finding eco art supplies (page 46); and teens would be wise to understand the health consequences of tattoos (page 42). I hope you find some wisdom in this issue that you can pass along to the next generation and realize your dreams for their success.

Enjoy August. Spend time with friends and family. Find a place that restores your energy. Learn something new. Teach something valuable. Indulge in a healthy, cool smoothie. Let your inner child have some fun. Shriek and shout. Savor the summer.

Reid Boyer, Plublisher