🎄 Breakfast with Santa & the Grinch

Happy weekend!

Huge congratulations to the Summerville High School football team that is headed to the state championship today! If you are in town and free at 11am, join with other members of the community to wish the team luck as the head out to their big game. Line Main Street with signs, applause and cheers as they drive out of town. If you’re a SHS football parent, we know this is a fun day for you and hope you get to soak it all in.

There’s a few more opportunities to catch Santa if you haven’t been to see him yet. Find Santa:

• At Knightsville General Store this Saturday, 12/14, between 11am-2pm

• At Talucci’s Bakery on 12/14 from 5-8pm, 12/15 from 4-8pm, 12/21 from 5-8pm, and 12/22 from 4-8pm.

• At Nexton Square with Tweedle Beedle on 12/18 from 3:30-5:30pm

Christmas is drawing near! If you’re a last minute shopper check out our Summerville Parent Gift Guide. Deadlines to order gifts are coming up. Check out the “experiences” gift list to snag some instantaneous gifts that your kids are sure to love.

Finally, if your business would like to sponsor our weekly newsletter to nearly 3,500 Summerville parents, we would love to feature you. Click here to learn about becoming a Palmetto Parents sponsor.

TO DO

Find the Town’s Best Decorated Houses

I surveyed the moms of the town to see what neighborhoods and houses have the best lights, and here are the ones that were mentioned. Our family looks forward to looking at the amazing work our Summerville neighbors have done. It looks like Summers Corner is the place to be! Know of one that isn’t listed? Reply to this email so we can add it to the list!

• 104 Temuco Lane, aka Wonderland of Temuco Lane: They have a show that corresponds with music. Just tune your radio to 88.1 FM. Show is available Sunday-Thursday 5:30-8pm and Friday and Saturday 5:30-9:30pm. They are partnering with Lowcountry Orphan Relief this year and have a donation box at the bottom of their driveway. See their page for any updates and more details.

• 373 Watergrass Way, aka The Nifty House of Lights (near Alligator Lake in Summers Corner) also has a musically synced light show. Their show can be found on 88.3 FM.

• The RED HOUSE of Summers Corner is known for it’s elaborate set up for both Halloween and Christmas. Take a look at this video to preview what you can see.

• 620 Water Lily Trail in Summers Corner also has a great light set up.

• 3003 Argyll Drive in Knightsville is also putting in the work to make a great display and is worth seeing.

One fun family activity is to complete a “Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt” like the one shown below. If you have a big event with lots of people you can all head out in different carloads and see who can complete it the fastest or you can slowly work your way through the list and maybe do something to celebrate like get some hot chocolate or cookies once you complete the list. Snag the free downloadable document below from Literacy Learn here.

Hey Palmetto Parent, Daniel here!

7 months ago I became a runner, lost 40 pounds, stopped drinking alcohol, and now I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been in my life.

I attribute some of my health routine to drinking AG1 (Athletic Greens), a daily supplement with 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food sourced ingredients. It fills a big gap in a healthy diet if you’re like me and not great at consistently eating your vegetables.

If you’re looking for something to kickstart your health journey, I suggest trying AG1. Low risk, high reward way to make 2025 your best year yet.

The AG1 team gave me a special code for you so if you order from my link below you’ll some extra goodies.

LOCAL EVENT

Brunch with the Grinch & Breakfast with Santa

FREE Brunch with the Grinch

Join this free brunch with the Grinch and check out local vendors! The sponsors just ask that you bring a donation of diapers or cash for the local diaper bank, Bundles of Joy. Click here to reserve your spot.

• When: Saturday, December 14th

• Time: 10am-12pm (craft vendor market from 8am-12pm)

• Location: Charleston Church of Christ, 9802 US-78 Ladson, SC (next to the fair grounds)

Breakfast with Santa at the Community Center

Reserve your fifteen minute slot to interact with Santa and enjoy breakfast treats and festive games this Saturday! Registration costs $10 and accommodates a group of 5. There are limited spots left!

• When: Saturday, December 14th

• Time: 9am-11am

• Location: Rollins Edwards Community Center, 301 N Hickory St, Summerville

RESTAURANT

Mi Tierra Caliente

Downtown Summerville has a new authentic Mexican restaurant added to the scene. Mi Tierra Caliente has functioned as a food truck for awhile, but they just celebrated the grand opening of their brick and mortar restaurant in downtown Summerville on November 22nd. Our family is thrilled to have yet another delicious restaurant just minutes from home.

Their menu specializes in authentic food from the state of Guerrero in Mexico and includes a variety of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and dishes like chiles rellenos and pozole, all prepared with fresh ingredients and traditional recipes. Their chips are fresh, thin, and crispy and the salsa and guacamole are loaded with flavor. We really enjoyed the tacos (especially the asada and pastor). Daniel tried one of their enormous Cuban tortas and really enjoyed it. The kids menu is somewhat limited, but they do have cheese quesadillas and my son has enjoyed eating full plates of rice and beans. The restaurant has the stamp of approval from all of us, including the baby who loves the guacamole and beans.

When we walked in, there were numerous other families with kids eating there which always helps us to feel comfortable. The service was friendly and the food came out quickly, which is always a huge help with kids. We’ve found it to be perfect for a quick bite during the week or as a special weekend meal (yes… we have gone multiple times since they’ve opened). 😆

The Mi Tierra Caliente in downtown Summerville is located at 102A S Cedar St. They are open Tuesday-Sunday 11am-9pm.

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PALMETTO PIECE

Navigating Family Dynamics During the Holiday Season

The holidays are a time for togetherness, but they can also bring up unique challenges when it comes to family dynamics. Whether it’s juggling time between families, managing differing traditions, or navigating sensitive topics at gatherings, this season often calls for extra patience and understanding. How can we approach these moments with grace and intention, ensuring that the holidays remain a time of connection and joy?

Here are a few starting points:

• Set clear expectations with family about schedules and boundaries in advance. Whether it’s dividing time between multiple households or deciding how traditions will be celebrated, clear and kind communication can prevent misunderstandings. Let family members know your plans in advance and be honest about what’s realistic for you and your immediate family. Creating a flexible schedule that honors everyone’s needs, including your own, can help avoid feelings of overwhelm.

• Focus on shared values and traditions that bring everyone together. Even if your family doesn’t agree on everything, finding those points of connection—like decorating cookies together, singing carols, or playing a holiday game—can create a sense of unity. Emphasizing gratitude and shared joy helps shift focus away from potential conflicts and toward the true spirit of the season.

• Practice empathy and choose to let go of small irritations in favor of creating positive memories.

• Finally, give yourself grace. Not every moment has to be picture-perfect, and sometimes stepping away for a breath or a moment of quiet reflection is the best way to maintain peace. By staying grounded in your priorities and leading with kindness, you can help create a holiday season that celebrates connection, even in the face of challenges.

This holiday season, consider how thoughtful communication and kindness can help strengthen family bonds, even amid the chaos. What strategies have worked for your family to keep the holidays merry and meaningful?

Love,

The Berks 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 

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