Author: Patricia Lockhart

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Opinion The Last Word

Memphis Is My Boyfriend: Life Skills 

Getting away from it all and fixing what you’ve broken (Photos: Patricia Lockhart)

I’ve heard that a parent’s goal is to raise their kids to be independent and not reliant upon them. While I wholeheartedly believe this, sometimes I wonder if any of my life lessons are sinking in. My kids are 11, 12, 12, and 16, and sometimes I have to remind them of bare care necessities. But if I had to teach them three life lessons, they would be: know when to step away, how to have your own relationship with God, and how to fix things. 

Life Balance

My kids work really hard in school. Some of them work hard on their academics, while others work hard on their social skills. In between PSATs, constructing cell cities, reading How to Kill a Mockingbird, and illustrating the water cycle, I noticed that the kids got … quiet. They came home and immediately withdrew and went to their own spaces. When I tried to engage them in conversation, I was met with short, one-word replies. Then it dawned on me. I haven’t really emphasized the importance of stepping away before everything becomes too much. So I decided to tap into their inner child. Children love two things: parks and snacks. In the middle of the week, I left work early to pick the kids up from school and bypassed all the aftercares. All of the kids were excited, with the exception of my high-schooler — I intruded on his hangout-time with his girlfriend. Nevertheless, we loaded the car and picked up a few sweet treats. Our first stop was Sugar Ghost Ice Cream and Bubble Tea. The kids got ice cream, but I had my eyes on another treat. Second stop, Muddy’s Bake Shop! I initially went in for a Rice Krispies treat (best in the city), but I couldn’t turn down a gingerbread man or two. We bagged our treats and headed to Overton Park, where we laid out our picnic blankets and … breathed. The kids ate and began to chat. I took this time to explain the importance of “stepping away.” And here’s the advice they would like to share when life gets tough:

• Play videos: It’s nice to play games. You get to be in control of everything.

• Make videos: It’s just fun. 

• Go outside: Nature sounds good and the breeze is nice.

• Get your emotions out: Even if it’s loud.

Life Church: Axis

I first became interested in Life Church because I was looking for a group of women I could speak with about life and the Bible. During my research, I learned about Axis. Axis is a tweens/teens ministry, but I wasn’t unsure about the logistics. After visiting one Sunday, I got a text from a “Maybe: Josh.” That’s literally what it said on my caller ID. He stated that Axis is a time for just teens. And I replied, “So I can send the kids to Axis and enjoy a date night?” “Maybe: Josh” said, “Absolutely! I encourage it!” 

So we packed up the Lockhart tweens and teen and headed to Axis. Upon arriving, I noticed they had a variety of dads on the grill, groups of teens hanging out, and some playing catch with Pastor Josh. The atmosphere seemed relaxed. As we walked up, we were approached by Pastor Josh. He said, “Hey! You’re who I’ve been texting with!” Ahhhhh, okay, so it wasn’t a bot. 

Pastor Josh gave the kids a quick introduction which consisted of: We have snacks, video games, and …well, actually that’s as far as he got before the kids said “cool” and walked into the building. 

After picking up the kids two hours later, their eyes were wide! They enjoyed themselves, but it was a little shocking for them too. “That’s not like any church I’ve been to!” “Yeah. I’ve never been to a concert before, but I’m sure that should count as my first one!” Once we were home, the Lockhart teen and tweens talked amongst themselves. They decided to go back, but with one addendum: Although the Axis service doesn’t start until 7 p.m., they need to arrive at 6 p.m., for playing purposes. 

And just like that, Axis became a vital space for my kids to be themselves, deepen their faith, and build friendships. They made friends, developed their own style of worship, and found a place they can serve and be leaders. 

Life Skills

The last life skill is the ability to fix what you’ve broken. My daughter is a little bit of a mad scientist. She loves mixing things. There’s still a white stain on her wall that feels oddly soft, and her carpet is permanently ruined. That’s why we told her all science stuff, including the making of slime, must be completed in the dining room. We did not anticipate the damage this would have on our dining room table. My hubby thought that this would be a great learning opportunity. He and our daughter went to Home Depot and bought supplies to refurbish the dining room table. And now she knows how to use a sander and restain wood! 

Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. By day, she’s an assistant principal and writer, but by night … she’s asleep. @memphisismyboyfriend

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Opinion The Last Word

Memphis Is My Boyfriend: Enjoying the Mortgage

Sharing the cooking, sharing the shopping (Photo: Patricia Lockhart)

We are a family that absolutely loves Memphis! But sometimes, it’s best to enjoy our mortgage. I know that might sound a bit unusual, but it’s really quite straightforward. “Enjoying your mortgage” is just a Gen Alpha way of saying “appreciate your space” and embrace the joys of home.

This particular weekend, I woke up early, lit some soothing incense, opened the blinds, and poured myself a steaming cup of black coffee with a touch of honey. I cherished the peaceful moments before the kids woke up and my husband returned from his 16-mile run. But with kids aged 11, 12, 12, and 16, that quiet wouldn’t last long!

Photo: Patricia Lockhart

Laundry Day

Like most families, Saturdays are often reserved for chores (thankfully, now without the scent of bleach and old-school music blaring from ancient speakers). Each tween and teenager is responsible for tidying their own space, catching up on chores, and tackling laundry. And oh, laundry— what a beast it can be! Our kids have been doing their own laundry for the past three years, but we’re still very much in the learning phase. 

As adults, we might think laundry is simple, but just ask a tween or teenager, and you’ll hear a different story. “How many clothes make a full load?” “Do I really have to separate my whites from my colors?” “What temperature should the water be?” “Do detergent sheets work better than liquid?”

Honestly, those questions are valid! I stick to the basics: fill the machine two-thirds full and don’t forget the detergent. While washing and drying are straightforward, the real challenge is folding and hanging everything up. My husband enjoys putting on a good show and folding clothes until his heart’s content. Me? I’m more of a laundry mole, diving into the basket each morning to iron what’s needed. But with my husband’s high standards, the kids and I engage in a productive struggle every Saturday.

Grocery Shopping

Once the laundry is in a steady rhythm — wash, dry, fold/hang, and repeat six times — it’s time to tackle grocery shopping. In our family of six, everyone gets a night to cook dinner each week. On Fridays, we either cook together or indulge in oven pizza. To kick things off, we project our computer screen onto the TV so everyone can see the plan. With a grocery budget of $200 a week, we aim to make the most of it, enjoying a little bit of everything. We start by sharing our dinner ideas, keeping everyone’s preferences in mind. My 16-year-old has been a vegetarian since he was 6, while the younger twin prefers meat in every meal. Our 11-year-old isn’t fond of cheesy dishes, and I’m lactose intolerant. Thankfully, my husband and the oldest twin are pretty flexible with their choices. Next, we take turns adding ingredients to the Kroger Pickup list, ensuring we check what we already have on hand. At least once a month, we do a grocery inventory, which usually uncovers forgotten treasures like dried beans and random cans of tomato sauce. After finalizing our dinner items, we move on to breakfast and then lunch. If there’s any budget left, we treat ourselves to snacks, though that’s usually a rare delight!

Chilling Together

As adults, it’s easy for weekends to morph into extended workdays filled with tasks we didn’t have time for during our regular work hours. I want to teach my kids the importance of finding a healthy balance — not just by telling them, but by showing them. Chores can demonstrate appreciation for our space and future selves, but they aren’t the only way we enjoy our mortgage. Here are some fun activities we love to do together while “enjoying our mortgage”:

• Napping

• Playing video games

• Watching TV

• Baking delicious treats

• Playing library with my books (just me)

• Gardening and reviving my plants

• Building forts in the living room

• Movie marathon nights

• Doing absolutely nothing together

One twin typically engages in a social-battery recharge. Being at school all week takes a lot out of him, so he’ll often keep to himself most of the weekend. My daughter, on the other hand, is a social butterfly. She wants someone to enjoy all of her “chilling activities” with. My oldest bounces between baking and getting ahead of his studies. The other twin plays hard all day. As for me, I sit quietly with one child, do an activity with another, bounce ideas with the eldest, and play with the other twin. Sometimes I do none of the above and don’t feel guilty about it.

So enjoy your mortgage or rent, Memphis! Seek out activities with your tweens and teens that bring you closer together, foster relaxation, and spark creativity. Or recharge your own battery. 

Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. By day, she’s an assistant principal and writer, but by night … she’s asleep. @memphisismyboyfriend

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Opinion The Last Word

Memphis Is My Boyfriend: Back to School

An Arabic breakfast with red tea (Photos: Patricia Lockhart)

Moment of honesty: These first few weeks of school have thoroughly and unapologetically kicked our butts. 

The kids are 16, 12, 12, and 10. The adults are 40 and 39. Waking up at 5:30 a.m. to stretch, because the body I went to bed with isn’t the same body I wake up with, is meh. Trying to help the kids remember which days are “even days” and which are “odd days” according to their respective school calendars is confusing. At this point, may the odds ever be in their favor. Hubby is getting tired of restating the importance of completing one’s homework before pickup. And Life360 tells us every time y’all make a detour to McDonald’s. So after a successful professional development, the turning in of late assignments, permission to proceed with their STAR Tutoring program, and the start of ballet season, we decided we needed a break!

Cellar Tabletop Games & Comics

I’m a big proponent of literacy. Kids need to know how to read and comprehend what they’ve read. And I’m a firm believer that reading shouldn’t only take place at school or be a form of punishment. That’s why, when the kids needed a break from school but not from reading, we headed to our local comic book store. Comics are great for increasing vocabulary in kids and adults. Plus, they’re really, really interesting!

We went to the Cellar Tabletop Games & Comics. As it was a Saturday, the place was packed! There were Pokemon games going on, as well as Dungeons & Dragons. My kids went straight for the Marvel comics, while a DC comic, Nightwing: The Secret Origin of Bea Bennett, caught my attention. My husband gushed over the Superman comics and tried earnestly to get the kids’ attention. They were almost about to fall for the bait until they found an Animal Crossing comic. They couldn’t resist a comic with their favorite video game characters. The kids also scored some Scott Pilgrim comics. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what your teen or tween is reading, as long as they’re reading. Comic books? Great! Lego instructions? Wonderful! Reading the back of a cereal box? Cool! Reading the cheat codes to your favorite video game? Even better! Reading the Memphis Flyer to find events to add to the family calendar? Get to it!

Picking out reading material

Aldar Cafe

I remember when I was in 10th grade, someone told me, “Prior proper planning prevents a poor performance.” So in order to have a good week, I like to take time to plan out things that need to be done and add items I’d like to remember to my calendar. This has worked really well for me. So I’ve decided to get the kids used to this same habit. So we went to Aldar Cafe on Summer to plan out our week and read. I ordered the sensible Arabic breakfast with red tea since it was 9 in the morning. Hubby had a latte and pieces of my breakfast platter. The kids, on the other hand, ordered a vanilla milkshake, a strawberry milkshake, a cream cheese croissant, and a slice of cheesecake. 

We organized our calendars, adding after-school meetings and activities, Mario Kart tournaments, sewing clubs, and important assignment due dates. The kids also got into good games of Uno and Jenga. All of our shoulders relaxed and we smiled. Now as soon as we got home, pajamas were in full effect.

And yes, we’re still buying school supplies! A moment of transparency: We did not purchase everything on the kids’ school supply list. We pulled mostly from our supply stash and reused old binders. We made sure they had pencils and paper, but our wallets truly dictated when and what supplies we bought prior to school starting. But those aren’t what we’re still shucking out money for. We are now in the band dues phase. We are parting with our dinero for leotards and jazz shoes for dance class. We’re saying au revoir to our wallets for STEM supplies. And the 16-year-old’s college art class necessities are costing a crisp Benjamin! Luckily, his professor created an Amazon cart of all the supplies needed, and his art teacher vetted the list and told us local places to find the items even cheaper. (Now Mr. Benjamin Franklin doesn’t need more friends.)

And we will continue to ensure they have whatever they need to be successful in school. They might not get it when they want it, but they’ll definitely have the supplies when they need them.

Meanwhile, don’t forget to take your own break from back-to-school busy-ness! 

Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. By day, she’s an assistant principal and writer, but by night … she’s asleep. @memphisismyboyfriend

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Opinion The Last Word

Memphis Is My Boyfriend: End of Summer Blues

Wonky’s features creative items on their dessert platters. (Photo: Patricia Lockhart)

Summer break is over, and no one is particularly happy about it. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have time to still do something meaningful with your tweens and teens before homework starts rolling in.

Wonky’s Not So Famous Treats

We decided to surprise our kids with a “candy tasting.” Imagine if you went to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. You’d probably see treats of all shapes and sizes. Displays where everything is edible. Color-changing drinks. Chocolate in the form of solids, liquids, and everything in between. You might even battle some evil sea creature that’s made entirely from candy.

Actually, I’m describing our experience at Wonky’s Not So Famous Treats! This was the most amazing experience with the coolest aesthetics. We all enjoyed the ocean decor and the jellyfish hanging from the ceiling. The kids enjoyed discovering all the edible items on the dessert platter. Those sweet and creative treats were mind-blowing. The kids sampled the tentacle twizzlers, chocolate rocks, gushy eyeballs, delicious cheesecake, and so much more. And Wonky’s offered a variety of flavors and textures: chewy, crunchy, chocolaty, fruity, sour, creamy, cold, gummy, and tarty. Oh, and the adult drinks were on point.

Final Summer Curriculum Update

Our kids finally rode the MATA bus, and the experience did not disappoint! We started off by giving them a bus schedule and explaining to them that they were to ride the bus from our community to Downtown. Together, they researched what the Downtown terminal looks like so they would know it when they got off. They also familiarized themselves with the names of major streets they would encounter. We gave each child a dollar for the bus fare and dropped them off. 

Midway through their bus ride, we texted the kids and asked them how it was going. When they replied that they were bored, hubby and I decided to offer extra credit: “Great!!! Here’s your mandatory extra credit. After exiting the bus, you must get on the trolley and use ‘Find My’ to locate us. We will be on South Main.”

The kids loved the challenge, but it soon appeared that they were in over their heads. Ten minutes later, the kids called us. “Mom,” they said, “we got off too early. We don’t know exactly where we are.” I took a deep breath and replied, “You have all the technology you need at your fingertips. Figure out where you are and the distance to where you should be.” (Don’t worry, I knew exactly where they were.) Within minutes, they called back and said that they were a block from the terminal and were headed for the trolley. They used “Find My” to locate us and rode the trolley to our exact location.

Here are the kids’ experiences in their own words:

16-year-old: I liked when the bus took off, but soon it was meh.

12-year-old: It was fun at first, but the smell was odd. 

12-year-old: When you first get on, it’s fun! But when strangers started coming on and talking weirdly, it got awkward. 

10-year-old: The ride was really bumpy and a little scary for me!

School-Year Prep

You might not be ready for school, but school is ready for you! Here are a few tips:

• If you have a teenaged daughter, make sure she keeps a “period pack” at school. This should consist of a few pads and wipes as well as a clean pair of underwear and school appropriate pants. (Because accidents do happen.)

• Assign each teenager a laundry day. On that day, their laundry must be washed, dried, folded, or hung up.

• Remind the kids of the difference between the school’s grading scale and your grading scale. (A 70 is still a D to me.)

• Create a school supply stash. Yes, you’re going to spend hundreds of dollars on school supplies. And yes, by October your child is still going to need something. 

• Keep at least $40 in ones at home. Nothing is worse than finding out at the last minute that you need $13 for a field trip. (Schools are not at liberty to give change for $20 and there’s too much to do in the morning to stop for cash.)

• Backpacks must be packed the night before.

Tips from teenagers to teenagers

• Complete your assignments as soon as you get them. 

• Use your time after school wisely.

• A friend who is mean to other people is not your friend.

• Get your clothes ready the night before.

• Charge your school device.

• Don’t skip first or second breakfast.

• Always carry deodorant. Always.

• Never tell anyone your locker combination.

• Structure is your friend.

Also … my eldest got a 28 on the ACT! #proudparent. 

Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. @realworkwife @memphisismyboyfriend

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Opinion The Last Word

Memphis Is My Boyfriend: Fun, but Not in the Sun

Enjoying the lazy river at the Kroc Center (Photo: Patricia Lockhart)

With this heat wave, we’ve had to find ways to enjoy our summer, but stay cool at the same time. While my kids, now 16, 12, 12, and 10, would be content lying around the house in their pajamas, I just want them to do … something else. Now don’t get me wrong, I love to play video games as well (my current favorite is My Time at Sandrock), but that can’t be all that they do. This city is too vibrant and their brains are too bright to be only used for video games. 

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art

If you haven’t been to the Brooks Museum’s latest exhibit, “People are People” by Christian Siriano, I don’t know what you’re waiting for. This exhibit displays some of Siriano’s contributions to fashion. My daughter’s mouth dropped in awe. (Best mom-feeling ever!) She guided us around the exhibit, reading the captions while exclaiming her opinion of each dress. We saw dresses worn by Michelle Obama, Ashley Graham, and Ariana Grande. The gowns are exquisite and absolutely amazing. My daughter gained a lot of inspiration and drive from this exhibit. She talked endlessly about the alterations she was going to make to some of her clothes and how she finally knows how she is going to finish the shirt she’s been sewing. But the best part was when my boys got excited. The Brooks Museum had a runway set up with clothes on a rack that they could piece together to make a fashion statement. Were they excited to play dress-up? No. But were they excited to play dress-up with their little sister? Yes! We all ran to the rack, donned the coolest attire, and walked the runway. We had the best time! Next, my hubby and daughter used fabric to dress a mannequin while the boys sketched clothes. 

The Brooks Museum is free Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. “People are People” by Christian Siriano will be around until August 4th. 

Contributions to fashion (Photo: Patricia Lockhart)

Kroc Center

We have been members of the Kroc Center for a few years now, and the Kroc has this long hallway that displays the artwork of local artists. As we walked by, the eldest twin slowed his pace. He looked at the artwork, nodded, then moved along. He called our attention to several different pieces, noting content and technique. And then his world changed. Written in the bottom right-hand corner, on a small rectangular piece of paper, was the price the artwork was selling for. It then seemed like several dots connected together in his brain. “This piece sells for $65! That’s more than my allowance!” I just smiled and said, “Yes, it is.” My husband and I have always told him that he could sell his artwork to earn money. Ever since he was 5 and he stated that he wanted to be a “starving artist” when he grew up, we explained to him that he could be an artist without the starving part. But sometimes a parent’s words don’t resonate with their kids until an appropriate moment. Seeing artwork comparable to his own ability for sale ignited something in him. (Insert proud mommy moment.)

My kids also love to swim at the Kroc. They have a wonderful lazy river. (Yep, you read that right!) My kids are perfectly content going around and around and around, relaxing with each churn of the artificial currents.

Summer Curriculum Update

Here’s a brief update on how the summer curriculum is going. The MATA bus ride is scheduled for July. As you’ve probably guessed, they aren’t excited. While they have mastered how to operate Google Calendar and have put several things on the family calendar, they have failed to learn the lyrics to any Aretha Franklin song or “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas with accuracy. I honestly didn’t think it would be hard, but they are seriously struggling.

The grocery shopping and meal prep had an unexpected outcome. Yes, the kids created grocery lists and cooked meals. But we’ve also had to put a cap on “when” meals could be made. The kids were cooking the typical breakfast, lunches, and dinners, but also added “pre-lunch” and a “post-dinner” meals. I know what you’re thinking, isn’t “post-dinner” just dessert? No, not for them, “post-dinner” is the meal you eat after dessert. Usually served after you have stayed up too late and gotten hungry again. Therefore, the kitchen now closes at 10 p.m. (Those P-EBT cards need to hurry up and arrive!)

They’re finishing up their autobiography/biography and school-assigned summer reading books, too. As you probably guessed, they decided to pace their time with books by only reading a chapter a day. I had to gently remind them that at this pace, they wouldn’t finish their books in time for school. And as you know, the summer reading books include a mini-project.

So far they’ve created and gained inspiration, added movement, and nurtured their brains. I think this deserves a video game binge day, but no “post-dinners.” 

Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. By day, she’s a school librarian and writer, but by night … she’s asleep. @realworkwife @memphisismyboyfriend

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Opinion The Last Word

Memphis Is My Boyfriend: Summer Learning

This family’s got some summer learning ahead. (Photo: Courtesy Patricia Lockhart)

It’s officially summer! My kids are completely elated, and to be honest, so am I. But as an educator, I’m always asked, “What are your kids doing during the summer?” Well, the short answer is they are still learning. While their traditional school may be out, summer learning in my household is in full effect. My kids are 10, twin 12-year-olds, and a 15-year-old (OMG, he’ll start driving this summer!).

Here’s what this curriculum looks like:

• Learn how to read the MATA bus schedule and ride the bus across town. I know that Uber is a thing, but I still believe in public transportation. I feel that people should know how to travel in their city in all formats.

• Put together a shelf. Following directions is a learned skill. And following printed instructions is even more difficult. So each of my kids will be required to purchase a shelf (using their allowance) and put it together by themselves.

• Read an autobiography. You don’t have to experience life’s hard lessons in order to learn from them. One can gain a lot of insight about life from reading about someone else’s experience.

• Paint a wall. Okay, I’m sure there’s some educational aspect to painting a wall, but honestly I just want a few accent walls in the house and the kids have nothing but time.

• Learn the lyrics to important Disney songs. So far, they have failed their “A Whole New World” from Aladdin. Up next is “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas. My kids have near zero music knowledge, unless it comes from video games. And I refuse to have them embarrassing the family name because they don’t know a single song from The Lion King. So, may the odds be ever in their favor.

• Learn how to bake the perfect cookie. This task shouldn’t be too hard since I’ve given them the recipe to the perfect cookie dough base. Especially since the end product is so delicious, they should be extra motivated to get it right. The secret is in the temperature.

• Learn how to make strawberry jam. In order to do this, they need to first pick some fresh strawberries from Jones Orchard. Then follow a simple recipe and voilà! I can’t wait to see if the kids get the consistency right and are able to explain why. Science!

• Grocery shop and prepare meals. During the school year, I did the grocery shopping. As a family, we each took turns to prepare dinners. My husband, my oldest son, and I each had our own day. The twins and the youngest daughter shared a day. But now, they must learn and strengthen their tech muscles and stretch their cooking skills. Each kid is responsible for going on kroger.com and putting their needed items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner into the shopping cart for review. They must also notify me of the lunch and the dinner they will be preparing the following week.

• Learn how to operate Google Calendar. With four kids, each wants to hang out with their friends and go to different events. It can become overwhelming trying to remember everything for everyone. So if they want to engage in anything outside of the four walls of our house, they must send us a Google Calendar invite.

• Learn how to navigate public spaces. I think this may be the only part of summer learning they are looking forward to. One day a week, they get to decide where they would like to hang out. In navigating public spaces, they need to practice respect of the place and the people, noise level control, and basic street-smarts. They’re already excited about practicing this at the MoSH, Crosstown Concourse, Memphis Chess Club, and the library.

• Learn how to play spades. (This is a prerequisite to gaining their Black Card.)

• Learn about music greats such as Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Ray Charles, Prince, Miles Davis, and Sam Cooke to name a few. They will be given a playlist that they are more than welcomed to listen to as they clean their rooms.

Through this summer learning curriculum, the kids utilize their reading, math, science, and social studies skills. They are learning things that they wouldn’t necessarily get in an ordinary classroom. I have always believed that I am my child’s first teacher, and there’s no way that our school systems can teach our children everything. One thing that I have learned in my years as an educator is that children will learn! They are going to learn something, from someone or from somewhere. It’s up to us as parents to ensure their learning is rounded and balanced.

Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. Her days are filled with laughter with her four kids and charming husband. By day, she’s a school librarian and writer, but by night … she’s asleep. @realworkwife @memphisismyboyfriend

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Opinion The Last Word

Memphis is My Boyfriend: Summertime Is Calling

Just a few of this author’s favorite summertime activities (Photos: Courtesy Patricia Lockhart)

Hopefully you’ve been reading my articles for a while and you know that my kids are 15, 12, 12, and 10 years old. I desire for my teens to love this city as much as I do, so I intentionally plan out fun, safe, and engaging things for them to do. Now I know that school is still in session and summer is a full month away, but prior proper planning prevents a poor performance! The streets are calling our name! Here are a few of our summertime favorites that we can’t wait to get into.

Redbirds Game

I’ve met several Memphians who have never been to a Redbirds game. And I always ask them, “What are you waiting for?” They usually shrug and reply, “I’m not a baseball person.” Then I have to explain that the Redbirds games are so much more than that. Recently, my daughter’s school choir sang the national anthem at the start of the game. I watched the players warm up and had my proud-mommy moment. Then I had the best time ever! There is just something mesmerizing about chilling at a Redbirds game. Maybe it’s the hot sun, with an ice cold drink and a hot dog. Or maybe it’s the intermittent games and crowd engagement opportunities. Whatever the case, I will be there!

My favorite games are on Thursday nights. My hubby says it’s because I can get $2 beers, but I promise it’s because of their throwback jerseys. Sundays are cool too because kids 12 and under can receive a free ice cream sandwich. There are also nights where they have post-game fireworks and where kids can run the bases. Definitely check out their promotions page. Pro-tips: 1. Bring a hat. 2. Bring a credit card: The stadium is cashless. 3. Got a purse or bag? Make sure it’s clear.

Overton Park Shell

As soon as school state assessments were over, I placed our picnic blankets, lawn chairs, mosquito spray, and incense in the trunk. I also tossed in a few empty water bottles and our picnic basket that has plates, napkins, and silverware. Those items will remain in my trunk for the entire summer and fall. I do all of this in preparation of one thing: the Overton Park Shell Orion Free Concert Series! The shows start at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays starting this month. On weekdays, this gives us enough time to pick the kids up from their after-school activities, stop by the store for a few snackerdoodles, and score some perfect seats on the lawn. As the sun sets, I let the good music and cool vibes roll over me. I close my eyes and lay my head back. I don’t have a care in the world.

My kids have been to a variety of music genres that aren’t normally available to them through mainstream radio. Through this music, they learn acceptance and appreciation. This summer they plan to chill to the symphony, dance to Bodywerk, and regrow some roots to Talibah Safiya, just to name a few. Although if I’m honest, we’ll probably attend about 14 shows.

Gardening with Everbloom Farmacy

Gardening has been in my family for generations. My grandmother was a gardener. My great-grandmother was a sharecropper. Her mother worked the fields during slavery. We can trace our roots all the way back to Ghana where we nurtured the land to provide nourishment for ourselves. While we can go to big box stores for our gardening needs, we prefer to build relationships with people who positively impact our community. Everbloom Farmacy, a nonprofit organization, is the perfect place to go if you want to start growing your own food but don’t know how. Need seeds? Need seedlings or soil? Need knowledge so your garden can thrive? Reach out to Everbloom!

Kenneth Anderson founded Everbloom Farmacy on his 21-acre homestead. It promotes food production and food literacy to support urban homesteads and community and church gardens. While we don’t have the acreage for a homestead, Anderson has educated us on how we can make the most of the space that we have. We went to Everbloom and picked up sprouts of bell peppers, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, cabbage, and several gallons of soil.

This summer, Everbloom will offer culinary and medicinal herbs and a host of classes about growing your own food and canning for food preservation. Currently, they have almost 10,000 vegetable seedlings (grown by volunteers) for promoting at-home gardening as a community practice. Everbloom’s Community Nursery will also donate over 10,000 vegetable plants for fall gardens starting in September 2024.

Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. Her days are filled with laughter with her four kids and charming husband. By day, she’s a school librarian and writer, but by night … she’s asleep. @realworkwife @memphisismyboyfriend

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Opinion The Last Word

Memphis Is My Boyfriend: Being an Adult Child

Game night at Muggin (Photos: Patricia Lockhart)

It’s time for another intentional tween/teen-friendly Memphis weekend! Keep in mind, my kids are 15, 12, 12, and 10 years old. This weekend will really be focused on fun things to do with the kids as well as enjoying some adult libations. Because who wants to be an adult all the time? Enjoy Memphis!

Muggin Coffeehouse

Okay, it’s Thursday, and this has been the Wednesday-est Thursday ever! FYI: Wednesdays and I haven’t gotten along for a few years now. Humpday just drags so slowly and the most ridiculous things always happen on a Wednesday. And that’s how this Thursday was acting. But whenever I feel irritated by having to be an adult, I make sure I take some time to nurture my inner child. So when I heard that the new Uptown Muggin location had game night on Thursday, I was super excited. Hubby conducted the Pick Up Kids from School Tour, which consisted of one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. I finished up a few emails at work and popped over to Muggin! Hubby and I ordered lattes and the kids ordered every pastry possible and frappes. We played chess (I won), Connect Four (I lost), and Jenga, which was also used to create a domino effect. It was such a good time. All of my kids had smiles on their faces. Hubby and I were able to steal a few proud-parent glances at each other from across the cafe. Everyone was happy. All we were missing was more teenagers and teen parents to talk to!

Grind City Brewing Company

Saturday is fun day! Hubby and I woke up feeling 10 years younger. Because this doesn’t happen often, we wanted to take advantage of this new found youth and do the things we used to do in college. Drink beer and play outdoor sports. While the kids can’t enjoy a cold brewski, they can enjoy some sunshine, Arbo’s cheese dip and chips, and soda. So we packed up the Frisbee and yard darts and headed to Grind City Brewery.

The weather was beautiful and the view was absolutely stunning. After grabbing a few cold beers, we hit the open fields. The kids and I enjoyed leisurely throwing the Frisbee and playing yard darts. But then a gentleman approached us and taught us how to play real Frisbee. Well, the horse poop hit the fan (figuratively). Feeling 10 years younger, and invincible due to the beer, I wasn’t about to be outdone by some ragged teenagers. We played hard. I caught a few Frisbees. My son ripped his pants. Grass-stains became the norm. Someone whined because they were losing, and my beer buzz wore off. As we rehydrated and finished off the last of the Arbo’s cheese dip, we high-fived each other for time well spent.

Burgers for kids
Beers at Crosstown Brewery for adults

Farm Burger and Crosstown Brewery

It’s Sunday and all I want to do is chill and read my book. My body aches and my knees are creaking. I’m seriously feeling every millisecond of my age! But as I bask in the soft sunlight peeking in through my bedroom windows, a child knocks on my door. “Mom, have you checked the family Google calendar? I added Farm Burger to it last night. You should have gotten the email, too!” As I lazily close my e-book about Murder Bots, I check my Gmail account. And sure enough, there’s a calendar notification. I ponder. Weigh the pros and cons. Look at the start time of the event. (It’s mid-afternoon.) And I select “Yes.” I hear the kids give shouts of praise through the door and I can only imagine the fist bumps and high-fives they are giving each other.

Later in the afternoon, with my book tucked in my purse, I park at the Crosstown Concourse. The kids announce that they want burgers. So I announced to no one in particular, that I want beer. They will head to Farm Burger, and I will go to Crosstown Brewery. We talk about stranger danger and the importance of sticking together and finding the nearest adult in authority if trouble arises. I also tell them exactly where I will be and remind them to actually answer the phone if I call or text. Soon, we separate. I receive a text from them full of smiles and a table full of food. Great! I continue sipping my stout beer and reading Murder and Mamon. I received another text stating that they’re going to check out the art gallery. Perfect! I continue with my leisure activity. Then I receive a phone call. “Mom, I don’t remember how to use this circular music player?” Huh? Oh, they mean a record player. Yeah, I have work to do!

Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. Her days are filled with laughter with her four kids and charming husband. By day, she’s a school librarian and writer, but by night … she’s asleep. @realworkwife @memphisismyboyfriend

Categories
Opinion The Last Word

Memphis is My Boyfriend: Running, Jumping, and a Little History

The tweens and teens at MoSH (Photo: Courtesy Patricia Lockhart)

It’s time for another tween/teen-friendly Memphis weekend! Keep in mind, my kids are 15, 12, 12, and 10 years old. As littles, there was always something fun for them — playdates, Mommy and Me classes, and park hops. As they crested in tweenhood, there seemed to be fewer fun options, so I’ve set out to find fun, safe, and engaging activities for the whole family.

Jumping World

After a long day of Friday testing at school, my teens are ready to let loose! But it’s too cold, so it must be indoors. The teens have been sitting quietly all day and need to be able to get loud. I think of just going home, but I recall the illegal “building” they tried to construct in the past, the crack in the glass door that still needs to be replaced, and the fact that we’ve just spent a whole weekend cleaning the walls and baseboards. So going home was not an option. Then I remembered Jumping World.

Jumping World is a trampoline park for kids who someday want to be on Ninja Warrior. They also have ball pits, slam dunk areas, and tumbling lanes. After putting on our required socks, my kids headed to the tumbling lanes. They jumped, bounced, yelled, and laughed from one end of the lane to the other. After about 15 minutes, they sat down next to me. (Yes, I’m sitting down. There’s only so much jumping my “baby bladder” can take.) They take a short break before it’s on to the next spot. They bounce and jump to slam dunk a ball. They bounce and jump to land in a ball pit. They even bounce and jump just to see if they can bounce higher. Lastly, an obstacle course. We have one child who is naturally competitive. Only no one knows that it’s even a competition until he announces that you’ve lost. After an hour and fifteen minutes, the teens are officially worn out!

Memphis Museum of Science History (MoSH, aka The Pink Palace)

MoSH is one of the few places where we have a family membership. (The other is the Memphis Chess Club.) If your kids are nerdy like mine are, you will want to get a membership here. And I love dinosaurs. I have a tattoo of tiny dinos down my arm. So when I heard about the new dino exhibit, I added it to the family calendar. Upon arriving, the teens went to their favorite spot, the gift shop. But after realizing that they would have to spend their own money, they quickly exited. Next, we went to see Sue. Did you know that dinosaurs can get arthritis? Or have you ever wondered what their breath smelled like? Do you like to watch suspenseful scenes where the predator sneaks up on the prey? All of that can be found in the exhibit. I loved the piece where you could feel the vibrations of a dinosaur’s roar. It was oddly satisfying. After having our fill of dinos, we went through the historical part. My teens still enjoy the Piggly Wiggly. They find it funny that a low-tech Kroger ClickList existed back then. (You see, back then, shoppers would give the clerk a paper grocery list. They would shop for you and bring it to you. Now, we do pretty much the same thing, but electronically.) Lastly, we went to see the “Everyday People” exhibit. This showcase is by Memphis artist Eric Echols. It shows the life of African Americans from 1900 to 1950-ish. It’s important for my kids to see images that show the history of African Americans in America that doesn’t only end in slavery. While the systemic struggles are real, so is our perseverance. During the first walkthrough, they just looked at the pictures. During the second, they took time to read some of the captions. They learned about the Black church, important Black Memphians, and how a picture can provoke a thousand emotions.

Belltower Cafe at Shelby Farms

We are a cafe-loving family! I love the coffees, and my teens love the pastries and free Wi-Fi. Belltower’s newest location at Shelby Farms is perfect. Instead of my typical Lavender Latte, I decided to be daring. (It helps that the featured latte was written all pretty-like, too.) I ordered a Raspberry Nutella Latte. I don’t have the words to express how good this latte is! The teens order their favorite snacks, pair them with hot chocolate, and set up their laptops. While they may look studious, the only thing they’re studying is how to get to the next level of their game. I’ve told you all before the boys love to go out, but to do the same thing they would do at home. But since they’re good kids, I don’t mind at all.

After about an hour, the sugar has fueled their souls. Now they run! They go into the open field and play, laugh, and, well, be teens. As for me, I watch them from the warmth of the central heat. I don’t feel bad not joining them. Because since we arrived, Hubby has been running miles around Shelby Farms and I truly believe he’s burning enough calories for the both of us.

Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. Her days are filled with laughter with her four kids and charming husband. By day, she’s a school librarian and writer, but by night … she’s asleep. @realworkwife @memphisismyboyfriend

Categories
Opinion The Last Word

Memphis Is my Boyfriend: Snow Days, Losers, and Food!

Snowmageddon meant plenty of time for breakfast in bed and a competitive bowling session on Nintendo Switch Sports. (Photos: Patricia Lockhart)

It’s time for another tween/teen-friendly Memphis weekend! My kids are 15, 12, 12, (happy belated b-day, twins), and 10 years old. Unfortunately, this particular weekend landed on the Memphis Snowmageddon! So we went nowhere. But that doesn’t mean we did nothing!

Monday — Everything was covered in snow. It was MLK Day and I had planned on doing nothing anyway. I had stopped by High Point Grocery a few days before and picked up some items. (Hubby stopped by a store, too … a liquor store.) In other words, we had everything we needed. As I rolled over to go back to sleep, I heard a noise in the kitchen. First thought, “What could anyone possibly require from the kitchen at this hour?” Second, “I wonder how much those cabinets cost that close really slowly to prevent slamming them?” After listening to the cacophony that comes with someone cooking in — and destroying — the kitchen, a soft knock rapped at my door. My oldest child fixed me breakfast in bed! Hot Cream of Wheat topped with baked apples. We piddled around as we waited for MSCS to announce schools were closed. When they did, my hubby reminded the kids that they still had to brush their teeth and take baths.

Tuesday — When my kids are at school, I never hear tales of them starving. So can someone explain to me how at 10 a.m. we had to have a family meeting about the rationing of food? First, we took inventory of what we had on hand. Then we brainstormed and created a menu of lunch and dinner dishes. Lastly, we laid down the law! Under no circumstance could these crumb-snatchers eat anything that was needed for lunch or dinner. If they got hungry, they could eat a PB&J sandwich, ramen, or canned tomato soup. After spending a good chunk of the day doing work from home, I felt it would be nice to whoop the kids in a game of Monopoly. (I’d won the last two games!) We only had plain tortilla chips for a snack since they ate everything else. The game lasted four hours and I did not win. The last hour was brutal. I endured all sorts of verbal jabs from my oldest, who showed me no mercy. Upon bankrupting, I assigned him the chore of putting everything up neatly. I poured myself a glass of wine to lick my wounds only to be reminded by my daughter that I was supposed to have a “Dry January.” I stared at her in defiance as I drank straight from the bottle.

Wednesday — I woke up late to the smell of something burning. Irritated, I snuggled deeper into the covers. I know what you’re thinking, “You didn’t go see what was burning?” Absolutely NOT! Burnt food falls solidly in the categories of “None of My Business” and “I’m Not Eating It.” So you can imagine my surprise when hubby walks in with a plate of pancakes and coffee. I prepped my “I’m too old to be eating nasty food, even if my kids made it” speech, but was greeted with two perfect chocolate chip pancakes.

Later, I announced I was making chicken and dumplings for dinner. To be fair, I did Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe to decide who would be my sous-chef. I began, “Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe … ” Before I could finish, one of the twins HOLLERS and then calmly walks away. I was confused. Then the penny dropped. “If he hollers, let him go.” So I had to let him go and choose from the remaining kids. That was never the rule when I was growing up, but it makes sense. As I plated the dumplings, I called the kids down for dinner. They stared at their bowls, back at me, and back to their bowls. Twin #2 asked, “Where are the chicken dumplings?” Befuddled, I pointed to his bowl. He replied, “No, I thought you were making chicken dumplings like the ones at a Chinese restaurant.” While they devoured the meal, I told them the history of Southern chicken and dumplings and Black cuisine. Later we played “Uno No Mercy.” I lost that game, too.

Thursday — I opened my eyes to hubby placing a cup of coffee on my nightstand. I had to make my own breakfast, so I headed to the kitchen. I was greeted by my oldest son with a hug and a request. Can I teach him how to make French toast? Of course! We served up some French toast, and he topped it with his homemade whipped cream and baked apples. I balanced my day with work, video games, and reading. Everything was going swell until we ran out of dishwasher detergent. It’s now every person and dish for themselves. New rule: If you mess up a dish, you must wash it by hand! We are also dangerously low on eggs and butter. But not low on deodorant, which the boys seem to think is not a necessity. We played the Exploding Cats card game. I lost that game, too. My Dry January has officially changed to a Damp January.

Friday — My sleep cycle is all off. I woke up at 5 a.m., read in bed, went back to sleep, and finally woke up for good at 11 a.m. I was not greeted with breakfast in bed or hot coffee. I was served a nice Memphis-style “roasting” for sleeping so late. Since my clapbacks are infamously lame, I kept my mouth closed.

We spent the afternoon playing Nintendo Switch Sports. I did okay in bowling and golf. Not good enough to call it winning, but I’m proud of myself regardless. My oldest asked if I could teach him how to make chocolate chip cookies, so I busted out my recipe book and baked a batch with him. I am thankful for my tweens/teens. Because snow days with little children are not for the faint of heart.

Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. Her days are filled with laughter with her four kids and charming husband. By day, she’s a school librarian and writer, but by night … she’s asleep. @realworkwife @memphisismyboyfriend