Finding Monday Magic at the Civic Garden Center of Cincinnati
*This post was written to publish in the CGC email newsletter.
Mondays are tough. We all know that. But no one knows it quite like a parent or caregiver to a little one. Monday morning rolls around, one or both adults head off to work, and you—the stay-at-home caregiver—find yourself longing for someplace to go, something to help your kiddo get into a rhythm too. And yet, for whatever reason, Mondays seem to be the one day in Cincinnati when nothing is happening.
That’s actually part of what inspired me to start Imagine Cincinnati—a nature-based community of parents and caregivers who long for connection and time outdoors. Over the past two years, our Thursday and Friday morning gatherings have grown into something special. But last fall, when my youngest son started preschool four days a week, we missed our usual garden playtime together. And wouldn’t you know it—the one day he had off was Monday.
That’s how Lil’ Sprouts came into our lives.
Twice a month, thanks to the amazing team at the Civic Garden Center, we joined other families for simple, joyful outdoor experiences—grinding acorn flour, painting the snow, singing on a winter solstice walk and connecting his life with the changes in nature as we watched the garden grow from winter to spring to summer. On school breaks, Lil’ Sprouts is a rare space that welcomes both my boys, ages 4 and 8. It’s not easy to find programming that fits both! Now that my youngest is in full-time kindergarten, he’s even asked me to keep going to Lil’ Sprouts so I can bring the crafts home for him!
It is such a gift for me to simply show up and receive instead of being the magic maker as usual. I often leave with new ideas (and leftover supplies!) to share later in the week with our Imagine Cincinnati families. Oh, and did I mention they always have free coffee? An essential draw for Monday mornings.
Over time, I’ve come to see that this is what makes the Civic Garden Center so special: they’re all about supporting you. Their passion for investing in the people who show up—for sharing their knowledge, resources, and supplies so you can nurture a bit of earth at home—is infectious. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just curious, they make you feel like you belong.
This is why as we got to know Mr. Luis, we invited him to our Children's Community Garden in Oakley for one of his first “Lil’ Sprouts on the Go” sessions. We’re excited to have him back on October 31st to share about monarchs and their connection to Día de los Muertos. (All are welcome to join us!)
If you’re looking for a free, easy way to start your week with your little ones outdoors, come join Lil’ Sprouts at the Civic Garden Center. You might just find, like we did, that Monday mornings hold a bit of magic.
(You can also find more family nature connections through Imagine Cincinnati at imaginecincinnati.org - and visit our children's community gardens supported by the CGC's community garden network.)
