Make time for family-time fun

Our Opinion
Published: July 24, 2008

Families are certainly rushed these days, with moms and dads busy at work, and children busy with their own activities, school and friends. Even in the summertime, it seems that there is always something to do, and there is little time to spend together as a family, or to take time to sit back and breathe, or stop and smell the roses.

But once in a while there comes a family activity that allows us to do this. Last weekend’s fifth-annual cardboard boat regatta at Aquia Landing beach presented the perfect opportunity for families to get together, share a few laughs and create a cardboard boat together.

Whether or not one is good at creating a cardboard boat simply didn’t matter. Some of the boats were sure to crumble due to poor construction. Others were sure to succeed because of master craftsmanship. But no matter. Family fun, or fun with friends, was what the event came to be about.

Coordinator Art Hart said that 300 people came out to join in the summertime fun, with both children and adults teaming up to compete. Twenty-four boats competed and were judged in various design categories.

Saturday’s boat regatta saw a bevy of creative people and a variety of boats and themes. People were able to enjoy the summer sun at Aquia Landing and forget their cares for a few hours.

Make time for family fun like the boat regatta when these opportunities arise in Stafford. It’s a chance to spend time in your community, get to know new people and spend precious moments with your family. You won’t regret it.