Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

One of the coolest aspects of motherhood is whenever your kiddo says something so you, it’s undeniable that you’re their parent. One of my favorite memories is of when Colton (now 8) was 3 years old. He slipped, fell, and landed on his arm pretty hard. My husband and I were concerned—was it “just” swollen or did he have a fracture? We were discussing heading to the doctor when Colton, full of sass, spoke up.

“I don’t need to go to the doctor. I need to go to Target,” he said. “The doctor will not make me feel better. Target will make me feel better.”

Whether you’re heading out for a tandem Target run, getting a cup of coffee (or hot cocoa) with your kiddo at a local cafe, or soaking in some quality time at home together, I hope all of the moms receiving today’s newsletter have a fabulous Mother’s Day weekend. (And for all of our readers, of course, I hope ya’ll have a great weekend, too). I’m so glad you’re here.

Amie Knowles

Newsletter Editor, Dogwood

Mother’s Day falls on May 10 this year. (Bethany Beck/Unsplash)

The best Mother’s Day gifts—based on your mom’s love language

By Sam Cohen and Lisa Hayes

Here’s what you need to know: When we started to put together a Mother’s Day gift guide, we decided to do something different. We shopped by love language. There are five: words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service, and receiving gifts. And we’ve got ideas for all of them.

Our top picks:

Words of Affirmation is considered the first love language. Whether it’s a handwritten note, a thoughtful text, or a time to sit down and share how they feel, it’s all about expression. Gifts like Life Story books or this “One Line A Day: A Five-Year Memory Book” would be top contenders.
Next up is Quality Time. This love language is pretty straightforward—spending quality time together (without phones) is most meaningful to these moms. The key here is paying attention without distractions. S’mores and a personal fireplace, anyone? This is perfect for all the little outdoor nooks where she likes to gather with friends.
Acts of Service is the epitome of “actions speak louder than words.” Simple everyday gestures, like cleaning the kitchen without being asked, or bringing mom another cup of coffee in the morning, go a long way. So will these: clutter-busters and practical gifts like a cord organizer, emergency kits, a letter opener and cutter and more.

Want additional ideas? We’ve got more on these love languages—and two others—at our link below.

Shop for mom →

Amie Knowles enjoys a bowl of tom yum soup at Moon River Thai in Danville. (Amie Knowles/Dogwood)

A winner of a dinner

By Amie Knowles

Sorry I look exhausted in this photo—I was! After a full day of work and Colton’s evening swim lessons, I didn’t have it in me to cook a single thing for dinner. Thankfully, my husband and our son were down for my favorite of all favorite foods—tom yum soup from Moon River Thai in Danville.

Seriously, if you come to town for no other reason, Moon River is plenty enough. The restaurant opened right beside the historic North Theatre in 2014. When Kody and I were dating, he took me there for dinner one evening after our pre-wedding dance class, and we were hooked. With very few exceptions (weather, vacation, COVID shutdowns), we’ve either dined in or gotten takeout from there once a week.

The menu is amazing. While my personal favorite is a small tom yum soup—with tofu, add bamboo—I’ve never had a single thing from there I didn’t absolutely love. Their pad see ew noodles, complete with vegetables, are flavorful and filling. My husband adores their variety of appetizers and usually gets a couple when we go, especially the crab rangoon. Our son’s favorite is the chicken satay, which comes on a skewer with an assortment of flavorful dipping sauces.

If you’re looking for a winner of a dinner, I highly recommend making reservations at Moon River Thai.

Explore the menu →

Earlier this week, we asked:

If you could ask one Virginia lawmaker any question, what would it be?

We received dozens of responses, ranging from ones that made me laugh—like Bill B.’s “When are you going to resign”—to true inquiries like B. McPickles, who asked, “How can we make housing more affordable?”

It’s not too late to join the conversation. Email me anytime at amie@couriernewsroom.com and let me know your thoughts.

Share your take →

Mama Jocelyn Smith of New Mexico receives donations for the meal program she runs. (Courtesy photo)

From carpools to city hall: Moms are the backbone of change in our communities

By Gwen Frisbie-Fulton

The following is an opinion piece written by Gwen Frisbie-Fulton and published by Dogwood.

My friend Tasha can peel a banana with one hand. I watched her do it once, toddler on her hip and phone balanced between her ear and shoulder, her thumb snapping back the stem to get it started. She was answering the 24-hour emergency line at the veterinary office she had worked in for the better part of a decade, assuring the man on the other end that his dog would be just fine.

I’m sure Tasha has many other talents, but it’s this scene that I think of when I think about how busy moms are.

Moms are caretakers and caregivers, housekeepers, cooks, and, as often as not, workers. I don’t take it personally when the moms in my life can’t show up to my backyard parties or the hikes I invite them on—Lord knows, they have plenty to do.

How is it then that so many moms, everywhere, are showing up?

Over the last few years, I’ve sat in community meetings, town halls, and attended countless protests all over the country and every single one of these events is filled with moms. As frequently as not, they are driven by mom connections and mom power.

Moms are showing up →

Want to get involved this weekend? Here’s a roundup of Virginia political events, advocacy opportunities, protests, and more ways to take action statewide from Friday, May 8, through Thursday, May 14. (Read more)
In an exclusive interview with Dogwood, state Del. Michelle Lopes Maldonado said she was taking a job to head up AI policy at a think tank in Washington, DC, called the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. (Read more)
Oil prices are set globally, which means a flare-up in the Middle East or a threat to a major shipping lane can ripple straight into what Virginians pay for gas and other essentials. Solar and wind power don’t work that way: once projects are built, their “fuel” is homegrown rather than a commodity that jumps with every new crisis.⁣ (Read more)

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Knowles. Amie is a lifelong Virginia resident and mom to a fantastic 8-year-old who loves Pokémon. This edition includes stories from Sam Cohen, Lisa Hayes, Gwen Frisbie-Fulton, Ava Edwards, and Michael O’Connor. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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