Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Early in-person voting for the April 21 redistricting referendum wrapped up over the weekend. That means if you haven’t cast your ballot yet, tomorrow’s your last opportunity.

Remember that all mail-in ballots must be postmarked before polls close tomorrow, all dropbox ballots need to be in place by 7 p.m., and in-person voting occurs from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. As long as you’re in line by 7 p.m., you’ll be allowed to cast your ballot.

Click here to find your polling location—and remember, whether you vote “yes” or “no,” I’m so glad you’re here.

Amie Knowles

Newsletter Editor, Dogwood

Need same-day health care? Some Virginia families, like ours, have to cross the state line to find it. (Amie Knowles/Dogwood)

Rural Virginia families like mine are crossing state lines for pediatric health care

By Amie Knowles

It was late one night when I heard the words no parent wants to hear before the start of a busy week: “Mommy, my throat hurts, my head hurts, and I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

You’d think there’d be some comfort knowing his pediatrician’s office is literally within walking distance. Nope. I can count on one hand the amount of times over the past eight years we’ve been able to score a same-day appointment there—even settling for Telehealth (which, when you’ve got strep throat and require an in-person swab to get a prescription, is a sucky option).

We’ve generally stopped trying. We’ll still call first, just to see, but are no longer surprised when it’s a “no.” The next best option is to take him to an urgent care clinic—and so far, none in an hour’s radius of us in Virginia has had a same-day appointment, either. And that’s been the case for two years.

How we’re navigating →

Welcome to our weekly advice column, courtesy of Grace: She’s the big sister who shares her own mistakes so you can avoid making them, the coworker who builds you up to ask for the raise you deserve, and the friend who is always happy to listen.

We all need someone like Grace in our corner. Submit your own questions here.

Ask The Readers: How do I get my kids to do their chores?

Ask The Readers is your regular chance to grab the mic and give advice to other readers in our community. Each piece of advice we share comes from a different thoughtful reader.

Dear Readers,

How do I get my kids to help out more around the house?

— Overwhelmed in Delaware

Dear Overwhelmed,

I shared your question with hundreds of thousands of women all across the country. Responses poured in with all kinds of mom-life tips and tricks, from serving only oatmeal until kids can do their own laundry, to blasting music and having a dance party when kids finally clean their rooms. All over the country, women wrote in to say: you’re not alone.

Moms often bear the brunt of the housework burden… which includes figuring out how to get those dang kids to help out. If you have a co-parent, husband, grandparent, or other adult in the house, ask for their help. You are not alone in struggling to get your kids to do chores, and you shouldn’t be alone in finding a solution.

Check out some of the suggestions from moms across the United States who have come up with creative, smart, organized ways to run their households, some might surprise you!

Read Grace’s response

Y’all told me that you’re feeling the pressure at the pump. What about at the grocery store? Here in the Southside, I’m seeing small increases on fairly inexpensive items—but they’re starting to add up.

That got me wondering: How have your grocery costs changed over the past year?

I’m curious if we’re seeing the same trend across the state, so please don’t be shy. Write to me at amie@couriernewsroom.com and let me know what you’re experiencing when you get to the register.

Join the conversation

By Ava Edwards

Want to get politically engaged this week? The commonwealth is full of opportunity. Click here for a list of options going through Thurs. April 23.

✅ (April 20) Gloucester County Democratic Committee: Monthly Meeting in Gloucester Point from 6 – 7:30 p.m.

✅ (April 21) Winchester Frederick County Democrats: Election Night Happy Hour in Winchester from 6 – 9 p.m.

✅ (April 23) Indivisible: ICE Out For Good in Fairfax from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Have an event to add? Email State Organizing Coordinator Ava Edwards at ava@couriernewsroom.com with details. Please send details at least one week before the event.

Are you enjoying this newsletter?

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 Ava Edwards and Galvanize Together. It was edited by Brook Bolen.

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