Guest Essay: Jen Houghton - A Place to Plant Roots
Friday, August 15th, 2008Recently South Berwick resident Jennifer Houghton, owner of Little Hat Company and parent of three, mentioned to me how great it is to be raising children in South Berwick. She agreed to share her thoughts here at the 236 Diner.

In a world that seems to be spinning faster, it’s a wonderful opportunity to bring up a family in a town that allows you to walk not run. I remember coming home from a business trip to N.Y.C. and literally thanking God that we don’t have even one single stop light in our town. I had spent two days in a cab trying to get to three scheduled appointments in an absolute scramble for time. Traffic, crowds, impatience, and smog seemed to be the daily theme and it was hard to catch your breath walking down the streets filled with people, vendors, and construction barriers. Don’t get me wrong. The city can be an explosive energy and catalyst for getting major things accomplished. When the sun goes down and the lights turn on there is something so magical that you feel like a child right before opening a present.
When I would come home to South Berwick I would always let out a sigh of relief knowing that I could just slow down and enjoy each and every moment without someone behind me needing to get somewhere. One of the main reasons coming home would be so satisfying was knowing that I was raising my children in a small town community surrounded by endless opportunities. (more…)
