Dear Springfield Mama is a weekly note from a local mom (that’s me!) to help you breathe easier, get out the door faster, and enjoy this town with your kids—without spending your time scrolling and searching.
It’s free. Just once a week.
Editions bring you:
- Local outdoor places to explore
- Things to do around Springfield
- Easy, budget-conscious dinner ideas
- The occasional essay about motherhood
Thank you for being here.
Sample Newsletter:
Anyone else immediately get sick after the kids went back to school? Ahh, September—the month of sniffles and fevers. I recently read that sunlight can help you fight off sickness, so I’m basking my weary bones in warm rays. I hope you do the same. 🙂
Where to get outside this week
The Hatch playground at Fellows Lake: If you haven’t been to Fellows Lake recently, you may have missed the grand opening of a new, huge playground called The Hatch. If you’re anything like me, playgrounds can be extremely dull for parents. This one feels different. The breeze off the water makes this sunshine-drenched playground an ideal spot for playdates. There are benches for parents, and a nearby spot to skip rocks or watch sailboats by the boat launch.
This is an accessible playground, meaning there are wheelchair-friendly pathways, rubberized surfaces, and high-backed swings in addition to classic playground features.
Location: Fellows Lake marina area (Google Maps Location)
What to bring:
- Lawn chairs (if you want to hang out by the water)
- Snacks and water
For more pictures of Fellows Lake and the rock-skipping area, see full post on Dear Springfield Mama.
Other things to do
- Sept. 10: Nature Center Storytime with Ms. Ladybug — A sweet, seasonal nature-themed story time for little ones (ages 2–6) at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center. Leo and I love this monthly event more than typical storytimes, as Ms. Ladybug incorporates music, movement and plenty of hands-on involvement for the kids. No registration needed. 11–11:30 a.m., Springfield Conservation Nature Center (4601 S. Nature Center Way). Event listing details.
- Sept. 11–13: Seymour Apple Festival — An old-school small-town fest with live music, food vendors, kids’ contests and a Saturday parade at 10 a.m. Held downtown since 1973 to honor the orchards that once made Seymour the “Land of the Big Red Apple,” it now draws 30,000+ visitors each year. It’s about 40 minutes east of Springfield. Peruse the full schedule on the event website.
- Sept. 13: Lit-Fest at Farmers Market of the Ozarks — A delightfully literary morning for families at Farmers Park, with local authors, family story time, open-mic poetry, and plenty of market browsing to keep little feet busy. The event runs 8 a.m.–1 p.m. at Farmers Park (2144 E Republic Rd). Check the Facebook event listing for details.
Dinner done easy
Pesto Pasta Night: I don’t know how I made it into my 30s before embracing jarred pesto, but here we are. When I have no time and no energy, this is the dinner that still feels like a meal.
The gist (no measuring cups required):
- Boil any pasta. Salt the water so it tastes like the sea.
- While it cooks, warm a protein in a skillet. We do Italian chicken sausage—slice it on the diagonal so it looks fancy—but rotisserie chicken, leftover steak, or a can of chickpeas all work.
- Drain the pasta, toss it back in the warm pot with a big scoop (or the whole jar if it’s small) of pesto, then fold in a vegetable. Cooked broccoli florets are perfect; peas, spinach, or sautéed zucchini are great too.
Finishers (one or two is plenty): A splash of pasta water, squeeze of lemon, shower of Parmesan, black pepper, red pepper flakes, or a drizzle of olive oil.
Rave review: A friend swears by this combo: pasta + 1/2 cup pesto + 1 can of drained chickpeas, then topped with goat mozzarella.
Did you miss last week’s $8 homemade pizza night? Check out the full recipe on the Dear Springfield Mama website.
DEAR SPRINGFIELD MAMA 