A Saturday in the Life of a Henderson Mom
By: Julia Eisner
There’s something sweet about Saturdays. In our house, it’s our one slower-paced morning of the week—no school drop-offs, no packed lunchboxes, just my two pajama-clad boys, my 4 year old Will, and 2 year old Jack, who wake up ready for fun.
After we finish our traditional Saturday morning banana and blueberry pancakes we I like to start out our Saturday with one my favorite indulgences… Sunrise Coffee House.
If you haven’t been, it’s powered by Mothership Coffee (so yes, the caffeine situation is solid), but it’s got a laid-back, family-friendly vibe that makes it one of my favorite places to kick off the day with littles. There’s a cozy sitting nook inside where my boys will actually sit and color (thanks to the coloring pages they provide at the counter) and If that doesn’t last long (and let’s be honest, it usually doesn’t) we migrate outside to the shaded patio where I can sip my matcha latte while the boys chase shadows. They have the full mothership menu here and while I’m usually a boring coffee kind of girl, their rotating menu of specialty drinks gets me trying something new. I also love that the proceeds of a specific drink each month go to charity as well. The boys share a gluten free chocolate chip oatmeal cookie, and just a quick tip… they’ll ask you if you want it heated, but don’t it’s a mess…way better cold!
Right across the street is a tucked-away lesser known playground locations at Sunset Park. It’s quiet and breezy and are are almost always the only ones there. With plenty of shade and beautiful greenery all around it’s one of my favorite hidden gems. We always make a quick stop here after we visit Sunrise Coffee.
Sunrise Coffee House
By mid-morning, we’re headed to the Henderson Farmer’s Market at Cornerstone Park for a peek at all the booths. It’s held every Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM, and the market's family-friendly atmosphere makes it easy to shop while keeping an eye on my little ones. My favorite things to snag at the produce stand are the pink lemons! They are naturally sweet and make for a great activity in the afternoon. My boys get so excited to pull out the juicer and all we have to do is peel them and throw them in and we have pink lemonade!
One unexpected delight right now at Cornerstone Park is the musical art installation (running through the end of May). They get to crank the handles on these giant musical sculptures that play songs as they move, and there’s even a guitar-shaped one that doubles as a slide. It's one of those rare activities that entertains both my kids at once—which is gold. Will cranks the crank while Jack dances his hear hearts out. I kind of wish this installation could stay forever.
Cornerstone Park
If the kids aren’t completely wiped (and that’s a big if), we’ll usually grab lunch or a little treat. Here are a few of our local favorites:
For a sweet treat: Un Poko Krazy – With a “krazy” wide menu selection of sweet treats this this place is great for snacking with the kids and it’s our go to for ice cream pops on hot afternoons
For Lunch: Rachel’s Kitchen – When I’m looking for something slightly more elevated than drive-thru, this is my spot. Call me basic, but I’m all about their avocado toast! There’s plenty of outdoor seating for kids to be, well, kids and my kid’s favorite part is that they have a robot that serves the food!
If I’ve remembered to pack a change of clothes even I’ll let the kids run through the District’s splash pad before we go.
Splash Pad at The District
For extra play Uptown Jungle– Okay, this one is more of a splurge day activity, but it’s an indoor play space packed with climbing structures, trampolines, and even a toddler-friendly zones. It’s a great option if the weather isn’t cooperating or if we just need a safe place to let them burn energy. My kids are right in the in-between stage where they are too big to want to stay in the toddler area and too little to let them run free unsupervised, so when we take them it’s a both parents-hands on activity (given my kids always run in opposite). They’re so worn out after a day here it’s totally worth it!
So that’s a snapshot of our typical weekend rhythm—coffee, community, and a lot of chasing ducks. Henderson has a way of surprising you with its little pockets of calm, color, and creativity—and as a mom of two energetic boys, I’m always grateful to have those spaces nearby.
