Hunting family fun in the Triangle this weekend? You’ll find loads of events for kids, from a visit with the Magic Tree house authors in Raleigh and Durham, to a free kite festival in Cary and a St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival in Raleigh. There’s also a free kids’ activity program about skyscrapers and a free Reptile and Amphibians Day, both in downtown Raleigh.

Magic Tree house authors Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce will be appearing Saturday, at 1 p.m., at Quail Ridge Books & Music, at 3522 Wade Ave., Raleigh; and Sunday, at 2 p.m., at Regulator Bookshop, at 720 Ninth St., Durham. You’ll need to have a ticket to attend this event, and tickets are free with the purchase of either of their new Magic Tree House books at The Regulator.

On Saturday, Cary’s 15th Annual Kite Festival offers you a chance to share the joy of kite flying with your kids for free. Seasoned and amateur kite fliers are invited to the multi-purpose field at Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 801 High House Road, in Cary, on starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, (rain date March 14) for an afternoon of spring fun, including an educational workshop, demonstrations and kite flying contests.

The Raleigh St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicks off at noon on Saturday, and when it’s over, the Wearin' 'O the Green Festival begins in Moore Square in downtown Raleigh. Enjoy live music and dancing, as well as kids’ games and activities. Browse vendor booths featuring Irish organizations, Irish jewelry and other trinkets as well as food.

In downtown Apex at 8 p.m. Saturday, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the Halle Cultural Arts Center with Barrowburn, a Raleigh-based acoustic Celtic music. The show features traditional Irish music, with special guests ithe Rude Troll Celtic Band and the Inis Cairde School of Irish Dance. Tickets are $8 and available at the box office or etix.com. The Halle Cultural Arts Center is located at 237 N. Salem St.

The Raleigh City Museum is inviting kids to a free program about Skyscrapers of Raleigh from 2-3 p.m. on Saturday. It’s a chance to explore Raleigh architectural past and learn about how skyscrapers are built and how they have changed over time and their future. Children will receive a Skyscrapers of Raleigh Coloring Book and have a chance to design their own tower at the downtown Raleigh museum.

Also in downtown Raleigh, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, you’ll find Reptiles and Amphibians Day at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. Hold your first snake or check out some of the first reptiles ever, 230-million-year-old fossilized creatures found in the quarries of nearby Chatham County.

With rain in the forecast, don’t forget to call ahead to see if any events have been moved. And if you’re heading indoors to the movies, check out Jean’s Movie Choices for Kids first, to see what’s appropriate for your tot, twee or teen.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Museum’s annual Reptile & Amphibian Day turns up the heat

Hold your first snake or check out some of the first reptiles ever, 230-million-year-old fossilized creatures found in the quarries of nearby Chatham County, when the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh, hosts its free Reptile & Amphibian Day on Saturday, March 13, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This year’s theme is “Hot Herps” ― Museum parlance for venomous and poisonous reptiles and amphibians ― and showcases an amazing array of live animals ranging from a Gila monster, the only venomous lizard native to the United States, to poison dart frogs from the New World Tropics, to venomous snakes from North Carolina and around the world.

Visitors can also get up close to non-venomous species from African Rock pythons and green anacondas to squirrel treefrogs, veiled chameleons and bearded dragons. Learn how to keep your herp pet healthy from local vets and hear what’s being done about a recent but rising threat to amphibians worldwide, the chytrid fungus. Take in presentations on topics ranging from how snakes eat to how to treat snakebites. Kids can also enjoy story time with live animals or make their own herp buttons to take home.

The event is co-sponsored by the North Carolina Herpetological Society with additional support from Chick-fil-A and Pepsi. Food and beverages will be available for purchase inside from the Museum’s Acro Café and outside from Chik-fil-A. A special Herp Shop also will also have a selection of T-shirts, posters and books on reptiles and amphibians for sale. The Museum is located in downtown Raleigh at 11 West Jones Street. Free street-side and lot parking is available. For more details on Reptile & Amphibian Day, please call (919) 733-7450, ext. 502 or 523.

Additionally, Prairie Ridge Ecostation, the Museum’s outdoor education facility in west Raleigh, is hosting a Reptile & Amphibian Day Roundup from 3 to 4pm, where visitors can join a naturalist in the search for cool (blooded) critters. For information or to register for this free educational program, contact Cathy Fergen at 919.733.7450 x671 or cathy.fergen@ncdenr.gov. For directions, visit http://www.naturalsciences.org/visitor-info.  

The Raleigh City Museum is inviting kids to a free program about Skyscrapers of Raleigh from 2-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 13. It’s a chance to explore Raleigh architectural past and learn about how skyscrapers are built and how they have changed over time and their future. Children will receive a Skyscrapers of Raleigh Coloring Book and will have a chance to design their own tower.

Second Saturday is a new children’s program offering at the Raleigh City Museum occurring the second weekend of every month. Each month will cover a new theme and aspect of Raleigh history. Kids will enjoy craft stations and the overall museum experience as they learn about our Capital city.

The Raleigh City Museum is located in the Historic Briggs Building at 220 Fayetteville Street. Call (919) 832-3775 ext. 23 or visit http://www.raleighcitymuseum.org for more information.

Briggs Hardware, Raleigh’s first skyscraper

I consider myself to be a pretty caring and compassionate person. I'm patient, tolerant and open-minded. But sometimes I make mistakes. I am not perfect and don't pretend to be.

I make mistakes and I hope that my son will learn from me and be a better person than I am.

This morning I read a post on Why You Shouldn't Use the R Word and found myself in tears at my desk. I am completely guilty of using the R word and I even have a pretty profound reason not to.

As a teen-ager, the word "retarded" was a regular part of my teen-angst ridden vocabulary. It referred to everything - my teachers, my assignments, my friends, life, my mother - all in theory. An eye-roll and a "That's so retarded" was common place. I never really meant the person, it was more of "the idea" of said thing that was retarded.

Lord knows my mother tried to teach me better. She'd make me aware of how often it came out of my mouth. She would tell me how horrible it sounded, but I didn't listen. She understood the hurt I was causing, but I didn't get it.

As I got older, the use of the word lessened, but I'm embarrassed to admit that it still slips out on occasion.

And there's no good reason why it does.....and a whole lot of reasons why it shouldn't.

My mom's older sister was born with a mental handicap during an era when it was PC to actually refer to people as retarded. It's an ugly term...and the fact that I know it's ugly causes me even more shame when I think about myself using it. My aunt is the most wonderful, amazing person. She can't speak, hear or talk - but she's funny and clever and more of her mind works than most people could imagine. Her quirks and sneakyness causes much joy in our family around holidays and celebrations. And I have hurt her. Not intentionally - and she doesn't even know it - but I have.

Through reading Tanis's post, I have seen the uglyness in me and I don't like it.

And I don't want it for my son.

We are already working on not using foul language in our house (it's not going so well) and we definitely don't want the word "stupid" being used. We're finding ways to say what we mean and use actual words that show intelligence and not lazy language. Because really, most of the time we use slang in place of other words because we're too lazy to think of something better to say. In our household, we're teaching "not smart" in place of "dumb or stupid". And I'm trying to say "That's so silly" in place of other words that aren't so nice.

Another word that I am extremely guilty of using OUT OF CONTEXT is the term "gay". I never mean it in the term of happy or homosexual, but instead to mean ridiculous, not smart or boring. I am publicly acknowledging that I want to work on this...and I WANT YOU TO CALL ME OUT IF YOU HEAR ME DO IT! It's rude. And to be honest, until a few months ago, I never really thought about how it was rude or who it was hurting. However, I am pretty sure that if someone used the term "That's so Erin" and meant boring or ridiculous, my feelings would be hurt. So why do I do it? When people make gestures or noises that make fun of people with mental handicaps, I get incensed and infuriated, so why would I use the word and think it's any different?

I was wrong and I'm sorry.

I want my son to be better. For him to be better, I have to be better.

I want to teach my son about love, empathy, the kindness of strangers. I want him to make smart choices and to be a person that others admire. I want him to be able to admit when he's wrong. I know as he grows that he'll adapt his own persona, his own ideals, morales and values - but as I teach him, as he learns from me, I want him to see goodness.

I want him to feel hope.
I want him to know how to express himself.
I want him to be thoughtful.
I want him to be intelligent.
I want him to change the world.

And I want him to be better than me.

– Written by Erin Lane, mother, wife and director of marketing at Scandinavian Child in Raleigh. Read more posts at www.motherhoodintheindustry.blogspot.com . Erin's blog won the Parent Picks 2009 award for best local blog for Raleigh/Durham. 

Do you use a baby sling? I did with both of my kids and found them to be indispensable, but the government is preparing to issue a safety warning about these infant carriers because of concern that infants suffocate in them, according to the Associated Press. The warning, expected to go out this week, comes on the heels of deaths associated with the slings.

Are you an organ donor? My teen son and husband are, but I’m not yet. This true story of an 11-year-old North Carolina girl and a local couple is making me think about becoming one: On March 16, Ken Burris and Jen Ballentine, of Sanford, will begin a 7,000-mile journey across the United States using TerraTrikes as their means of transportation. The primary purpose of their TerraTrike Tour is to educate as many people as possible about the importance of organ donation.

Their motivation for doing this comes through Jen's 11-year-old daughter, Alexandria Kai Ballentine. In 1999, Alex and her mother had a discussion about organ donation. Alex told Jen that if something happened to her she did not want her organs wasted if they could be given to someone that could use them. That decision became significant when, just six months later, Alex was hit by a car and killed while walking across the street. Jen honored her daughter's wishes and donated Alex's organs. Alex’s donated organs and cornea’s saved five lives and gave two others the gift of sight. The tour is in memory and honor of Alex.

During their tour at an event hosted by Donate Life CO and Donor Alliance, Inc., Ken and Jen will meet the recipient of Alex’s heart. Born with a heart defect, Dillon, now 11 years old, was just 2 years old at the time of his transplant. The operation was a success. About 28,000 lives were saved as a result of organ donation last year, according to Carolina Donor Services in Durham, where the couple will be starting their tour cross country tour on Tuesday. The public is invited to attend the send-off from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Carolina Donor Services, located at 3621 Lyckan Parkway.

Sometimes, it takes our kids to lead the way.

— Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

On a recent Sunday morning visit to the gym, someone left me a secret message.

I have to say it put a smile on my face and a curiosity in my mind. It left me wondering how many lives could be changed with the power of a little encouragement.

I opened my gym locker to find a note saying "don't ever let anyone tell you that you aren't beautiful. Pass on the message that you are beautiful and keep it going." from www.operationbeautiful.com.

I grinned like a high schooler. I immediately put it in the locker of the girl next to me and witnessed her shine too. It was funny to me how a small anonymous note made my day, perhaps my week.

But isn't that what every girl wants? To feel beautiful and for others to notice it too? I couldn't think of a more perfect place for Operation Beautiful to be in full affect then at the gym. Sometimes women can be our own worst enemies, especially in our heads.

I spent some time checking out the Operation Beautiful website and enjoyed reading all the fun ways other women had come up with passing on the beauty effect. I immediately made a mental note to pick up some fun post-it notes to become an ambassador for the cause.

The world could use more beauty in it, especially beginning in our own hearts.

To learn more, visit www.operationbeautiful.com.

- Written by Cara McLauchlan, whose blog, Joy Goggles, celebrates the simple joys of life. It’s a chance to look at our days through “Joy Goggles” and discover the beauty in ordinary moments.

If you’re enrolling your child for kindergarten for the 2010-11 school year, you might be interested in going to a free information session about kindergarten in the Wake County Public School System.

The 90-minute sessions designed for adults only are being held across Wake County on Mondays and Thursdays during March by Project Enlightenment, a WCPSS early childhood education and intervention program. It’s a chance to learn how to help get your child ready for the new experience of kindergarten and how to ease that transition. No reservations are necessary. Click on this flier for meeting times and locations. Call Project Enlightenment for more information at 856-7774.

Project Enlightenment is facing budget cuts for upcoming school year in Wake County, but it would be a great loss to parents and children, if its services—many of which are free—disappear. The program reaches children from birth through kindergarten, promoting their development at a time when their brain is developing most rapidly. Catch them then, and you can propel them to success.

I know. When I moved to a small town in Indiana, I discovered Project Enlightenment. Alone in a new town with a busy, curious toddler, far from family and friends, I felt alone and often worn out by my new job of parenting. But soon I was getting home visits from a wonderful woman who worked with Project Enlightenment. She taught me how to keep my child entertained with activities that stimulated his brain. He looked forward to each visit from her because of the “games” she taught me to play with him, from dipping into a hat with eye shut and guessing what was inside, to exploring colors through painted “butterflies” made of paper towel sheet and pipe cleaners. She opened a world of exploration for both me and my son, and helped me be a better parent.

In Wake County, Project Enlightenment offers parent counseling, support and education, home visits, and a Talk Line, where parents, teachers, child care providers, others can call to get advice about young children. There’s also a parent teacher resource center. Project Enlightenment services are building better kids through parents. If they’re cut, we’ll just end up paying the price later in life. — Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Stroller Strides, the nation’s largest fitness program for new moms, has landed in Raleigh and is offering offering a free fitness class Wednesday, March, 10 during its grand opening event at Crowder Park on Ten Ten Road. 

Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. at Crowder Park, located at 4709 Ten Ten Road, Apex. Meet at Heron pavilion. The free Free Stroller Strides class runs from 10-11 a.m.; and from 11 a.m. to noon, kids can enjoy an activity, plus tthere'll be refreshments, door prizes, and discounts available on Stroller Strides courses.

In the event of rain/inclement weather, the event will be held at XL Soccer World, 5600 Hillsborough St in Raleigh. An update will be posted on our website and toll-free number (888-389-0701) by 8am the day of the event if we move indoors. 

You can pre-register for the event at: http://tinyurl.com/freestrollerstridesclass  or call 1-888-389-0701 or email jen.kedrowski@strollerstrides.net with your contact information.

“Stroller Strides is a great way to get back in shape, as well as stay in shape,” said Jen Kedrowski, owner of Stroller Strides of Raleigh. “We present a fun opportunity for the moms of the Raleigh community to turn their strollers into a workout.”

Stroller Strides is a total fitness program for new moms that they can do with their babies or stroller-age children. It includes power walking and intervals of body toning using exercise tubing and the stroller. Taught by nationally certified instructors, it’s a great workout for any level of exerciser. In 60 minutes, you will get a total body workout improving your cardiovascular endurance, your strength and your flexibility. The classes are equally beneficial for babies as instructors will weave songs through the workout and incorporate activities to make it fun.

In addition to the classes, Stroller Strides offers playgroups, mom’s night out, and community service activities, giving women an opportunity to socialize and further relationships.

“We provide the outlet that moms need to enjoy time with other moms, while also focusing on the much needed exercise to fuel their demanding lives,” Kedrowski said. “You can make new friends, get into shape and enjoy time with your baby.” Stroller Strides differs from other mom/baby programs in that the monthly membership option allows moms to come as often as they want (up to four days/week currently) and benefit from a regular workout routine, for about the same price as other once/week mom/baby activities.

According to Kedrowski, Stroller Strides allows women to exercise in a social atmosphere and children can benefit from watching their moms participate, providing fitness for mom, and fun for baby.

One of my best childhood memories is of flying a kite with my father. The gift of time with a parent gazing at a kite dancing in the sky is a treasure we keep as grown-ups. This weekend Cary’s 15th Annual Kite Festival offers you a chance to share the experience with your kids for free.

Seasoned and amateur kite fliers are invited to the multi-purpose field at Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 801 High House Road, Cary, on Saturday, March 13 (rain date March 14) starting at 1 p.m., for an afternoon of spring fun, including an educational workshop, demonstrations and kite flying contests. The event is free and open to the public.

Kites Unlimited from Atlantic Beach will host a stunt kite demonstration at 1 p.m., and at 1:45 p.m., kite fliers will launch their kites to become eligible to win various award certificates, including Youngest Kite flier, Oldest Kite flier, Quickest Take-off, Most Generations Flying a Kite, Best Tangle, Best Crash (my favorite!) and more. Demonstrations will continue throughout the event, depending on the wind, and award winners will be announced at 2:30 p.m. There is no cost to participate in the Kite Festival, but registration is required and will begin at 12:30 the day of the festival.

“Our annual Kite Festival is a great way to enjoy the Spring weather in Cary,” said Tracey Filomena, Recreation Program Specialist. “If you don’t have a kite, registration is open for a kite-making course scheduled for the morning of the festival.”

Before the Kite Festival, children can build a kite on Saturday, March 13 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Bond Park Community Center. Kite Capers art class is for ages 3-5, and High in the Sky is for ages 5-10. The cost of each class is $12 for residents and $16 for non-residents. Registration is required and can be completed online using EZ-REG Web or by calling (919) 469-4100.

Learn more about the 15th Annual Kite Festival at www.townofcary.org or call (919) 469-4100.  — Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Looking for more free local fun for the kids? Check www.CarolinaParent.com's daily Calendar and Storytimes and Weekly Events.and Bunny Sightings and Egg Hunts in the Triangle.

Hunting family fun in the Triangle this weekend? You’ll find loads of events for kids, from a visit with the Magic Tree house authors in Raleigh and Durham, to a free kite festival in Cary and a St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival in Raleigh. There’s also a free kids’ activity program about skyscrapers and a free Reptile and Amphibians Day, both in downtown Raleigh.

Magic Tree house authors Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce will be appearing Saturday, at 1 p.m., at Quail Ridge Books & Music, at 3522 Wade Ave., Raleigh; and Sunday, at 2 p.m., at Regulator Bookshop, at 720 Ninth St., Durham. You’ll need to have a ticket to attend this event, and tickets are free with the purchase of either of their new Magic Tree House books at The Regulator.

On Saturday, Cary’s 15th Annual Kite Festival offers you a chance to share the joy of kite flying with your kids for free. Seasoned and amateur kite fliers are invited to the multi-purpose field at Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 801 High House Road, in Cary, on starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, (rain date March 14) for an afternoon of spring fun, including an educational workshop, demonstrations and kite flying contests.

The Raleigh St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicks off at noon on Saturday, and when it’s over, the Wearin' 'O the Green Festival begins in Moore Square in downtown Raleigh. Enjoy live music and dancing, as well as kids’ games and activities. Browse vendor booths featuring Irish organizations, Irish jewelry and other trinkets as well as food.

In downtown Apex at 8 p.m. Saturday, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the Halle Cultural Arts Center with Barrowburn, a Raleigh-based acoustic Celtic music. The show features traditional Irish music, with special guests ithe Rude Troll Celtic Band and the Inis Cairde School of Irish Dance. Tickets are $8 and available at the box office or etix.com. The Halle Cultural Arts Center is located at 237 N. Salem St.

The Raleigh City Museum is inviting kids to a free program about Skyscrapers of Raleigh from 2-3 p.m. on Saturday. It’s a chance to explore Raleigh architectural past and learn about how skyscrapers are built and how they have changed over time and their future. Children will receive a Skyscrapers of Raleigh Coloring Book and have a chance to design their own tower at the downtown Raleigh museum.

Also in downtown Raleigh, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, you’ll find Reptiles and Amphibians Day at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. Hold your first snake or check out some of the first reptiles ever, 230-million-year-old fossilized creatures found in the quarries of nearby Chatham County.

With rain in the forecast, don’t forget to call ahead to see if any events have been moved. And if you’re heading indoors to the movies, check out Jean’s Movie Choices for Kids first, to see what’s appropriate for your tot, twee or teen.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Museum’s annual Reptile & Amphibian Day turns up the heat

Hold your first snake or check out some of the first reptiles ever, 230-million-year-old fossilized creatures found in the quarries of nearby Chatham County, when the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh, hosts its free Reptile & Amphibian Day on Saturday, March 13, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This year’s theme is “Hot Herps” ― Museum parlance for venomous and poisonous reptiles and amphibians ― and showcases an amazing array of live animals ranging from a Gila monster, the only venomous lizard native to the United States, to poison dart frogs from the New World Tropics, to venomous snakes from North Carolina and around the world.

Visitors can also get up close to non-venomous species from African Rock pythons and green anacondas to squirrel treefrogs, veiled chameleons and bearded dragons. Learn how to keep your herp pet healthy from local vets and hear what’s being done about a recent but rising threat to amphibians worldwide, the chytrid fungus. Take in presentations on topics ranging from how snakes eat to how to treat snakebites. Kids can also enjoy story time with live animals or make their own herp buttons to take home.

The event is co-sponsored by the North Carolina Herpetological Society with additional support from Chick-fil-A and Pepsi. Food and beverages will be available for purchase inside from the Museum’s Acro Café and outside from Chik-fil-A. A special Herp Shop also will also have a selection of T-shirts, posters and books on reptiles and amphibians for sale. The Museum is located in downtown Raleigh at 11 West Jones Street. Free street-side and lot parking is available. For more details on Reptile & Amphibian Day, please call (919) 733-7450, ext. 502 or 523.

Additionally, Prairie Ridge Ecostation, the Museum’s outdoor education facility in west Raleigh, is hosting a Reptile & Amphibian Day Roundup from 3 to 4pm, where visitors can join a naturalist in the search for cool (blooded) critters. For information or to register for this free educational program, contact Cathy Fergen at 919.733.7450 x671 or cathy.fergen@ncdenr.gov. For directions, visit http://www.naturalsciences.org/visitor-info.  

The Raleigh City Museum is inviting kids to a free program about Skyscrapers of Raleigh from 2-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 13. It’s a chance to explore Raleigh architectural past and learn about how skyscrapers are built and how they have changed over time and their future. Children will receive a Skyscrapers of Raleigh Coloring Book and will have a chance to design their own tower.

Second Saturday is a new children’s program offering at the Raleigh City Museum occurring the second weekend of every month. Each month will cover a new theme and aspect of Raleigh history. Kids will enjoy craft stations and the overall museum experience as they learn about our Capital city.

The Raleigh City Museum is located in the Historic Briggs Building at 220 Fayetteville Street. Call (919) 832-3775 ext. 23 or visit http://www.raleighcitymuseum.org for more information.

Briggs Hardware, Raleigh’s first skyscraper

I consider myself to be a pretty caring and compassionate person. I'm patient, tolerant and open-minded. But sometimes I make mistakes. I am not perfect and don't pretend to be.

I make mistakes and I hope that my son will learn from me and be a better person than I am.

This morning I read a post on Why You Shouldn't Use the R Word and found myself in tears at my desk. I am completely guilty of using the R word and I even have a pretty profound reason not to.

As a teen-ager, the word "retarded" was a regular part of my teen-angst ridden vocabulary. It referred to everything - my teachers, my assignments, my friends, life, my mother - all in theory. An eye-roll and a "That's so retarded" was common place. I never really meant the person, it was more of "the idea" of said thing that was retarded.

Lord knows my mother tried to teach me better. She'd make me aware of how often it came out of my mouth. She would tell me how horrible it sounded, but I didn't listen. She understood the hurt I was causing, but I didn't get it.

As I got older, the use of the word lessened, but I'm embarrassed to admit that it still slips out on occasion.

And there's no good reason why it does.....and a whole lot of reasons why it shouldn't.

My mom's older sister was born with a mental handicap during an era when it was PC to actually refer to people as retarded. It's an ugly term...and the fact that I know it's ugly causes me even more shame when I think about myself using it. My aunt is the most wonderful, amazing person. She can't speak, hear or talk - but she's funny and clever and more of her mind works than most people could imagine. Her quirks and sneakyness causes much joy in our family around holidays and celebrations. And I have hurt her. Not intentionally - and she doesn't even know it - but I have.

Through reading Tanis's post, I have seen the uglyness in me and I don't like it.

And I don't want it for my son.

We are already working on not using foul language in our house (it's not going so well) and we definitely don't want the word "stupid" being used. We're finding ways to say what we mean and use actual words that show intelligence and not lazy language. Because really, most of the time we use slang in place of other words because we're too lazy to think of something better to say. In our household, we're teaching "not smart" in place of "dumb or stupid". And I'm trying to say "That's so silly" in place of other words that aren't so nice.

Another word that I am extremely guilty of using OUT OF CONTEXT is the term "gay". I never mean it in the term of happy or homosexual, but instead to mean ridiculous, not smart or boring. I am publicly acknowledging that I want to work on this...and I WANT YOU TO CALL ME OUT IF YOU HEAR ME DO IT! It's rude. And to be honest, until a few months ago, I never really thought about how it was rude or who it was hurting. However, I am pretty sure that if someone used the term "That's so Erin" and meant boring or ridiculous, my feelings would be hurt. So why do I do it? When people make gestures or noises that make fun of people with mental handicaps, I get incensed and infuriated, so why would I use the word and think it's any different?

I was wrong and I'm sorry.

I want my son to be better. For him to be better, I have to be better.

I want to teach my son about love, empathy, the kindness of strangers. I want him to make smart choices and to be a person that others admire. I want him to be able to admit when he's wrong. I know as he grows that he'll adapt his own persona, his own ideals, morales and values - but as I teach him, as he learns from me, I want him to see goodness.

I want him to feel hope.
I want him to know how to express himself.
I want him to be thoughtful.
I want him to be intelligent.
I want him to change the world.

And I want him to be better than me.

– Written by Erin Lane, mother, wife and director of marketing at Scandinavian Child in Raleigh. Read more posts at www.motherhoodintheindustry.blogspot.com . Erin's blog won the Parent Picks 2009 award for best local blog for Raleigh/Durham. 

Do you use a baby sling? I did with both of my kids and found them to be indispensable, but the government is preparing to issue a safety warning about these infant carriers because of concern that infants suffocate in them, according to the Associated Press. The warning, expected to go out this week, comes on the heels of deaths associated with the slings.

Are you an organ donor? My teen son and husband are, but I’m not yet. This true story of an 11-year-old North Carolina girl and a local couple is making me think about becoming one: On March 16, Ken Burris and Jen Ballentine, of Sanford, will begin a 7,000-mile journey across the United States using TerraTrikes as their means of transportation. The primary purpose of their TerraTrike Tour is to educate as many people as possible about the importance of organ donation.

Their motivation for doing this comes through Jen's 11-year-old daughter, Alexandria Kai Ballentine. In 1999, Alex and her mother had a discussion about organ donation. Alex told Jen that if something happened to her she did not want her organs wasted if they could be given to someone that could use them. That decision became significant when, just six months later, Alex was hit by a car and killed while walking across the street. Jen honored her daughter's wishes and donated Alex's organs. Alex’s donated organs and cornea’s saved five lives and gave two others the gift of sight. The tour is in memory and honor of Alex.

During their tour at an event hosted by Donate Life CO and Donor Alliance, Inc., Ken and Jen will meet the recipient of Alex’s heart. Born with a heart defect, Dillon, now 11 years old, was just 2 years old at the time of his transplant. The operation was a success. About 28,000 lives were saved as a result of organ donation last year, according to Carolina Donor Services in Durham, where the couple will be starting their tour cross country tour on Tuesday. The public is invited to attend the send-off from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Carolina Donor Services, located at 3621 Lyckan Parkway.

Sometimes, it takes our kids to lead the way.

— Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

On a recent Sunday morning visit to the gym, someone left me a secret message.

I have to say it put a smile on my face and a curiosity in my mind. It left me wondering how many lives could be changed with the power of a little encouragement.

I opened my gym locker to find a note saying "don't ever let anyone tell you that you aren't beautiful. Pass on the message that you are beautiful and keep it going." from www.operationbeautiful.com.

I grinned like a high schooler. I immediately put it in the locker of the girl next to me and witnessed her shine too. It was funny to me how a small anonymous note made my day, perhaps my week.

But isn't that what every girl wants? To feel beautiful and for others to notice it too? I couldn't think of a more perfect place for Operation Beautiful to be in full affect then at the gym. Sometimes women can be our own worst enemies, especially in our heads.

I spent some time checking out the Operation Beautiful website and enjoyed reading all the fun ways other women had come up with passing on the beauty effect. I immediately made a mental note to pick up some fun post-it notes to become an ambassador for the cause.

The world could use more beauty in it, especially beginning in our own hearts.

To learn more, visit www.operationbeautiful.com.

- Written by Cara McLauchlan, whose blog, Joy Goggles, celebrates the simple joys of life. It’s a chance to look at our days through “Joy Goggles” and discover the beauty in ordinary moments.

If you’re enrolling your child for kindergarten for the 2010-11 school year, you might be interested in going to a free information session about kindergarten in the Wake County Public School System.

The 90-minute sessions designed for adults only are being held across Wake County on Mondays and Thursdays during March by Project Enlightenment, a WCPSS early childhood education and intervention program. It’s a chance to learn how to help get your child ready for the new experience of kindergarten and how to ease that transition. No reservations are necessary. Click on this flier for meeting times and locations. Call Project Enlightenment for more information at 856-7774.

Project Enlightenment is facing budget cuts for upcoming school year in Wake County, but it would be a great loss to parents and children, if its services—many of which are free—disappear. The program reaches children from birth through kindergarten, promoting their development at a time when their brain is developing most rapidly. Catch them then, and you can propel them to success.

I know. When I moved to a small town in Indiana, I discovered Project Enlightenment. Alone in a new town with a busy, curious toddler, far from family and friends, I felt alone and often worn out by my new job of parenting. But soon I was getting home visits from a wonderful woman who worked with Project Enlightenment. She taught me how to keep my child entertained with activities that stimulated his brain. He looked forward to each visit from her because of the “games” she taught me to play with him, from dipping into a hat with eye shut and guessing what was inside, to exploring colors through painted “butterflies” made of paper towel sheet and pipe cleaners. She opened a world of exploration for both me and my son, and helped me be a better parent.

In Wake County, Project Enlightenment offers parent counseling, support and education, home visits, and a Talk Line, where parents, teachers, child care providers, others can call to get advice about young children. There’s also a parent teacher resource center. Project Enlightenment services are building better kids through parents. If they’re cut, we’ll just end up paying the price later in life. — Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Stroller Strides, the nation’s largest fitness program for new moms, has landed in Raleigh and is offering offering a free fitness class Wednesday, March, 10 during its grand opening event at Crowder Park on Ten Ten Road. 

Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. at Crowder Park, located at 4709 Ten Ten Road, Apex. Meet at Heron pavilion. The free Free Stroller Strides class runs from 10-11 a.m.; and from 11 a.m. to noon, kids can enjoy an activity, plus tthere'll be refreshments, door prizes, and discounts available on Stroller Strides courses.

In the event of rain/inclement weather, the event will be held at XL Soccer World, 5600 Hillsborough St in Raleigh. An update will be posted on our website and toll-free number (888-389-0701) by 8am the day of the event if we move indoors. 

You can pre-register for the event at: http://tinyurl.com/freestrollerstridesclass  or call 1-888-389-0701 or email jen.kedrowski@strollerstrides.net with your contact information.

“Stroller Strides is a great way to get back in shape, as well as stay in shape,” said Jen Kedrowski, owner of Stroller Strides of Raleigh. “We present a fun opportunity for the moms of the Raleigh community to turn their strollers into a workout.”

Stroller Strides is a total fitness program for new moms that they can do with their babies or stroller-age children. It includes power walking and intervals of body toning using exercise tubing and the stroller. Taught by nationally certified instructors, it’s a great workout for any level of exerciser. In 60 minutes, you will get a total body workout improving your cardiovascular endurance, your strength and your flexibility. The classes are equally beneficial for babies as instructors will weave songs through the workout and incorporate activities to make it fun.

In addition to the classes, Stroller Strides offers playgroups, mom’s night out, and community service activities, giving women an opportunity to socialize and further relationships.

“We provide the outlet that moms need to enjoy time with other moms, while also focusing on the much needed exercise to fuel their demanding lives,” Kedrowski said. “You can make new friends, get into shape and enjoy time with your baby.” Stroller Strides differs from other mom/baby programs in that the monthly membership option allows moms to come as often as they want (up to four days/week currently) and benefit from a regular workout routine, for about the same price as other once/week mom/baby activities.

According to Kedrowski, Stroller Strides allows women to exercise in a social atmosphere and children can benefit from watching their moms participate, providing fitness for mom, and fun for baby.

One of my best childhood memories is of flying a kite with my father. The gift of time with a parent gazing at a kite dancing in the sky is a treasure we keep as grown-ups. This weekend Cary’s 15th Annual Kite Festival offers you a chance to share the experience with your kids for free.

Seasoned and amateur kite fliers are invited to the multi-purpose field at Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 801 High House Road, Cary, on Saturday, March 13 (rain date March 14) starting at 1 p.m., for an afternoon of spring fun, including an educational workshop, demonstrations and kite flying contests. The event is free and open to the public.

Kites Unlimited from Atlantic Beach will host a stunt kite demonstration at 1 p.m., and at 1:45 p.m., kite fliers will launch their kites to become eligible to win various award certificates, including Youngest Kite flier, Oldest Kite flier, Quickest Take-off, Most Generations Flying a Kite, Best Tangle, Best Crash (my favorite!) and more. Demonstrations will continue throughout the event, depending on the wind, and award winners will be announced at 2:30 p.m. There is no cost to participate in the Kite Festival, but registration is required and will begin at 12:30 the day of the festival.

“Our annual Kite Festival is a great way to enjoy the Spring weather in Cary,” said Tracey Filomena, Recreation Program Specialist. “If you don’t have a kite, registration is open for a kite-making course scheduled for the morning of the festival.”

Before the Kite Festival, children can build a kite on Saturday, March 13 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Bond Park Community Center. Kite Capers art class is for ages 3-5, and High in the Sky is for ages 5-10. The cost of each class is $12 for residents and $16 for non-residents. Registration is required and can be completed online using EZ-REG Web or by calling (919) 469-4100.

Learn more about the 15th Annual Kite Festival at www.townofcary.org or call (919) 469-4100.  — Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Looking for more free local fun for the kids? Check www.CarolinaParent.com's daily Calendar and Storytimes and Weekly Events.and Bunny Sightings and Egg Hunts in the Triangle.