Charlotte Parent Charlotte Sep 2019 by Morris Media Network

September 2019 â&#x20AC;¢ Free

Be Your Own Boss Five local parent entrepreneurs share their stories

CHANGING DYNAMIC MEET THE

Fehling 5

Page and Jake Fehling talk kids, parenting and podcasts

of Moms

Fall Festivals + FAIRS charlotteparent.com | SEPTEMBER 2019

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CONTENT › SEPTEMBER 2019

The Fehling Five Take a peek inside the routine of power couple Page and Jake Fehling and their family of five

Parent-preneurs Local parents share their innovative ideas, entrepreneurial journeys and what keeps them motivated

Mom Dynamic Age has no boundary when it comes to finding your mom tribe

IN EVERY ISSUE 2 5 8 9 11 22 32

Editor’s Letter FYI Growing Up Thrive Families Managing Media Excursion Daddy Derek

CALENDAR 23 24 24 27 30

Our Picks Daily Calendar On Stage On Exhibit Fall Festivals and Fairs

ON THE COVER: Page and Jake Fehling (story on page 12). Photo by Weslie Woodley Photography.

Photo by Noah Edwards

20 charlotteparent.com | SEPTEMBER 2019

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Timing Motherhood

urprise, maybe even shock, was the reaction from most people when I announced that I was

morrismedianetwork.com

EDITOR

pregnant with my second child, Jasper.

Michele Huggins

I joke that my husband and I took the

ART DIRECTOR

slow boat to marriage (dating six years) and then the fast train to parenthood (pregnant within three months of getting married). Before we had our first son, Henry, many hints were dropped from well-meaning family about starting a family — you know, things like “so do you think you might like to have a family.” It stung, but everybody does it their way. My husband and I didn’t meet until we were in our late 20s. We enjoyed dating and being single, and I have no regrets for having children “later” in life. It was the right time for us. Motherhood, and when women choose it, has changed in the past 25 years. A few recent findings from the Pew Research Center: 1.

The median age at which women become mothers in the U.S. is 26, up from 23 in 1994. In 1994, more than half (53%) of women in their early 40s had become mothers by age 24; by 2014, this share had fallen to 39%.

Seven-in-10 moms with kids younger than 18 were in the labor force in 2015, up from 47% in 1975. In fact, mothers are the primary breadwinners in four-in-10 U.S. families. In 46% of households with a mother and father, both parents are employed full time, up from 31% in 1970.

Most Americans say women face a lot of pressure to be involved mothers. Roughly eight-in-10 adults (77%) say women face a lot of pressure to be an involved parent; a

Melissa Stutts

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CONTACT US charlotteparent.com 214 W. Tremont Ave., Suite 302, Charlotte, NC 28203 phone: 704-344-1980 • fax: 704-344-1983 email: info@charlotteparent.com advertising@charlotteparent.com Circulation 35,000. Distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of information, products or services. Charlotte Parent reserves the right to reject any advertisement or listing that is not in keeping with the publication’s standards. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

smaller share (56%) says the same about men. The takeaway: Women are still becoming moms, but more moms are working and choosing to start a family later in life. Moreover, being a mom is a job, and we all need mom friends who get it. In the feature “The Changing Ages of Moms ... and Mom Friends,” (page 20) writer Tiffany Wolff discusses how the mom dynamic breaks age barriers “because we all wipe the bottoms of babies and the tears of children.” This month’s cover story showcases power couple and parents Page and Jake Fehling. They share their best tips for keeping sane in the midst of the work-life juggle (page 12). And if you have the entrepreneurial spirit, read about five local parents who took the plunge to start their own businesses (page 16). Fall festival season also kicks off this month. Get the scoop on what’s happening in the roundup on page 30, and find many more fall-fun ideas on charlotteparent.com.

HAVE IDEAS TO SHARE? Email editor@charlotteparent.com.

SEPTEMBER 2019 | charlotteparent.com

A Publication of the Visitor Publications Division of Morris Communications Company, L.L.C. 725 Broad St., Augusta, GA 30901 Chairman President & CEO William S. Morris III William S. Morris IV

Allergies can take some of the fun out of being a kid.

Kid-Free in the QC Life with kids is busy, but you deserve a break. Book that sitter and plan your next date night or day. Whether you’re seeking adventure or a classy dinner uptown, we serve up ideas on how to explore the QC in our latest blog Kid-Free in the QC.

.../blogs

The Digital Issue Connect to Charlotte Parent when you are on the go with the magazine’s tablet edition available via magzter. com. It’s free with a quick sign-up. magzter.com.

If your child suffers from seasonal allergies year after year, it’s tempting to try over-the-counter remedies that may help ease symptoms, but can leave your child groggy or drowsy.

The Doctor Is In

Our board-certified allergists can test to discover exactly what your child is allergic to, create a customized treatment plan that in time can lessen the severity of her symptoms, and, in many cases, cure her allergies altogether!

From how to handle an emergency to understanding doctor jargon, the Doctor Is In blog covers all things health with advice and guidance from local health care experts.

Call 704.372.7900 to schedule an appointment at any of our area office locations.

…/blogs

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charlotteparent.com | SEPTEMBER 2019

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Discover care that always puts you first NovantHealth.org/everywoman © Novant Health, Inc. 2019

Be an Owl Watcher The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is asking the public to report any sightings of barn owls to the agency. Commission biologists are seeking barn owl observations to help them learn more about habitat needs and population distribution of barn owls in the Tar Heel state. Property owners who have N.C. Wildlife Commission biologists are barn owls can help further seeking barn owl observations to help them learn more about the population. biologists’ knowledge by allowing them to place nest boxes on their properties, free of charge. Because barn owls are nocturnal and secretive, nest boxes help biologists learn more about where and when barn owls nest in North Carolina, as well as where they prefer to hunt. Barn owls nest in hollow trees, rock crevices or large man-made structures like barns, silos and sometimes hunting box blinds. Barn owls do not make nests but rather lay their eggs on piles of their own shredded up pellets. They use their nests as roosting sites throughout the year. “Barn owls are excellent natural rodent control for farmers and cattlemen,” says Allison Medford, wildlife diversity biologist with the commission, who is spearheading the effort. “A barn owl eats an average of 79 pounds of mice per year, which is roughly 3.5 mice per day. That’s some considerable free pest management.” To participate, anyone who spots a barn owl and property owners willing to have a next box placed on their property can contact Medford at allison.medford@ncwildlife.org or 910-975-9393. To learn more about barn owls and other raptors, visit the Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville. carolinaraptorcenter.org.

Students Support Peers With Cancer Through Kids in Lidz More than 600 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in the Carolinas. The diagnosis is crushing to families, and also to friends of the child diagnosed. Kids in Lidz, a program through Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas, gives children an opportunity to give back to other children that are battling cancer. The idea was hatched by a North Carolina fifth-grader who wanted to do something for Childhood Cancer Awareness and to show support for a friend she knew that was fighting cancer. The idea is simple: Kids bring a dollar to school, and get to wear their favorite hat throughout the school day. Through a match via a school parent, the first Kids in Lidz raised $1,000 in a day for Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas. The funds help Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas ensure that every Carolina child battling cancer has access to treatment, and an equal fighting chance. Any school in North or South Carolina can participate in Kids in Lidz. To find more information and register, visit childrenscancerpartners.org and fill out the registration form under the Kidz in Lids tab.

Is Your Car Seat Installed Properly? September is Car Seat Safety Month. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies and toddlers be kept rear-facing until at least age 2 for maximum protection. Young children simply are safer riding rear-facing than forward-facing. Every car seat has a different set of minimum and maximum requirements for use, usually specifying weight, height and age requirements. It is legal to begin using a car seat forward facing as long as the child meets all minimum requirements specified for that car seat. A child can transition to a booster seat once they are past the height and weight limits of the car seat. A booster seat is needed until the seat belt fits properly on its own, typically when a child is over 4-feet-9inches tall and between 8 and 12 years old. Want to be sure your car seat is installed properly? Find local child safety-seat checks at safekidscharmeck.org/calendar. Source: buckleupnc.org.

SEPTEMBER 2019

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FYI

Put the Brakes on Back Pain: A Guide to Surviving Sitting in the Carpool Line Sitting in the carpool line to pick up your kids can drive your body crazy – literally. Hours of sitting still as you shuttle children from school to practice and home again, mixed with the vibration of the car, can irritate your back and cause pain and stiffness. Even worse, bad posture, slumping or craning your neck can add to the compression of nerves and decreased circulation. Carol Green, a physical therapist with OrthoCarolina who is also an ergonomic expert, notes that spinal discs receive nutrients when you move, so sitting still for long periods will almost certainly make achiness increase. Following are her tips on how to combat back pain when you are the kid chauffeur. 1. Know your numbers. Ergonomically speaking, when sitting in a car your back and hips should be at a 90-110 degree angle to relieve lower back pressure. You should also use a small lumbar pillow or cushion for support. 2.

Clock in. Hand position on the steering wheel while driving should be at 3 and 9 o’clock, or 4 and 8 o’clock, not 10 and 2 o’clock, to reduce fatigue in the upper back, shoulders, arms and wrists.

Drop the weight. Did you know the weight of your head looking down at your phone adds extra pressure to your neck? Hold your phone at eye level when waiting in the carpool line.

Move when you can. If you can exit the car, stretch or stand and do arm circles to promote blood flow. If you stay in the car, work on neck stretches or squeezing your shoulder blades together.

Admission Open Houses Tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might and the wonders that He has done. Psalm 78:4

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SEPTEMBER 2019 | charlotteparent.com

Carpool lines are part of daily life for many moms, but a physical therapist can assist you with a proper plan to prevent spine problems before they start.

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FYI | people

me a better mother and wife. What is your favorite thing about raising a family in Charlotte? I love the weather because my family loves to spend time outdoors. We love taking our children to Discovery Place Science, Discovery Place Nature and ImaginOn. We also enjoy going for a swim at our area pool, plus there are so many delicious family-friendly restaurants. Proudest parenting moment: Watching Warren meet his baby sister for the first time. He is just the sweetest big brother. If she is crying in the car, comforts her by saying, “Don’t worry Mia, brother is here.” It just makes me melt. I also love that Warren wants to make jewelry at home with me. We have such fun stringing bracelets and necklaces for him and gifts for his friends.

Anne Todd with her husband Andrew Todd and their children Warren and Mia. Photo courtesy

Get to Know: Anne Todd BY MICHELE HUGGINS

nne Todd is the general manager or Beads Incorporated, a local source for beads, jewelry, supplies and instruction. She and her husband Andrew Todd are parents to Warren, 3, and Mia, 1. Where in Charlotte do you live and where did you grow up? I grew up in Charlotte. We live in the Cotswold area and have been in our house for eight years. Our neighborhood has tons of children and there is always someone to play with. Tell us about your job. What’s it like? What do you like most about it? What are the challenges? I am the general manager of Beads Incorporated in Myers Park. My sister Christine owns the company, and I have worked with her for over 10 years. I manage a team of 20 ladies. We teach customers how to make their own jewelry. We also help create custom jewelry. Clients are inspired within our store, and I love helping them learn new techniques. The personal relationships we have with our customers make my job even more special. We help customers of all ages, including children.

Scheduling staff is the hardest part of my job. We have 20 team members, and almost all of them have another job or schooling that to plan around. What’s the hardest part of juggling family life and work life? The hardest part is getting everything completed. There just are not enough hours in the day sometimes. I may have to do work at home once the children go to sleep, or I might need to grocery shop on my lunch break. With children, at each milestone in their development, your routine changes and you have to adapt. Best advice ever received: Slow down and make sure not to miss the special moments in your children’s lives. I believe that it is important for parents to make time for themselves, whether that means having regular massages or date nights. Spending time making myself happy makes

Lowest parenting moment: Warren went through potty-training regression after Mia was born. One time while I was picking up some things at the store, he had an accident in the middle of the aisle. I was mortified. I ran to the paper-towel aisle, cleaned it up as best I could, all while wearing Mia in the Ergo-Baby carrier. What are three things you can’t live without? Lots of bags, Post-it notes and Diet Dr. Pepper. I need bags and Post-its to stay organized, and most mothers, including myself, need a fair amount of caffeine. Favorite Instagram account: @younghouselove Last book read: “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles. What inspires you? I want to be a strong confident role model for both of my children. Everyday, I want to do better so they are inspired to be better. As far as design inspiration, I look everywhere, from nature, art and being around the beads themselves. Michele Huggins is the editor of Charlotte Parent magazine. charlotteparent.com | SEPTEMBER 2019

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GROWING UP

Good Morning Sunshine Building a better morning routine BY MALIA JACOBSON

ack-to-school season brings new backpacks, fresh school supplies, and the return of the morning rush. We aim for a strong start to the day, only to often end up with school mornings snarled in stress. Thankfully, there’s a better way, but you may need a new approach. The key: choosing manageable, age-appropriate goals that build kids’ timemanagement skills and gradually increase their autonomy. Read on for expert-approved strategies aimed at calming the morning rush.

EARLY YEARS

Model Mornings Establishing a steady, manageable morning routine is good for everyone in the family, even kids who haven’t yet started school. Decide on your morning routine along with one or two morning self-care tasks for your child to practice, such as dressing, hair combing or putting on shoes. Some children may even be able to pour cereal and milk, butter toast or complete small morning chores like feeding pets. Just don’t expect speed or perfection. Model the morning behavior you’d like your child to learn. If calm, pleasant mornings are your goal, adopt that attitude yourself. “If you scream, yell, run and throw stuff in the morning, your children will associate mornings with screaming, yelling, running and throwing stuff. They will simply think that this is what mornings should be like,” says educational psychologist Oksana Hagerty, Ph.D., assistant director of the

SEPTEMBER 2019 | charlotteparent.com

Center for Student Success in at Beacon College in Leesburg, Florida. “Remember, learning to do things right always comes before learning to do things fast.” When morning stress does strike, take a few deep breaths to calm yourself before sharing your distress with your child. ELEMENTARY YEARS

Lunch Land Your grade-schooler opts for hot lunch, but then asks for a PB&J minutes before the bus arrives. Your 11-year-old is supposed to pack her own lunch but doesn’t remember until it’s time to leave for school. Sound familiar? School lunch struggles can ruin even the best-laid morning routine, but you don’t have to surrender. A little advance planning can simplify lunch packing and keep mornings on track, says Lisa Richardson, clinical dietician and owner of Carolina Family Nutrition in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. “Sitting down to plan a bit before the school year starts can go far in keeping

lunch choices healthful,” she says. Keep things simple and think like a school menu planner. “Make a rotating two-week menu that you use for the entire semester, with just 10 different lunches. These don’t need to be complicated! Think protein, carb, fruit and a vegetable, and stick to foods you know your child will eat,” Richardson says. “Or families can assign a theme to every weekday, like breakfast for lunch on Monday, taco Tuesday, chicken on Wednesday, cheese and crackers on Thursday and sandwiches on Friday.” Another strategy: Make lunches the previous evening during dinner preparation or cleanup instead of just before bed, when everyone is tired and more likely to forget. TEEN YEARS

Out the Door in a Hurry According to the National Sleep Foundation, teenagers’ biorhythms push them to stay up later and sleep in, and school start times are often earlier for teens than younger children. This gives a new urgency to the morning rush since your tired teenager may need to be out the door earlier than the rest of the family. Streamlining a teen’s morning routine can help maximize sleep, minimize stress and help him make it to his first class on time. Establish a habit of making morning decisions the night before, Hagerty says. “Mornings are not the time to take decisions; mornings are for their implementation.” High-protein, grab-and-go breakfasts can help teens get needed nutrition in a hurry. A high-protein breakfast also can help a teen feel fuller, longer, and can help him manage his weight, Richardson says. Grab-and-go items like slices of ham or turkey, Greek yogurt, fruit, boiled eggs, peanut butter, cottage cheese, and high-protein muffin and pancake mixes can be prepped for quick weekday breakfasts. Even an apple and a slice of cheese while going out the door can give a teen energy for the morning. Malia Jacobson is a nationally published health and family journalist.

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THRIVE Bea Moise, with her son Jacob and daughter Abigail, understands the value of finding time to balance her needs with those of her children.

Balancing Special Needs With Your Needs BY BEA MOISE

aintaining a balance between taking care of a child with special needs child and your needs can prove to be tricky, but it can be done.

Move Your Body: Whether it’s yoga or going on a brisk walk, exercise is essential for your physical and mental health. This likely is not new news to you, but most parents struggle to find the time to exercise despite its benefits. One of the best forms of self-care that I have discovered is yoga. Between work and having two kids sometimes, the gym seems like an additional task to add to my list, but exercise is essential. Yoga gives me time to myself while also helping me with physical exercise. It helps you maintain energy, healthy muscle and bones, and also with brain health. Stop Stressing: There are so many things to stress about as a parent. When you add special

needs to the list, it the stress seems endless. One of the best things that I have learned is that everything is a temporary phase. A child’s development is rapid and can change in a month’s time. The development timeline of child with special needs may be a little slower, but it is still evolving. Give yourself and your child time to acquire a new skill. It may take months, even years, but allow your child to move at their own pace while encouraging and maintaining a positive outlook. Don’t compare your child’s progress — or lack of — to any other child. He or she is on their journey and will arrive when they are supposed to get there. Find Your Tribe(s): It may be necessary to find more than one group of individuals to fully meet your needs. You may have a tribe of friends, teachers and other parents for your neurotypical child, but you need a tribe that understands special needs. The best thing about having a group of individuals who are experiencing the same or something similar to you is to feel connected and not alone in the challenges you face. You also are able to find resources and references, including therapists, psychiatrist, schools, advocates, special-needs lawyers and other professionals to help guide the way. And perhaps most important, a “special needs tribe” can speak about personal experiences that help you feel stronger in the face of challenges. Bea Moise is a board-certified cognitive specialist and parenting coach. She and her husband have two children, Jacob who is on the autism spectrum, and Abigail.

charlotteparent.com | SEPTEMBER 2019

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FAMILIES MANAGING MEDIA

to how kids are progressing in this area. Are they doing their own laundry, learning to cook, organizing the garage and washing the dishes on their own? In order for a child to develop needed grit and life experiences, they need to get their hands off the screens and on the dirty dishes. Here are a few reasons to follow your gut instincts and focus on setting your kids up for success. • You want them to be happy and successful at whatever they choose to do in life. • You want them to be able to finish what they start and be experts at followthrough. • You want them to understand the feeling of accomplishment and not just be a spectator in life. • You want them to be responsible and have personal success in their goals and relationships (career and marriage), and not expect people to carry their load. • You want them to build independence and confidence and move out of the house one day.

Chore Wars: The Parenting Battle Worth Fighting

Why life skills matter more than screen skills BY MELANIE HEMPE

onsider this scenario: You load the dishwasher while your kids laugh at silly videos or mindlessly scroll through Instagram. Or this one: You collect the dirty laundry as your son sits on his bed collecting loot boxes in Fortnite. Many parents have given up fighting about chores because they are losing the screen battle in their homes. Out-of-balance screen usage shows itself in how even the simplest daily tasks are completed. So how do we fix this imbalance? One of the first steps toward screen balance is to evaluate what’s not happening in real life while kids are on their screens, which includes opportunities to build real-life skills. Leisure screen use, video games and social media are easy. Kids crave low-effort, highreward activities, so of course they naturally choose screen time over cleaning the bathroom. Kids say chores are boring, and they are, but learning life skills in childhood matters a lot. The famous Harvard Grant

Study reveals that hard work and chores done in childhood are at the top of the list for the highest predictors for not only life happiness, but also future success across all fronts. In her book “Grit,” Angela Duckworth says, “Highly self-disciplined adolescents outperformed their more impulsive peers on every academic-performance variable. Selfdiscipline predicted academic performance more robustly than did IQ. Self-discipline also predicted which students would improve their grades over the course of the school year, whereas IQ did not. Self-discipline has a bigger effect on academic performance than does intellectual talent.” Developing Self-Discipline What is the best way to build self-discipline? Regular chores. Since we know that habits that are set in childhood have powerful staying power and can have an effect on a child’s future, it is important to pay attention

Enforcing chores and teaching life skills takes strong parenting. It is much easier to avoid the arguments, but learning these life skills are critical for developing delayed gratification, self-control and patience. By giving your children chores, you set them up for success, and they gain a sense of satisfaction and confidence. Children may not love doing what you ask them to do, but every time you give them a chore, remember that you are developing independent humans. Think of your home as a free life-skills workshop, perfection not required. Look for deliberate practice for the things that matter most before they practice more screen entertainment skills. Pause the video games and social media until chores are back in balance in your home. Melanie Hempe is the founder of Families Managing Media. She has a nursing degree and is Mom to four children. Find more resources at familiesmanagingmedia.com.

charlotteparent.com | SEPTEMBER 2019

THE

FEHLING I

With three kids, two demanding jobs, a high-spirited dog and podcasting projects, how do Page and Jake Fehling make it work? BY VIRGINIA BROWN

SEPTEMBER 2019 | charlotteparent.com

Credit Weslie Woodley Photography

It’s a scorching Friday afternoon in Marvin, North Carolina. The kids are at camp, so it’s quiet at the Fehling house. Phyllis, the family’s rescue dog, runs in the room, barking and breaking the calm. She’s a rambunctious 2-year-old with the energy to match the Fehling family of five. Page and Jake Fehling live in on a family compound at the end of a long, fence-lined drive surrounded by other family members. “Crawfish!” Jake Fehling cries out. He tugs open the sliding-glass door and enters the living room. “They found four more.” The pool cleaner skims a net across the water and fishes out the unwelcomed guests. “Page’s brother stocks the lake next to his house with crawfish to feed his bass,” Jake explains. “They’re making their way into pools in the neighborhood.” It’s Friday at the Fehlings’.

Credit Noah Edwards

Big Personalities With Jobs to Match On the Friday after the Fourth of July, 10-year-old Ford, Cal, 9, and June, who’s 6, are all at day camp. Jake had crossed his fingers for a family trip to Williamsburg, Virginia, but for Page Fehling, duty called. The whole family celebrated at the uptown SkyShow fireworks show at BB&T Ballpark. Co-host of Good Day Charlotte on Charlotte’s Fox 46 station, Page brings the same news-anchor level of energy to her home life. Jake works as a vice president of marketing for Page’s brother’s company, Movement Mortgage. They’re both vibrant personalities who have found careers to match. She talks fast, but he keeps up, and they keep it light, joking with each other often. Both graduates of the University of North Carolina, the couple met at a Tar Heel alumni event in New York City in 2005. They were engaged within nine months. In 2007, shortly after they tied the knot, they relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina so Page could pursue on-air work. She joined the NBC affiliate and the family stayed there for seven years, where all three kids were born. They’ve been in Charlotte since 2014 and, believe, as their son says, Charlotte is where all the good things are. Making it Work As co-host of a morning TV program, Page keeps an unusual schedule. She sets her alarm before 2 a.m., and she’s at the studio by 3:30 a.m., if not earlier. That leaves Jake on deck to get the kids dressed and ready for school during the week. “By the time I get to

Phyllis Fehling, the family’s rescue dog, is a rambunctious, loving 2-year-old that fits right in with the Fehling crew.

PAGE AND JAKE’S

work, I already feel like put in a day,” he says. Around noon, when Jake is thinking about lunch, Page gets ready to leave the studio and head home for a nap. School gets out at 2 o’clock, so the kids go to after-school programs until 5:30 p.m., giving Page time to rest and reset before the kids get home. Definite atypical schedules, but they’re the Fehlings’ normal. “Monday through Thursday, we’re on autopilot,” Page says. “During the schoolyear, it’s game, dinner, home, baths — sometimes baths — homework, rinse, repeat.” Lots of takeout and cereal make it a bit more manageable. “People put so much undue pressure on themselves,” says Page. “It’s all about what you value. I’d rather be at the game than home cooking.” On Fridays, they value pizza and family movie night. “If anyone ever asks us to do something on Friday, and we say no because we’re busy — we’re kind of lying,” Page laughs. “Fridays are sacred in our house.” Another thing that’s sacred? Open communication. “Anytime our kids bring up anything that they want to talk to us about, first, we thank them for asking,” Page says. “We appreciate that they’re interested enough in asking the question.” That’s a takeaway from Jake’s mother, but both say they also attend peer groups, where they talk with other parents about what they’re facing and how they tackle tough topics.

TOP 5 PIECES OF SANITYSAVING PARENTING ADVICE 1.

Create your own normal and be honest about it.

Pay other people, especially babysitters, to help you whenever you can. “Babysitters are the saviors of our lives and world,” they joke.

Don’t feel ashamed about No. 2.

“My thing, your thing.” Divvy up to-dos based on what you’re good at and what you like.

This too shall pass. That means the good and the bad, so just live every day as best you can.

charlotteparent.com | SEPTEMBER 2019

With demanding jobs and unusual schedules, there are a couple of rules about which they wholeheartedly agree: Hire help any time you can, and put each other first. On her Instagram account, Page pegs herself “equal parts wife, mom, and early-bird for Good Day Charlotte. … @jakefehling minus the body hair.” The one with the body hair agrees: The relationship comes first. “The greatest day of my life is when I married Page, and then the kids came,” Jake says. “That’s where ‘Date Night with Jake and Page’ came from — it’s really a date night so we can see each other.”

TOP: Friday nights are sacred to the family and reserved for movies and games together. ABOVE: Just the guys (clockwise): Cal, 9, Jake Fehling, and Ford, 10, on the dock by the family’s pond. RIGHT: The ladies, Page Fehling and June, age 6.

SEPTEMBER 2019 | charlotteparent.com

My Thing, Your Thing “We’re definitely score keepers,” Jake says. And, he reasons, a “my thing, your thing” mentality is healthy. If Jake gets a guys’ trip, he explains, Page gets to go to the beach with her girlfriends. Page handles parent-teacher meetings, laundry and dishes. Jake works on the cars and tackles the bills. “There’s no secret contract or sneaking one past the other,” he says. “It’s an equal divide.”

Photos courtesy of Noah Edwards and Jake and Page

The Big-Ideas Couple In a tiny room off the Fehlings’ master-bedroom closet, there’s a small bonus office. Two Carolina-blue stadium chairs — seats 2 and 3 from Chapel Hill’s basketball arena — are retired along the wall. Above them, torn-off, flip-board pages stick to the wall. They’re scribbled with dozens of ideas and goals. This is where the work of Jake and Page — the business duo — happens. They brainstorm episodes of their podcast “Date Night With Jake and Page,” think about topics they want to tackle and guests they’d like to invite to the show. Journalists and marketers by trade, they understand each other’s work and share a need for purpose outside the family. They also share a website, co-emcee events and lead training sessions. Their podcast stemmed from a segment called “Couples Therapy” on Fox 46, in which Page would interview a local celebrity with his or her spouse. “They were so much fun,” Page says, “and I realized you get to see a whole different side of these people.” Recorded in uptown Charlotte, their podcast guests have included Mayor Jennifer Roberts, Panthers player Jonathan Stewart, and Muggsy and Kim Bogues. An offshoot, Page and Jake’s Takes are mini-episodes tackling common parenting topics, like what makes a babysitter good or why it’s so hard to make friends as adults. “Those are my favorites,” Page says. “They’re like self-therapy.” In a recent episode, they talked about distribution of labor at home.

And it’s not just with the two of them. The whole family dives in on weekends for what they’ve dubbed Saturday Sweep. “We aren’t great about staying on top of house and yard work during the week,” Page says. “Instead of making ourselves crazy to keep on it every day, we catch up on Saturdays, when we can fit it in around workouts and games.” Page writes down what needs to get done on a Post-it note so the kids know the next tasks, without asking “What else?” Once the list is completed, the kids get to play or watch a show. The final item? Always give kisses to mom, dad and Phyllis. The Better Way to Balance When it comes to work-life balance, “It’s not about balance,” Page says. “It’s about integration.” She credits life coach Tony Robbins with teaching her a concept that works for the Fehlings: Rather than separate work and home lives, merge them whenever possible. In the evening, when Page has left the

station but needs to take a call from a potential “Good Day” guest, she says she often has to apologize for the loud cheers and background noise from a practice or game. “When I’m at work, I’m still a wife and mom,” Page says. “And when I’m home, I’m still a news anchor.” The kids join both of them at work often, too. “It’s important to us that our kids see us outside just the context of our family,” Page says. “And that our coworkers know us outside the context of work.” These days, they’re thinking about next steps for the podcast, perhaps looking to partner with a nonprofit. They’re also writing a book about having a baby. But mostly they’re just trying to keep up and raise good kids. That seems pretty normal. Virginia Brown is native Charlottean and freelance journalist, writer, and editor who loves sharing stories. Her work appears in Departures, AAA GO magazine, BBC News Magazine, Charlotte magazine, among others. Reach out to her at vbwrites.com.

Saturdays without a podcast, they hire a ’sitter and hit the town. One of their favorite date nights is a pit stop at Resident Culture Brewing in Plaza Midwood and short walk to Soul Gastrolounge for dinner. They’re also fans of Black Chicken, Dreamchaser’s Brewery, and Emmet’s Social Table in close-by Waxhaw.

charlotteparent.com | SEPTEMBER 2019

5 Local Parent Entrepreneurs Talk

Innovative Ideas

Hear what GOT THEM STARTED, and what KEEPS THEM GOING

BY KATIE TOUSSAINT

Inspiration, need, a desire for freedom — parents in Charlotte have started their own businesses for a myriad of reasons. Regardless of motivation, we talked with five Charlotte parents that took the risk of entrepreurship. See what inspires them, how they get the job done and how they are enjoying the rewards with their families.

COURTNEY BUCKLEY

Your Mom’s Donuts While the business name started as a joke that stuck, Courtney Buckley was serious about what she desired in a day job. “I wanted to have a business I could raise a family in, as well as connect to the community, and doughnuts felt like the perfect thing,” Buckley says. Buckley, 33, gave up her work as a farmer to own Your Mom’s Donuts, a craft doughnut shop that has expanded to two locations: the flagship storefront in Matthews, plus a second storefront at Park Road Shopping Center. The brand is known for fried, gourmet doughy goodness made fresh daily with locally sourced ingredients. Standard flavors include powdered sugar and classic glazed, while special flavors have ranged from Nutella raspberry to matcha hibiscus. “I used to just go to the market and make flavors off of what we could get,” Buckley says. “I now

Elle Matchin with her husband Jordan Matchin, and their children Elijah and Margo. Credit: Posh Moments Photography

ELLE MATCHIN

Baked Well

SEPTEMBER 2019 | charlotteparent.com

have an incredible employee who does the majority of flavor development.” Buckley’s donut flavors are never dull, and neither is her family life, which revolves around her three children: Violet May, 6, Lola Rose, 4, and Bridger Angel, 4, plus her partner Sean Ahem. And there’s her “small farm” comprised of horses, dogs, chickens and a cat. Buckley’s challenge at the moment is to find balance and “turn off ” as a small business owner. Her approach: “Find your people! I have an incredible au pair that lives with us so I know how happy my kids are when I’m at work. And I have some incredible staff so I know the business is functioning fully when I can’t be there.” Her motivation: “It doesn’t matter if it were doughnuts or tires, it’s the people that keep me coming back.”

Courtney Buckley owns and operates Your Mom’s Donuts.

Elle Matchin, owner and head chef at Baked Well, took control of her lifestyle when she opened her Matthews storefront staffed with the small, efficient team that ensures her success. “I wanted to be able to have the freedom of choosing how the business would run,” she says. Matchin, 26, who went to school for hospitality management and has a history of working in bakeries, craved variety — from quality breakfasts to customized celebration cakes — and loves to experiment with what’s in season. When she first started baking cakes on the side, her husband Jordan Matchin helped her come up with the business name. The storefront was the bigger challenge. Taking an empty rectangle and turning it into a full-service bakery. Now that the doors are open at Baked Well on Monroe Road near Matthews, her imaginative approach to baked goods is flourishing. She welcomes customer feedback as inspiration for the bakery menu.

JULIE TASSY

Ella B. Candles

Her approach: “Find the right people, give them a clear vision of the goal, and then give them space to learn and grow.” That tactic gives her room to raise her two teens. “Give yourself space from your work,” she says. “Your kids are growing up, and they need you.” She and her husband have implemented a no-talking-aboutwork-at-home policy, which has been a game-changer. When she is talking about work, Tassy loves creating beauty, from candles to culture to team. She also relishes the chance to dream up scent profiles based on her passion for cooking. “A good candle fragrance is like a delicious dish,” she says. “A unique, sometimes unexpected combination of flavors that evoke an emotion and create an ambience.”

Julie Tassy, owner of Ella B. Candles, wanted to teach her two daughters, Ella, 16, and Harper, 17, a lesson with a new venture: How to develop a product line. That started with naming the business. “Since the candles are pure soy, and soy is a bean, our Ella said, ‘My nickname is Ella Bean!’ We shortened the Bean to B., and Ella B. Candles was born,” Tassy says. Tassy, 44, is no stranger to running a business. Before opening the family-run shop featuring hand-poured candles that are now available across the nation, she handled a business that sold personalized gifts. “Customers were asking for something that they could purchase right away,” she says. “Few people had time to wait for something to be embroidered, engraved or personalized.” The Ella B. Candle family (clockwise from left): Ella, Harper, She launched her candle Julie and Christopher Tassy. Photo by Richard Israel line, personalizing each fragrance after a Charlotte neighborhood, including Myers Park, Cotswold and Plaza Midwood, plus streets and landmarks in other cities. At first, she struggled with stretching herself thin, trying to manage the business solo. Now, she works with an amazing team, including her husband Christopher Tassy.

As both a chef and mother to her kids, Elijah, 7, and Margo, 2, confidence is key. “We put out cakes and desserts that we would want to take home to our family. I think people see this and the family environment we create at the bakery, and it keeps them coming back.” Her approach: “Creating boundaries for yourself is so important in order to be sure you are creating healthy habits in [work and family] areas of your life.” For Matchin, that means flexibility (the bakery is open 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday) so that she can be home for dinner, homework and bedtime every night. Her motivation: “I hope that my children will see that if you are passionate about what you do, it is worth going the extra mile to create a business that reflects who you are.”

Adam Jenkins with his wife Ashley Jenkins and their two sons, Finn, 8 and Adler, 11. Photo by Sheri Stanley Photography

ADAM JENKINS

Flavor Seed

Adam Jenkins chased corporate career dreams until a layoff changed his direction. The seed for his next step was planted 20 years prior by his late father who had hopes to one day open a spice company. With the job shift, Jenkins decided to improve the nutritional health of his family while growing his father’s dream. The family embraced an organic lifestyle. “While I was able to take the time to hand blend and combine flavorful combinations for my family, I knew it was very time-consuming and expensive for other busy families,” he says. Jenkins, 43, is principal of Flavor Seed, a spice company featuring organic seasonings that can be purchased online or at local retail locations. He works with the support of his wife, Ashley Jenkins, whom he calls vice president and super mom, while raising their children, Adler, 11, and Finn, 8. Jenkins focuses on flavors he grew up with that were family favorites, plus flavor profiles of his favorite foods. Since overcoming the challenge to achieve organic certification, Flavor Seed’s offerings have sprouted to feature six USDA organic seasonings, from traditional barbecue rub to taco seasoning. More spice mixes are in development, with still others in the test lab. Seeds are a major part of the ingredient list that he uses to evoke flavor. “Before a seed can grow it must first be cultivated, planted in the right environment, given plenty of the proper nutrients, and most importantly, cared for,” he says. “Similar to raising kids.” At the root of his success, Jenkins loves what he does. He hopes to turn Flavor Seed into a family legacy while expanding product reach. In the meantime, he’s focused on flavors and family. “You only get 18 years or so to mold your kids into who you want them to become, and you can’t get that time back.” charlotteparent.com | SEPTEMBER 2019

So You Want to Start Your Own Business By Michele Huggins There’s a certain feeling of freedom just at the idea of being in charge of your own business. Making an idea a reality takes planning, dedication and determination. Before you quit your day job or invest your nest egg into a new business, start with customer discovery, says Ken Leudeman, executive director of Innovate Charlotte and former enterpreneur. “See if anyone is willing to pay you for your great idea,” he says. If you get good feedback and someone is willing to pay, then you know your onto something. Once you’ve crowdsourced, use these tips to go after your next big thing. 1. GATHER INFORMATION. Charlotte Business Resources can connect aspiring business owners to a multitude of business resources to help with getting a business established. charlottebusinessresources.com. 2. SIGN UP. Take advantage of digital resources and let the information come to you. Sign up for newsletters from CharlotteInno for up-to-date information on startups in the city and the people behind them, as well as events like PitchBreakfast and grant opportunities. americaninno.com/charlotte. 3. GET A MENTOR. Studies show that entrepreneurs who get mentored are three times as likely to succeed, Leudeman says. Innovate Charlotte (inclt. org) is dedicated to creating a thriving enterpreneurial ecosystem in the area and has a robust mentoring network. INCLT Mentoring Service connects aspiring business owners with those who have been through the trenches. Other organizations that offer mentoring: • SCORE: Provides expert mentoring and education, including webinars, to thousands of startup and existing businesses. score.org. • Pink Mentor Network: Charlotte’s first female mentorship collective. pinkmentornetwork.com. • Entrepreneurs Organization Charlotte: A peer-topeer network that offers mentoring and events. eonetwork.org/charlotte. 4. MAKE A PLAN. A business plan may seem daunting, but don’t let the process hold you back. You need a plan, and you need to know how you will spend money and how you will make money, but more important is customer discovery, Leudeman says. Michele Huggins is editor of Charlotte Parent magazine.

SEPTEMBER 2019 | charlotteparent.com

Rachel Roff, founder and CEO of Urban Skin Rx. Photo by Chris Edwards

RACHEL ROFF

Urban Skin Rx Rachel Roff knew since high school that she wanted to be an aesthetician who helped people enhance their appearance and self-esteem. She grew up suffering from acne and excess weight, but when she finally joined the industry in Charlotte as an aesthetician, while also working as a part-time waitress, she found a lack of services catering to darker skin tones. “I wanted to open a medspa that specialized in diverse skin,” says Roff, CEO and founder of Urban Skin Solutions Medspa and the Urban Skin Rx line. “From the beginning, my medspa’s promise has been that no matter the color of someone’s skin, they can trust that we have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to safely and effectively help them.” While she may not have been self-assured as a kid, she’s a bold parent entrepreneur. As a single mom to her daughter Rosie, 7, Roff, who is 38, gets the job done at work and at home. She finds inspiration for products and services online and in her everyday life. “I can’t frequent any business without being inspired by ideas.” Her approach: “Don’t walk into the house after work on your phone. Walk in showing your child that you are eager to see them and be present with them,” she says. “My daughter is kind and confident and respectful, so that shows me I’m doing something right.” Her motivation: Her daughter motivates her work and her urge to change the world. “Urban Skin isn’t just a skin care line. It was started because of a huge social injustice in an industry I was passionate about.”

Katie Toussaint is a Charlotte-based writer, editor and yoga teacher. By day, she writes for Union digital marketing agency. At home, she parents her Great Pyrenees fur baby, Maisie.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 NASCAR Hall of Fame, 400 E. M.L.K. Jr Blvd. 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM

FREE and FUN for the whole family!

As parents, we know you might not have the time to visit each individual school. That is why our annual School Fair introduces you to both public and private schools as well as a few local colleges, all in one family-friendly event. charlotteparent.com | SEPTEMBER 2019 Learn more at CharlotteParent.com/schoolfair

The Changing Age of Moms â&#x20AC;Ś and Mom Friends

Find your tribe despite age differences BY TIFFANY WOLFF The air is warm and the conversation is flowing. Three mothers stand in the shade of a tree talking, laughing and watching their children play at a local park. The children, all boys from the same preschool class, are 5 years old.

SEPTEMBER 2019 | charlotteparent.com

The boys play with the same toys, enjoy the same books and look up to the same superheroes. The moms discuss typical mommy things like their child’s sleep patterns, new ice-cream shops and how to sneak extra vegetables into dinner. Aside from their children, the mothers’ interests and life experiences vary widely. This group of moms ranges in age from 26 to 40. One is youthful and slightly less tired looking that the others. One mom was rocking to Pearl Jam while another was being rocked in her mother’s arms. One is more advanced in her career with a longer resume. I am somewhere in between, catching all the jokes and references that are too antiquated for one and too hip for the other. But we make it work. Times Have Changed It’s not uncommon these days for women to choose to have children later in life, but not all women. A report from Pew Research Center shows that the age at which women are becoming mothers has risen across all racial and ethnic groups. In 1994 more than half (53%) of women in their early 40s had become mothers by age 24, but by 2014, this share had fallen to 39%. In 2016, the percentage of women at the end of their child-bearing years (ages 40 to 44) who had ever given birth was 86%, up from 80% in 2006. So women are still having babies, just not as soon as they were 15 years ago. An Internet search or discussion with an OB/GYN can lead to an overabundance of information (often contradictory) about whether moms should have children earlier or later in life, but one thing is clear: One shoe does not fit all, nor does one age fit every mom. Dr. Octavia Cannon of Charlotte’s Arboretum Obstetrics and Gynecology sees a myriad of pregnant women of varying ages. Some of Cannon’s patients marry early and have children sooner.

“I think [younger mothers] adapt to motherhood a little more quickly than the older patients,” she says. She observes that older patients are better equipped financially but are physically and emotionally a bit more challenged. Common Ground Finding your tribe is hard. Finding your tribe while caring for a little one is even harder. Then what about existing friends: Do they still want to hang out now that you’re toting around a new mini-me? Does your child play well with your friend’s child? Does the nap schedule of your new friend’s kids align with your family schedule? It’s complicated. The wide range of parents’ ages can make meeting and befriending other parents difficult, but not impossible. The situation throws us back to the awkwardness that came with dating that older guy in high school or college, except we are no longer swayed by the cool car or varsity team status. As a mom, you walk over to a lady at the playground, questioning your outfit choice, your kids’ behavior and whether or not this guardian is a nanny, grandmother or fellow mom. You gather courage, slap on a smile and say, “Hey. You come here often?” Rest assured, your tribe does not have to be born in the same decade. We do not have to be the same age to connect. Find your tribe, whether they are young, old, tall, short, quiet, loud or any other combination. Truth is, we all wipe the bottoms of babies and the tears of children. We all sniff the heads of newborns and the dirty soccer socks of teenagers. Bonding over our children is something that spans the ages and never goes out of style. Tiffany Wolff is the calendar editor for Charlotte Parent magazine and mom to two boys, ages 5 and 3.

Where to Meet Other Moms LIBRARY STORY TIME The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library presents free, interactive story times for babies and children at branches around town. If you are looking to meet other yoga-pant-wearing moms looking to get out of the house, look no further. These story times often attract the same friendly regulars. MOPS Find a local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group. Despite the name, MOPS has expanded its reach to include mothers of children from infant to school-age. Groups meet at various locations in Charlotte, as well as Cornelius, Fort Mill and Mooresville. LA LECHE LEAGUE Breastfeeding mothers who seek support and companionship can benefit from learning and socializing at a La Leche League of Charlotte. Meetings are open to pregnant women, mothers, babies and children. CHURCHES Many churches offer groups for new parents. Some host meet-up or playdate groups where parents are encouraged to arrive tot-in-tow. Other churches host bible studies that provide child care in the nursery, which allows mom or dad some adult conversation. MEETUP Use technology to your advantage, and check out a Meetup group. There are groups for single parents, stay-at-home parents, moms-only, dads-only, mothers of multiples, playgroups and more. GYMS Meeting at the barre has never been easier. Many gyms around town offer complimentary drop-in child care. Meet friends after yoga at a Charlotte YMCA or during a Burn Bootcamp for sweat-session. Take indoor cycling for a spin at Life Time, and take a moment to introduce yourself to another smiling, sweaty face. charlotteparent.com | SEPTEMBER 2019

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EXCURSION

Explore Reed Gold Mine

Pan for gold and tour the site of the first documented gold find in the U.S. BY JANICE LEWINE

n a lazy Sunday in 1799, while fishing in Little Meadow Creek on his family’s farm in Cabarrus County, young Conrad Reed found a heavy, shiny rock in the water. The Reeds used it as a doorstop for three years until a jeweler in a Fayetteville market identified it as gold that was worth $3,600. That discovery would forever change the lives of the Reed family.

TOUR THE MINE Begin your tour at the visitor center, where the mine’s 113-year history unfolds in an impressive exhibit featuring historical photographs and restored excavation equipment. On display are dozens of gold artifacts, including jewelry, coins, place settings, serving spoons and the helmet of an Apollo 17 astronaut, whose gold-coated visor provided protection against thermal radiation. Just past Little Meadow Creek, where you can view the actual placer pits dug near the creek bed in the early 1800s to locate gold nuggets, Linker Adit awaits (an adit is a horizontal tunnel running through the side of a hill). This is the entrance of Reed Gold Mine and where outcroppings of white quartz rock lured prospectors to dig deeper. The confined, damp and dim mine is 50-feet deep and a constant 55 degrees. It contains beauty only found in

a mine: water trickling down walls bulging with translucent quartz, timbers supporting the sides of chasms and earthencolored surfaces scarred by mining tools. Fascinating sections of Reed Gold Mine include the Stope and Quartz Vein, an area of goldbearing quartz that measures only 5-feet tall by 3-feet wide and features its original floor; Vein 5, where miners used hammers and chisels to drill blasting holes filled with gunpowder for excavation; and the Linker Shaft Room, with its exploratory tunnel and iron bucket that miners used to haul ore, tools and themselves up and down the shaft. PAN FOR GOLD Gold panning is available April 1-Oct. 31, weather permitting, with a charge of $3 per pan for individuals and $2 per pan for groups of 10 or more that make reservations a month in advance. THE STAMP MILL AND OTHER REMNANTS Housed in a barn-like structure, Reed Gold Mine’s stamp mill crushed 5 tons of quartz a day to extract gold, which was then taken to the Charlotte Mint and melted into $2.50 and $5 federal coins. The stamp mill is a restored version that was originally used at Coggins Mine in Montgomery County, and is the same model of mill that was used at Reed Gold Mine.

SEPTEMBER 2019 | charlotteparent.com

The head frame and bucket suspended over Morgan Shaft at Reed Gold Mine. Courtesy of Janice Lewine Other historic remnants dot the 830-acre landscape, including those of Brunerville, a village that contained the miners’ cabins, an office and a blacksmith shop; and the engine house, which powered other ore-crushing mills on the property. Reed Gold Mine was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966. IF YOU GO Reed Gold Mine is located in Midland, North Carolina. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free with additional costs for gold panning. Picnic tables are abundant, so pack a lunch and spend the day touring Reed Gold Mine and walking its 3 miles of scenic nature trails. Call 704-721-2653 for more information. Janice Lewine is the associate editor at Carolina Parent magazine, a sister publication of Charlotte Parent.

30TH ANNUAL GOLD PANNING COMPETITION Race against the clock during the 30th Annual Gold Panning Competition at Reed Gold Mine on Sept. 14. Experienced and novice competitors receive pans containing sand and four gold nuggets, and they must remove as much sand as possible while leaving all four nuggets. Competitions are 10 a.m.-noon for experienced competitors, and 1-3 p.m. for novice competitors. Fees range $5-$15. Learn more at historicsites.nc.gov and search for Reed Gold Mine.

SEPTEMBER 2019 OUR PICKS

COMPILED BY TIFFANY WOLFF

See the Paw Patrol gang live on stage at Ovens Auditorium, Sept. 6-8.

UNC Charlotte International Festival | Sept. 21 Art, crafts, costumes, food, music, dance and games combine to create the experience of traveling the globe in one day. UNC Charlotte, Barnhardt Student Activity Center, 9201 University City Blvd. 10am-6pm. Free. ifest.uncc.edu.

Insane Inflatable 5K | Sept. 28 Run and bounce your way through a maze of inflatables. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a 5K for ages 10 and older. Children ages 4 to 9 can participate in the Krazy Kids Inflatable Fun Run. Expect lots of giggles. Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. All ages, but must be at least 42-inches tall to participate. 8am-noon. $20-$39. insaneinflatable5k.com/event/ charlotte-nc.

Paw Patrol Live: Race to the Rescue | Sept. 6-8 If you know Paw Patrol, you know the theme song and the gang, including Ryder, Marshall, Chase, Skye, Rubble, Rocky, Zuma and Everest. Join the crew as they go on a mission to find Mayor Goodway after she goes missing on the day of a race scheduled with Mayor Humdinger. The show includes two acts and an intermission, and engages audiences with costumes, pup vehicles and pup packs. See website for showtimes. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. $25+. ovensauditorium.com.

Day Out With Thomas | Sept. 27-Oct. 6 Take a 25-minute ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, meet Sir Topham Hatt and enjoy Thomas-themed activities, including stamps, temporary tattoos and music. Train schedule and tickets available on N.C. Transportation Museum.. N.C. Transportation Museum, 411 S. Salisbury Ave., Spencer. $20+. nctrans.org.

All aboard for a jolly good time with Thomas the Tank Engine. Credit Tiffany Wolff

charlotteparent.com | SEPTEMBER 2019

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CALENDAR

1 SUNDAY

Disney’s Aladdin comes to life on stage at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Sept. 10-29. Photo by Deen van Meer.

ON STAGE A Sick Day for Amos McGee. (Through Sept. 1). A heart-warming story about the joys of friendship that includes lively and engaging puppets created for the performance. See website for showtimes. ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center, 300 E. 7th St. Recommended for ages 2-5. $10+. 704-973-2828. ctcharlotte.org. Oliver! (Sept. 6-22). Join young, orphaned Oliver Twist as he navigates London’s underworld of theft and violence, searching for a home, a family and love. See website for showtimes. The Eloise MacDonald Playhouse, 501 Queens Road. 704-372-1000. theatrecharlotte.org. PAW Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue. (Sept. 6-8). It is the day of the Great Adventure Bay Race between Adventure Bay’s Mayor Goodway and Foggy Bottom’s Mayor Humdinger. The show includes two acts and an intermission, and engages audiences with innovative costumes, pup vehicles and pup packs. See website for showtimes. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. $25+. ovensauditorium.com. Disney’s Aladdin. (Sept. 10-29). Aladdin is brought to thrilling theatrical life in this bold new musical full of daring adventure, classic comedy and timeless romance. Hear all the cherished songs from the Academy Award-winning score and more written especially for the stage. See website for showtimes. Blumenthal Performing Arts, 130 N. Tryon St. Recommended for ages 6 and older. $30+. 704-372-1000.blumenthalarts.org. Tosco Music Party. (Sept. 14). Enjoy an eclectic mix of music styles from local musicians, plus audience singalongs throughout the evening. Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St. 7:30pm. $15.50-$34.50. 704-372-1000. toscomusic.org. Disney on Ice: Mickey’s Search Party. (Sept. 20-22). Join Mickey Mouse and his friends on a brand-new adventure filled with world-class skating, high-flying acrobatics and unexpected stunts. See website for showtimes. Spectrum Center, 333 E. Trade St. $20+. disneyonice.com. SEE MORE PERFORMANCES ONLINE AT CHARLOTTEPARENT.COM/CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER 2019 | charlotteparent.com

On Stage: A Sick Day for Amos McGee. See page 24. Fests and Fairs: Matthews Alive!. See page 30. 239th Anniversary of the Battle of Charlotte. Historic Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville. 10-4pm. $9-$10, ages 5 and younger free. Experience the Battle of Charlotte with historic encampments and a battle each day at 2pm. lattaplantation.org. Davidson’s Concerts on the Green. Davidson Village Green, Intersection of Main Street and Concord Road. 6-8pm. Free. Enjoy music outdoors with the family. concertsonthegreen.com. Labor Day Celebration. U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy. Free, $6 for parking; additional fee for activities. Saturday includes yoga, Dry Tri, Aqua Rock Deep Water Solo Climbing Competition and River Jam. Sunday begins with the Labor Day 5K and 15K Trail Race followed by another day of outdoor adventure, yoga and live music, ending with a firework display after sunset. usnwc.org. Sensory Sensitive Sundays at Chuck E. Cheese. Chuck E. Cheese, 7701 PinevilleMatthews Road. 9-11am. Free admission. The restaurant will open early to cater to families of children with special needs. Families can expect smaller crowds, reduced lighting and noise, and specially-trained staff. chuckecheese.com. Summer Raptor Experience. Carolina Raptor Center, 6000 Sample Road, Huntersville. Ages 8 and older. 1-1:30pm. $28-$32. Meet one of the animal ambassadors, and take a tour of the Raptor Hospital. Price includes admission to the Raptor Trail. carolinaraptorcenter.org/ visit/calendar.

2 MONDAY Fests and Fairs: Matthews Alive!; and Charlotte Kosher BBQ. See page 30. Intro to Kayaking. Anne Springs Close Greenway, 2573 Lake Haigler Drive, Fort Mill. 6:30pm. $25. Learn about kayaking, then try basic paddling technique. Registration is required. ascgreenway.org. Storytime at Midwood Park. Midwood Park, 2100 Wilhelmina Ave. Ages birth-5. 11:1511:45am. Free. Bring the family for an outdoor story time with movement activities and songs. cmlibrary.org.

› 3 TUESDAY

5 THURSDAY

Stories in 2 Languages: English and Russian. Matthews Library, 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews. Ages birth-5. 6:30-7pm. Free. Engage your child with stories, songs and activities in English and Russian. cmlibrary.org. Survival Series. Anne Springs Close Greenway, 194 Adventure Road, Fort Mill. Ages 7 and older. 6:30pm. $10-$15. Learn basic outdoor skills for starting a fire in your backyard or navigating the back country. ascgreenway.org. Talk Turtle to Me. McDowell Nature Preserve, 15222 York Road. 2-3pm. Free. Look into the life of a turtle by meeting and learning about them. Also create a recycled turtle craft. Registration is required. parkandrec.com.

Fests and Fairs: Yiasou Greek Festival. See page 30. Art Kiddo Play Date with Sol. Watershed, 2101 Shenandoah Ave. Ages birth-7 years. 4:30-5:30pm. $25. SoL offers children opportunities to explore nature and to create while learning Spanish. themothershipclt.com. Board Game Night at Barnes and Noble: Arboretum. Barnes and Noble: Arboretum, 3327 PinevilleMatthews Road. 6pm. Free. Bring some friends, and come play board games! barnesandnoble.com. Harris Y Kids Konsignment Sale. Harris YMCA, 5900 Quail Hollow Road. Free admission. Shop for clothes, books, gear and toys at this Harris YMCA. For $5, shop the preview sale on Thurs. from 8-9:30pm. Fri., 9am-7pm; Sat., 11am-2pm.; Sun. 2:30-4:30pm. Children ages nine and younger and strollers are not allowed in sales area. ymcacharlotte.org/events.

4 WEDNESDAY Homeschool Rally. ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center, 300 E. 7th St. Ages 10-18. 11am-12:30pm. Free. ImaginOn presents Homeschool Rally for the 2019-2020 school year! Topics change every month. Registration is required. imaginon.org. Homeschool Rally Junior Edition. ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center, 300 E. 7th St. Ages 5-11. 11am-1pm. Free. ImaginOn presents Homeschool Rally for the 2019-2020 school year! Topics change every month. Registration is required. imaginon.org. The Posh Closet Fine Children’s Consignment Sale. South Charlotte Banquet Center, 9009 Bryant Farms Road. Shop for smocked, trunk-show and boutique brands, such as Matilda Jane, Under Armour, Mini Boden and Persnickety. Pre-sale Wed., 6-9pm for $25 per person; Thurs., 10am-12:30pm and 1:30-4pm. theposhclosetsale.com. The Upscale Wee Sale. Shiland Hills Shopping Center, 2685 Celanese Road, Rock Hill. Free. More than 750 consigners sell children’s clothing, gear, shoes, boutique overstock inventory, women’s handbags and more. Wed., 5-9pm; Thurs., 10am-7pm; Fri., 10am-4pm; Sat., 10am-7pm; Sun., 1-4pm. upscaleweesale.com.

6 FRIDAY Fests and Fairs: Cabarrus County Fair; and Yiasou Greek Festival. See page 30. On Stage: Oliver!; PAW Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue. See page 24. Crafty Critters. Latta Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. Ages 4-11. 1:30-2:30pm. $4. Explore the natural world through arts and crafts. Registration and parent attendance required. parkandrec.com. Mountain Bike Fundamentals Group Ride. U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy. 6:15pm. Free, $6 for parking. Complete an instructional session before heading out on a beginner friendly ride. Rent or bring a bike. usnwc.org. Mount Holly Summer Concert Series. Downtown Mount Holly, Mount Holly. 6-10pm. Free. Come down to historic downtown Mount Holly for another awesome Summer Concert Series! mtholly.us. Sensory Art with Heather. Watershed, 2101 Shenandoah Ave. Ages birth-7 years. 9:30-10:45am. $25. Explore many different techniques and materials including paint, clay, print making,

drawing, building and sculpting. themothershipclt.com. Symphony of Sound Hike. McDowell Nature Preserve, 15222 York Road. Ages 7-10. 10-11am. Free. Identify sounds along the trail, from mating calls to warning signals, to discover how animals communicate. Registration is required. parkandrec.com.

7 SATURDAY Fests and Fairs: Cabarrus County Fair; Yiasou Greek Festival; and York County Family Food Truck Festival. See page 30. On Stage: Oliver!; and PAW Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue. See page 24. 2019 Queen City Back To School Festival. The Carole Hoefener Center, 615 E. 6th St. 1-5pm. Free. Enjoy dance performances, and games and activities for the whole family. ASC Culture Blocks: Art Workshop. West Boulevard Library, 2157 West Blvd. 11:30am-12:15pm. Free. 704-416-7400. Learn about Improv, as well as set and costume design. cmlibrary.org. Backcountry Days. The Charlotte Museum of History, 3500 Shamrock Drive. Noon4pm. Free. Explore the multicultural roots of Southern music and traditions with demonstrations, live music, eating, drinking and more. Registration is required. charlottemuseum.org. Family Fun Night: Delta Fire Concert. Mint Hill Town Hall, 4430 Mint Hill Village Lane, Mint Hill. 6:30-9:30pm. Free. Enjoy live music, bounce houses, corn hole, giant Jenga and lots of dancing in the streets. minthill.com. Wonderful World of Sports Family Story Time. Main Library Rock Hill, 138 E. Black St., Rock Hill. Ages 11 and younger. 11am-noon. Free. Get ready, get set and get moving with help from the Winthrop Women’s Basketball Team. Register online. yclibrary.org.

8 SUNDAY Fests and Fairs: Cabarrus County Fair; and Yiasou Greek Festival. See page 30.

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On Stage: Oliver!; and PAW Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue. See page 24. Exploring the Greenway Hike. Anne Springs Close Greenway, 2573 Lake Haigler Drive, Fort Mill. 10am. $5, plus $5 for parking. Hike approximately 2 miles, and stop along the way to talk about various plants, rocks and wildlife. ascgreenway.org. Family Leaf Shape Adventure. Latta Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. Ages 4 and older. 2-3pm. Free. Use your senses to learn more about leaves. parkandrec.com.

9 MONDAY Fests and Fairs: Cabarrus County Fair. See page 30. Nature Detectives: Totally Turtles. Latta Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. Ages 4-6. 1:30-3pm. $6. Explore nature through stories, crafts and activities related to the topic. parkandrec.com. Tumble and Creative Play with Liz. Watershed, 2101 Shenandoah Ave. Ages birth-7 years. 9:30-10:45am. $25. Children practice balancing, rolling and try an obstacle course. Creative play with stories and songs. themothershipclt.com. Young Explorers: Totally Turtles. Latta Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. Ages 2-3. 10:15-11am. $4. Discover nature with your little one through stories, crafts and activities related to the topic. parkandrec.com.

10 TUESDAY Fests and Fairs: Cabarrus County Fair. See page 30. On Stage: Disney’s Aladdin. See page 24. Arts Delivered: Homeschool Clay Workshop. McDowell Arts Center, 123 McDowell St., Matthews. Ages 6 and older. 9:30-10:30am. $15. Kids create a functional, seasonal project. artsdelivered.com. Free Tuesday at the Schiele Museum. The Schiele Museum, 1500 East Garrison Blvd., Gastonia. 4-8pm. Free. Get free entry to The Schiele Museum every second Tuesday afternoon of the month. schielemuseum.org.

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Lego Club. Plaza Midwood Library, 1623 Central Ave. Ages 5-11. 4-5pm. Free. Drop in for Lego Club! cmlibrary.org.

11 WEDNESDAY Fests and Fairs: Cabarrus County Fair. See page 30. On Stage: Disney’s Aladdin; and Oliver!. See page 24. Free Wednesday Evenings at the Mint Museum. Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road, Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St. 5-9pm. Free. Explore the Mint Museum’s exhibitions. mintmuseum.org. Preschool Storytime. Cornelius Library, 21105 Catawba Ave., Cornelius. Ages 3-5. 11-11:30am. Free. Preschoolers engage with books, activities, stories and songs. cmlibrary.org. Sail Again Children’s Consignment Sale of Mooresville. Merino’s Complex, 500 S. Main St., Mooresville. Free. Attend the new pre-sale for $12, Wed., 6-9pm; Thurs. 2-7pm (charity pre-sale with $7 donation); Fri., 10am-7pm; Sat., 9am-7pm; Sun., 9am-5pm; Sun., 7-8pm; Mon., 9am-noon. sailagainlkn.com. Stories in 2 Languages: English and German. Matthews Library, 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews. Ages birth-5. 6-6:30pm. Free. Engage your child with stories, songs and activities in English and German. cmlibrary.org.

12 THURSDAY Fests and Fairs: Cabarrus County Fair. See page 30. On Stage: Disney’s Aladdin; and Oliver!. See page 24. Art Kiddo Play Date with Sol. Watershed, 2101 Shenandoah Ave. Ages birth-7 years. 4:30-5:30pm. SoL offers children opportunities to explore nature and to create while learning Spanish. Stories in 2 Languages: English and Spanish. Beatties Ford Road Regional Library, 2412 Beatties Ford Road. 10:3011am. Free. Engage your child with stories, songs and activities in English and Spanish. cmlibrary.org.

13 FRIDAY Fests and Fairs: Cabarrus County Fair. See page 30. On Stage: Disney’s Aladdin; and Oliver!. See page 24. 2nd Friday Street Festival. Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius. 6-10pm. Free. Come out for live music, food trucks, craft breweries, local artists, kids’ activities and more. Disney Movie Trivia. Belle Johnston Community Center, 1000 Johnston Drive, Pineville. Ages 8 and older. 6:15pm. Free. Questions focus on Disney’s classic animated films. Costumes encouraged. Register your team by Sept. 6. pinevillenc.gov. Matthews Food Truck Fridays. Stumptown Park, 120 S. Trade St., Matthews. 5-9pm. Free. Enjoy food trucks, kids’ activities, craft beer and wine, and weekly bands. matthewsnc.gov. Mount Holly Food Truck Friday. Downtown Mount Holly , 131 S. Main St., Mount Holly. 6-10pm. Free. Enjoy live music, food trucks and a kid zone. mtholly.us. Sounds of Summer in First Ward Park. First Ward Park, 301 E. 7th St. 7-10pm. Free. Relax at First Ward Park listening to live music and enjoying food trucks, craft beer and wine. uptowncharlotteparks.com.

14 SATURDAY Fests and Fairs: Cabarrus County Fair; Harrisburg Multicultural Festival; and Sunflower Festival at Springs Farm. See page 30. On Stage: Disney’s Aladdin; Oliver!; and Tosco Music Party. See page 24. 30th Annual Gold Panning Competition at Reed Gold Mine. Reed Gold Mine, 9621 Reed Mine Road, Midland. 10am-3pm. $3-$15. Experienced gold panners and novices compete. Entry fees range from $5 to $15, and regular panning available for $3.21 for ages 8 and older. nchistoricsites.org/reed/reed.htm. By the Sweat of Our Brows. Historic Brattonsville, 1444 Brattonsville Road, McConnells. 10am-4pm. $5-$8, children 3 and younger free. Learn about the leisure activities that fostered a sense of community among African Americans

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during the 1950s and 1960s. Enjoy softball and baseball, schoolyard games and cooking. chmuseums.org. Healthy Lunchbox. Flour Power Kids Cooking Studios: Quail Corners, 8438 Park Road. 9-10:15am. Free, or pay what you can. Stir up some fun making yogurt fruit bars and ham and cream cheese roll ups at this cooking class for participants with special needs. flourpowerstudios.com. Movies in the Park. Stowe Park, 24 S. Main St., Belmont. 8pm. Free. Bring chairs and blankets to watch movies in the park. cityofbelmont.org. Musical Saturday: Dinos Rock. The Bridge at Arts+, 4100 Raleigh St. $8. Ages 3-8. Discover something new about music or about your favorite dinosaurs. Be sure to wear a dinosaur or music-themed shirt. artsplus.org. Rockin’ the Burg Concert Series. Harrisburg Park, 191 Sims Pkwy., Harrisburg. 6:30-9pm. Free. Enjoy food trucks, children’s activities, including an inflatable and other outdoor yard games and live music. harrisburgnc.org. Veterans Park Car and Truck Show. Veteran’s Park, Main Street and Maxwell Street, Huntersville. 9am-1pm. Free. Check out the car and truck show, as well as the music, family friendly activities, raffle and door prizes. huntersville.org.

15 SUNDAY Fests and Fairs: Sunflower Festival at Springs Farm. See page 30. On Stage: Disney’s Aladdin; and Oliver! See page 24. Cars and Cappuccino. SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Road. 8-10am. Free. See a variety of European sports cars on the third Sunday of every month from May through November. carsandcappuccino.com. Family Nature Scavenger Hunt. Latta Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. 1-1:30pm. Free. Work with your family to discover many hidden treasures found in the nature preserve in this self-guided adventure. parkandrec.com. History Hike. Anne Springs Close Greenway, 291 Dairy Barn Lane, Fort Mill. 2pm. $5, plus $5 for parking. Learn about how the

Buffalo Trail became the main route for the settlers in Fort Mill. ascgreenway.org. WellieWishers Friendship Tea Party. American Girl Southpark Mall, 4400 Sharon Road. Ages 8 and older. 3:30-5pm. $13.50. Put on your wellies, and reserve your spot for the tea party, which includes refreshments, crafts and cupcakedecorating. americangirl.com/retail/ charlotte.php.

16 MONDAY Cultural Exploration: Homeschool Monday. Matthews Library, 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews. Ages 5-11. 2-3pm. Free. Celebrate a new country or time period each month. Five year-old students must be in Kindergarten. Register online. cmlibrary.org. Preschool Playtime. Carolina Stars, 1080 Maxwell Mill Road, Fort Mill. Walking to adult. 10:30am-noon. $5, cash only. Come play in the open gym. All students younger than 3 must have an adult present at all times. carolinastarsgym.com.

17 TUESDAY On Stage: Disney’s Aladdin. See page 24. Story Time and More. Wing Haven Gardens, 260 Ridgewood Ave. Recommended for children younger than 10. 10am-noon. $10 per family, free for members. Enjoy two stories and two craft activities. After the program, play in the garden or stroll the bird sanctuary. winghavengardens.org. Tiaras and Tales Open Play. Tiaras and Tales, 921 Crossroads Plaza, Fort Mill. Ages 3 and older. 10am. $20. Sessions are structured and include a fairy host, tea party with light snack, dress-up clothes, craft, face painting or light makeup, and story time. tiarasandtales.com. Treasure Hunting for Gems. Main Library Rock Hill, 138 E. Black St., Rock Hill. Ages 8-11. 4:30-5:30pm. Free. Join the Schiele Museum for a hands-on gem mining experience at the library. Find, examine and classify minerals. Register online. yclibrary.org.

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See larger-than-life glass sculptures at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden’s Grandiflora: Gamrath Glass at the garden exhibit through Sept. 29. Courtesy DSBG

On Stage: Disney’s Aladdin; and Oliver! See page 24. Big Bang Between: Comic Book Club. Mountain Island Library, 4420 Hoyt Galvin Way. Ages 8-12. 4-5pm. Free. Enjoy crafting, and geek out on everything comics and manga related. cmlibrary.org. Carolina Flipz Tot Time. Carolina Flipz, 11812 Carolina Place Pkwy., Suite B, Pineville. Ages birth-5. 10:30am-noon. $10. Little ones are invited to jump, roll and play. carolinaflipz.com. Stories in 2 Languages: English and French. Matthews Library, 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews. Ages 5-11. 7-7:30 pm. Free. Engage your child with stories, songs and activities in English and French. cmlibrary.org.

19 THURSDAY On Stage: Disney’s Aladdin; and Oliver!. See page 24. ASC Culture Blocks and CM Library Present: Clayworks. Scaleybark Library, 101 Scaleybark Road. 5:30-7pm. Free. Learn how to texturize and manipulate clay to create art. Registration is required. cmlibrary.org. From Page to Screen: Captain Underpants. Hickory Grove Library, 5935 Hickory Grove Road. Ages 5 and older. 5-6pm. Free. Watch the film adaptation of “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.” cmlibrary.org. Fuse Bead Art. Lake Wylie Public Library, 185 Blucher Cir., Lake Wylie. Ages 5-11. 3:30-4:30pm. Free. Use colored fuse beads and create any design you imagine. Register online. yclibrary.org.

20 FRIDAY Fests and Fairs: Festival in the Park. See page 30. On Stage: Disney’s Aladdin; Disney on Ice: Mickey’s Search Party; and Oliver!. See page 24. Backyard Blockbusters. Stallings Municipal Park, 340 Stallings Road, Matthews. 7:30-10pm. Free. Come to Stallings Municipal Park to watch a family movie at sunset. stallingsnc.org. CCP Kid’s Consignment Sale. Covenant Community Preschool, 3415 Union Road, Gastonia. Free. Shop for clothing, toys and gear, but leave strollers at home. Fri., 6-8pm; Sat., 8-11am. covenantcommunitypreschool.com. Crafty Critters. Latta Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. Ages 4-11. 1:30-2:30pm. $4. Explore the natural world through arts and crafts. Registration and parent attendance required. parkandrec.com. Fall Themed Story Time and Craft at SAS Cupcakes. SAS Cupcakes, 9941 Rea Road , Suite C. Recommended ages 18 months-7 years old. 10:30-11:15am. $6. Come for cupcake frosting, a fall themed story and a fall craft. sascupcakes.com. Food Truck Friday Rock Hill. Fountain Park, Old Town Rock Hill, 300 E. Main St., Rock Hill. 6-10pm. Free admission. Food Truck Friday at Fountain Park in Old

ON EXHIBIT The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head. (Through Sept. 8). Designed to develop school readiness and academic skills for young children, Mr. Potato Head leads visitors on adventures ranging from jungle safaris to archeological digs. The exhibit is recommended for children ages 3-8. Mon.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center, 300 E. 7th St. Recommended for age 3-8. FREE. Block Party. (Through Sept. 14). Let the kids build and be creative with large blocks at the interactive building exhibit at the Schiele Museum. The Schiele Museum, 1500 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia. $6-$7, children 3 and younger free, included with admission. Grandiflora: Gamrath Glass at the Garden. (Through Sept. 29). Be mesmerized by dozens of vibrant sculptures by Seattle-based artist Jason Gamrath, including towering 10-foot orchids, vivid pitcher plants, energetic Venus flytraps and more. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, 6500 S. New Hope Road, Belmont. $8-$15, children younger than 2 free, includes garden admission. Never Abandon Imagination: The Fantastical Art of Tony DiTerlizzi. (Through Nov. 3). Never Abandon Imagination showcases nearly 100 original works, featuring illustrations from Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and Tony DiTerlizzi’s many fantasy and children’s books. Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road. $6-$15, children 4 and younger free, included with admission. Claws Exhibit at SEA LIFE Aquarium. (Through Dec. 31). Dive into these crustacean’s habitats, learn crazy crabby facts, and face off with Crabzilla, the Japanese Spider Crab whose legs can span up to 15 feet. SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord Aquarium, 8111 Concord Mills Blvd., Concord. $11-$20, includes museum admission, children younger than 2 free. visitsealife.com/charlotte-concord

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Town Rock Hill features food trucks, local restaurants, beer and wine, children’s activities, and live music. onlyinoldtown. com/foodtruckfriday. Intro to the Trail System. U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy. 6:15pm. Free, $6 for parking. Learn how to read the Whitewater Center’s trail map and understand difficulty ratings. usnwc.org. Movie Night on the Green: “The Incredibles 2.” The Green at Promenade on Providence, corner of Providence Road and Interstate 485. 7pm. Free. Enjoy an outdoor family movie night. promenadeonprovidence.com. Rockin’ and Reelin’ Movie and Concert Series. Pineville Lake Park, 1000 Johnston Drive, Pineville. Free. Come play on the playground, walk around the lake and enjoy music. pinevillenc.gov. Waldhorn Oktoberfest. Waldhorn Restaurant, 12101 Lancaster Hwy., Pineville. 5-11:45pm. $4, children younger than 12 free. Bring the kids to enjoy a pretzel or apple strudel while dancing to German music. Event is cash only. waldhorn.us/oktoberfest.

21 SATURDAY Fall Festivals and Fairs: Downtown Davidson Fall Arts Crawl; Festival in the Park; Latin American Festival; UNC Charlotte International Festival; and Union County Heritage Festival. See page 30. On Stage: Disney’s Aladdin; Disney on Ice: Mickey’s Search Party; and Oliver!. See page 24.

Bilingual Stories and Music. Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road. Recommended for ages 6 and younger. 11:15am-noon. Free. Performers use a combination of bilingual stories (Spanish/ English), music, musical instruments, toys, puppets and games to interact with the audience. mintmuseum.org. Cars and Coffee Concord. Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Pkwy. S., Concord. 7-10am. Free. Car owners and enthusiasts gather to celebrate their passion for cars and showcase their prized classics, customs and hot rods. charlottemotorspeedway.com/ experiences/cars-and-coffee. Lake Wylie Family Kayak Tour. McDowell Nature Preserve, 15222 York Road. Ages 5 and older. 9:30-11:30am. $20 single, $25 tandem. Paddle the edges of McDowell Nature Preserve with certified instructors while enjoying nature. Registration is required. parkandrec.com. Movie Night in Midwood Park. Midwood Park Amphitheater, 2100 Wilhelmina Ave. 8pm. Free. Come out for a night of fun watching some classic films on the big screen and under the stars. Movies begin at dusk. plazamidwood.org. Outdoor Cinema Series. Smithville Park, 19710 S. Ferry St., Cornelius. 8:30pm. Free. Movies are shown on an inflatable screen at locations throughout Cornelius with refreshments available for purchase. cornelius.org. Reduce, Reuse, Consign Sale. Matthews United Methodist Church, 801 S. Tryon St., Matthews. 8am-3pm. Free. For one day only, shop for clothing in sizes ranging from maternity to teen, as well as toys,

gear and more. Sat., 8am-noon and 1-3pm. reducereuseconsign.com. Tega Cay Concert Series. Runde Park, 5110 Windward Drive, Tega Cay. 6-10pm. Free. Come for music, kids’ zone with inflatables and food truck fare. See website for band and food truck. tegacaysc.org.

22 SUNDAY Fests and Fairs: El Grito Mexican Independence Festival; Festival in the Park. See page 30. On Stage: Disney’s Aladdin; Disney on Ice: Mickey’s Search Party; and Oliver!. See page 24. All Ages at Abari Game Bar. Abari Game Bar, 1721 N. Davidson St. 12-5pm. Cost for games. On Saturdays and Sundays from noon-5pm, the arcade bar opens to all ages with a parent or guardian present. abarigamebar.com.

23 MONDAY Nature Detectives: Leaf Kitchen. Latta Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. Ages 4-6. 1:30-3pm. $6. Explore nature through stories, crafts and activities related to the topic. parkandrec.com. World Culture Club: Japan. Lake Wylie Public Library, 185 Blucher Cir., Lake Wylie. Ages 11-17. 5:30-6:30pm. Free. Explore other cultures while doing fun activities and having snacks from other places. Register online. yclibrary.org. Young Explorers: Leaf Kitchen. Latta Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. Ages 2-3. 10:15-11am. $4. Discover nature with your little one

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through stories, crafts and activities related to the topic. parkandrec.com.

24 TUESDAY Toddler Tuesdays at Barnes and Noble: Arboretum. Barnes and Noble: Arboretum, 3327 Pineville-Matthews Road. 9:30am. Free. This weekly story time includes classic tales and new favorites. barnesandnoble.com. Toddler Tuesday at Dish It Out. Dish It Out, 7828 Rea Road, #C. Ages 5 and younger. 10am-noon. $3 per hour. Come paint pottery with your toddler for just $3 per hour. dishitout.net.

25 WEDNESDAY Sunset Kayak. Anne Springs Close Greenway, 2573 Lake Haigler Drive, Fort Mill. 7:30pm. $15-$25. Kayak the still waters of Lake Haigler. Children younger than 11 must be accompanied by an adult in a tandem kayak. ascgreenway.org. Toddler Storytime at Barnes and Noble: Morrison Place. Barnes and Noble: Morrison Place, 4020 Sharon Road. 11am. Free. Come join story time with other families. barnesandnoble.com.

26 THURSDAY Homeschool Explorer Program. Wing Haven Gardens, 260 Ridgewood Ave. Ages 4-16. Noon-4pm. $5. Come explore the SEED Wildlife Garden with other homeschool students, and enjoy a picnic lunch. winghavengardens.com. River Jam. U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy. 7-10pm. Free, $6 for parking. River Jam brings live

The Charlotte Parent calendar lists free and low-cost local and regional events for children and families. To submit an event for consideration, go to charlotteparent.com/calendar, then click on Submit an Event. Submission deadline for print is the 1st of the month prior to the next month’s publication. Time, dates and details of events are subject to change. Call venue to confirm.

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CALENDAR Union County Heritage Festival. (Sept. 21). Expect live entertainment, food, vendors, educational and creative activities for kids, free talks, art, raffles, a 5K race and cooking demonstrations. Be sure to also check out the Union County 4-H Expo. Union County Agricultural Center, 3230 Presson Road, Monroe. 9am-4pm, race at 8am. Free. mastergardenersunioncountync.org.

Festival In The Park Happens At Freedom Park, Sept. 20-22.

FALL FESTIVALS AND FAIRS Matthews Alive Festival. (Aug. 30-Sept. 2). Enjoy vendors, food, Kids Connection area, games, rides and four stages of entertainment, plus a parade Saturday at 10:30am. Downtown Matthews. Fri., 6-10pm; Sat., 10am-10pm; Sun., 1-9pm; Mon. 9am-5pm. Free admission. matthewsalive.org. Charlotte Kosher BBQ. (Sept. 2). For those that love barbecue, enjoy sampling barbecue, watermelon and pickle-eating contests, live music, a kids’ zone and mechanical bull riding. Levine Jewish Community Center, 5007 Providence Road. 11am-3pm. Free admission. charlottekosherbbq.com. Yiasou Greek Festival. (Sept. 5-8). A Charlotte tradition complete with cultural exhibits, homemade Greek food and pastries, entertainment, live music, dancing, art, and the Kids Playland with rides, face painting and games. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 600 East Blvd. Thurs., 11am-9pm; Fri. and Sat., 11am-10pm; Sun. noon-6pm. $3, children 12 and younger free. yiasoufestival.org. Cabarrus County Fair. (Sept. 6-14). Experience rides, food, entertainment

and petting zoo. Cabarrus Arena and Events Center, 4751 NC Hwy. 49 N., Concord. Fri., 4-11pm; Sat. 1-11pm; Sun. 1-10pm; Mon.-Thurs. 4-10pm. $5-$8, children 5 and younger free. cabarruscountyfair.com.

Festival in the Park. (Sept. 20-22). Enjoy music, food, vendors, talented artists and a relaxed atmosphere. Freedom Park, 2435 Cumberland Ave. Fri., 4-9pm; Sat., 10am-9pm; Sun., 10am-5pm. Free. festivalinthepark.org.

York County Family Food Truck Festival. (Sept. 7). Bring the family out to enjoy a variety of foods, vendors and entertainment including bounce houses, photo booth, face painting, balloon animals, laser tag and trampolines. Heritage International Ministries Conference Center, 375 Star Light Drive, Fort Mill. Noon-6pm. Free. oldeenglishdistrict.com.

Downtown Davidson Fall Arts Crawl. (Sept. 21). Browse more than 40 of the area’s best artisans and enjoying live music and an interactive children’s art area. Downtown Davidson. 5-9pm. Free. ci.davidson.nc.us.

Harrisburg Multicultural Festival. (Sept. 14). Discover different cultures through arts, music, fashion, dance and food. Harrisburg Park, 191 Sims Pkwy., Harrisburg. 11am-5pm. Free. harrisburgnc.org. Sunflower Festival at Springs Farm. (Sept. 14-15). Enjoy food trucks, wagon rides and cut-your-own sunflowers. Springs Farm, 835 Springfield Pkwy., Fort Mill. Sat., 10am-6pm; Sun., 1-6pm. Free, $5 for parking. springsfarm.com.

Latin American Festival. (Sept. 21). Enjoy Latin American food, performances, crafts, art and activities for the whole family. This year’s festival headliners are Nacho and Celso Piña. Aldersgate, 3800 Shamrock Drive. Noon8pm. Free until 2pm; $10 after 2pm. latinamericancoalition.org. UNC Charlotte International Festival. (Sept. 21). Art, crafts, costumes, food, music, dance and games combine to create the experience of traveling the globe in one day. Barnhardt Student Activity Center-UNC Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd. 10am-6pm. Free. ifest.uncc.edu.

SEE MORE FALL FESTIVALS AND FAIRS AT CHARLOTTEPARENT.COM.

SEPTEMBER 2019 | charlotteparent.com

El Grito Mexican Independence Festival. (Sept. 22). Enjoy Mexican street food, live music, cultural dances,vendors, lucha libre, outdoor games and bounce houses for the kids. Mexican attire is welcome and encouraged. Aldersgate, 3800 Shamrock Drive. Noon-6pm. Free. elgritocharlotte.com. ArtWalk and MusicFest of Matthews. (Sept. 28). Enjoy the arts and crafts market, live performances, a high school art exhibit and the hands-on children’s area. The Green at Matthews Station, 210 Matthews Station St., Matthews. 10am-6pm. Free. matthewschamber.org. Dog Gone Good Time Festival. (Sept. 28). The festivities include an amazing day with your pooch, sponsors, vendors, family activities and doggy games. Walter Y. Elisha Park, 345 N. White St., Fort Mill. 10am-2pm. Free. humanesocietyofyorkcounty.org. Piedmont Pottery and Pickin’. (Sept. 28). Shop for pottery, enjoy hands-on activities and historic cooking demonstrations. barbecue available for purchase. Historic Brattonsville, 1444 Brattonsville Road, McConnells. 10am-4pm. $5-$8, children 3 and younger free. chmuseums.org. ‘Tawba Walk Arts and Music Festival. (Sept. 28). Local vendors, two stages of live entertainment, local craft beer, food trucks and kids’ zone with inflatables. Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius. 2-8pm. Free. oldtowncornelius.com

› musical performances to the world’s largest man-made whitewater river. usnwc.org/riverjam. STEAM 101. Matthews Library, 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews. Ages 9-12. 4-5pm. Free. Participate in a variety of hands-on science experiments. Innovate, experiment and explore the arts. Register online. cmlibrary.org. Yoga Storytime. Beatties Ford Road Regional Library, 2412 Beatties Ford Road. 10:30-11am. Free. Bring your family out to enjoy stories coupled with fun and easy yoga moves. cmlibrary.org.

27 FRIDAY Fests and Fairs: Art of Sound Music Festival. See page 30. Friday Flicks: Mulan. Crooked Creek Park, 5900 Oakwood Lane, Indian Trail. 6pm. Free. Grab a chair or blanket, and come enjoy the bounce house, face painting, yard games and movie. Activities start at 6pm, and movie starts at dusk. indiantrail.org. Movies in the Park Rock Hill. Fountain Park, Old Town Rock Hill, 300 E. Main St., Rock Hill. 7:30-11:30pm. Free. Enjoy food trucks or a picnic. onlyinoldtown.com. STEM Expo at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Pkwy. S., Concord. Grades K and older. 9am-1pm. $20 students, adults free. Students can take part in hands-on STEM demonstrations, see live emergency response shows and have the opportunity to test their speed and agility just like the pit crews. charlottemotorspeedway.com.

28 SATURDAY Fests and Fairs: ArtWalk and MusicFest of Matthews; Dog Gone Good Time Festival; Piedmont Pottery and Pickin’; and ‘Tawba Walk Arts and Music Festival. See page 30. All Ages at Abari Game Bar. Abari Game Bar, 1721 N. Davidson St. 12-5pm. Cost for games. On Saturdays and Sundays from noon-5pm, the arcade bar opens to all ages with a parent or guardian present. abarigamebar.com. Beaver Cove Exploration. McDowell Nature Preserve, 15222 York Road. Ages 6 and older. 10:30am-noon. Free. Get an up-close look at a beaver lodge and a possible beaver sighting in this 1.5-hour hike. Registration is required. parkandrec.com. Fall Themed Story Time and Craft at SAS Cupcakes. SAS Cupcakes, 9941 Rea Road, Suite C. Recommended ages 18 months - 7 years old. 10:30-11:15am. $6. Come for cupcake frosting, a fall themed story and a fall craft. sascupcakes.com. Insane Inflatable 5K. Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. All ages (42-inch height minimum). 8am-noon. $20-$39. Run and bounce your way through

CALENDAR

the Insane Inflatable 5K. Children ages 4 to 9 can participate in the Krazy Kids Inflatable Fun Run, a short fun run. insaneinflatable5k.com/event/charlotte-nc. Reptile and Amphibian Day. The Schiele Museum of Natural History, 1500 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia. 10am-3pm. $3 in addition to museum admission ($6-$7, children 3 and younger free). See and touch snakes, alligators, turtles, frogs and other live reptiles and amphibians from across the globe. Cheer on the turtles in the race, search for live species around the pond, and enjoy a variety of family activities. schielemuseum.org. Stone Theaters: Sensory Friendly Screenings. Stone Theaters, RedStone 14 Cinemas, 9650 Red Stone Drive, (Park West 14 in Mooresville, Sun Valley 14 in Indian Trail, RedStone 14 in Indian Land), Indian Land. 10am. $5. Sensory Friendly Screenings are designed for a sensitive audience in a safe and accepting environment. stonetheatres.com/ sensoryfriendlymoviescreenings.

29 SUNDAY All Ages at Abari Game Bar. Abari Game Bar, 1721 N. Davidson St. 12-5pm. Cost for games. On Saturdays and Sundays from noon-5pm, the arcade bar opens to all ages with a parent or guardian present. abarigamebar.com. Legend of Johnny Appleseed. Latta Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. Ages 4-12. 2-3pm. $4. Come celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day a few days early with apple crafts and activities. Adult participation required. parkandrec.com. Story Explorers: Hispanic Heritage Month. Myers Park Library, 1361 Queens Road. 6:15-7pm. Free. Explore books and stories in creative ways through interactive activities in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. cmlibrary.org. Teri’s Kidz Consignment Sale. Merino’s Complex, 500 S. Main St., Mooresville. Free. Shop clothing in sizes from infant to size sixteen, toys, baby gear, book, dance and holiday clothing, school uniforms, and more. Sun., 1-7pm; Mon.-Wed., 9am-7pm; Thurs., 9am-7pm; Fri., 9am-8pm. See website for pre-sale exclusive dates. terikidzconsignment.com.

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30 MONDAY Sunset Kayak. Anne Springs Close Greenway, 2573 Lake Haigler Drive, Fort Mill. 6:15 pm. $15-$25. Kayak the still waters of Lake Haigler. Children younger than 11 must be accompanied by an adult in a tandem kayak. ascgreenway.org. Yoga Storytime. Cornelius Library, 21105 Catawba Ave., Cornelius. 6-6:30pm. Free. Enjoy stories coupled with fun and easy yoga poses. cmlibrary.org.

SEPTEMBER 2019

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DADDY DEREK

Time to Work on You BY DEREK JAMES

arenting can be exhausting, especially during kids’ younger years. Whatever free time you have usually is spent getting an overdue oil change, cleaning the gutters, mowing the lawn or working on a do-it-yourself project that never seems to get any closer to completion. Your life’s passions and interests, in many ways, tend to get neglected. Many parents wear this as a badge of honor, sacrificing themselves and their hobbies and dedicating time to help support and grow their children’s interests, but we should never lose sight of personal interests and the things that spark inspiration — aside from the kids. Now that my boys are 8 and 11, I’ve decided to spend more time focusing on my personal development and some of my personal interests. Whether it’s trying to network more in my career field, making time for running and exercise, or just spending more time with friends, I’m making an effort to do a little more for me. Keep in mind, I’m talking about something deeper than getting a massage or a pedicure. Looking good is fine, but it’s not going to give you as much satisfaction as actually committing to doing something for the longterm that helps develop an interest, skill or affinity. At times, I know I’ve sacrificed my personal ambitions in favor of getting some extra sleep. A couple of years ago, I got back into running partially because of my older son’s interest in it. I trained with him for several 5ks and now coach his Let Me Run team at his elementary school. I never ran with any adults. My

Derek James and Jeffrey Dellapina are part of an adult run club. Courtesy Derek James

assistant coach, Jeffrey, convinced me to try a run club that he attends each week at Pizza Peel in Matthews. I did, and I was hooked. It is a lot of fun to take part in an activity I enjoy with others my age. There’s no pressure to run at a particular pace. I can go for a personal record running with people who are training for major races, or take it easy and just enjoy the September weather. It’s 90 minutes or so once a week that I focus on me. It’s a physical and mental pick-me-up. It also centers me and puts me in a good place for the week. I feel rejuvenated, at least for a day or two. I encourage you to find your version of a run club. Take a class that could help you in your career or teach you a skill you’ve always wanted to learn, whether it’s cooking, photography, creative writing, painting or bowling. Catch up with friends who make you feel good, spend time outdoors or go watch a sporting event with a local fan club. My wife, who is a high school choral director, enjoys singing outside of a classroom and has sung with a church choir from time to time.

SEPTEMBER 2019 | charlotteparent.com

Once you find what it is that rejuvenates you, don’t feel guilty that you are enjoying yourself without your kids. By taking time to and committing do something for yourself, you are teaching your children an important lesson about the value of investing in yourself. This may lead them to get back into something they may have pushed aside, or could inspire them to try something new. Another perk? While you are working on you, your spouse is getting some quality time with the kids. Our children are our worlds, but that doesn’t mean we as parents should set aside our own interests and curiosity. As we move into the cooler, fall months, remember to carve out time for your, too. By finding more personal focus and fun, the more energized you’ll be for the time with kids. Derek James is a host of WCCB News Rising. He and his wife have two boys, ages 8 and 11.

Saturdays and Sundays Sep 14th – Oct 27th

Saturdays and Sundays Nov 2nd – Nov 17th

With a free Pre-K Pass to Carowinds, kids ages 3–5 get unlimited visits in 2019 and 2020. Come to enjoy the bigger and better Great Pumpkin Fest and the all-new Peanuts Celebration. Plus, the return of WinterFest with the debut of the Wonderland Parade.