Art&Seek Jr. is one mom‘s quest to find activities to end the seemingly endless chorus of the “I’m Bored Blues” while having fun herself.  Impossible you say? Check back on Tuesdays for kid-friendly events that are fun for adults, too.

This weekend is Rose’s birthday—well, not technically. Her birthday is Tuesday but we’re celebrating on Saturday with a good old fashion back yard birthday party.  Rose has opted for a camp-out theme with hot dogs, S’mores and flashlight tag. There won’t be any “sleeping” over though for a couple of reasons. One, because I love my neighbors too much to subject them to the squealing of 12 little girls during the wee hours of the morning. And two, most of our “campers”, including Rose, have never spent the night away from home. I’m thinking that the all-night car service ferrying children home would be a very real possibility, so, ah, no sleepovers.  A friend of mine who’s helping with the party remarked that I should start letting Rose do sleepovers just so I could have a break from single motherhood every now and then.  I told her that although it’s definitely time for Rose to stretch her wings and be more independent, I never feel like I need a “break” from her. Quite the contrary, these little girl days are passing faster than I ever imagined and it seems like I never have enough time with her. It struck that me this is one of those bittersweet things about being a mother. The pie-in-the sky goal that every parent strives for is to raise strong, independent children who can weather life’s challenges on their own. But at the same time, there’s a small piece of you that desperately wants to hang on to them and never let them go.  Mother’s Day is this weekend and I’m thinking the best gift of all is to create some special moments with your children that you can hang on to and carry in your heart for always.

Kite flying is only one of the many activities scheduled for the Reliant Trinity River Festival this Saturday

This Saturday grab the family and head down to the the Reliant Trinity River Wind Festival. This event has the potential to be a real memory maker.  It’s from noon to 6 right off Commerce Street on the banks of the Trinity River. Everyone is invited to fly a kite, watch the spectacular show kites and hot air balloons on display or enjoy other wind driven toys or crafts. My favorite is the paper airplane-making contest. There will also be birds and animals from the Dallas Zoo and the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center. If you want to give back to nature, you can plant some wild flowers or recycle that pile of phones and chargers you’ve been collecting at the phone recycling center. Finish up the day with concert from the Dallas Wind Symphony and you have the makings of a picture perfect day that you’ll want to hold on to forever.

Therese Powell is an Art&Seek calendar coordinator and KERA-TV producer.  She spends most of her free time seeking out adventures for her 6-year-old daughter, Rose.  Tell us about your time at the Wind Festival or clue us in to your ideas for quirky kid adventures by leaving a comment. Or e-mail Therese at [email protected].