Birmingham Parent Magazine - May 2014

THE PREMIER PARENTING MAGAZINE FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA

MAY 2014

FREE

Navigating the Territory

PREPARING FOR

COLLEGE:Navigating the TerritoryCOLLEGE:

The Top 12 Things

COLLEGEADMISSIONS

Offi cers Want to See

SAT OR ACT?

7 Great Ways to SPEND YOURTAX REFUND

TOWARD COLLEGE

(Valleydale Road in Hoover)

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Film starts at dusk. Visit MyFoxAL.com for complete movie listing.Follow us on Twitter for any weather updates affecting a movie @BYMovieParties

or friend us on Facebook. Rain date: August 1st

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editorial Publishers David & Carol Evans

Editor Carol Muse Evans

Associate Editor Lori Chandler Pruitt

Calendar & Business David Evans

Contributors, Vivian Friedman, Chris-

topher “Bull” Garlington, Mandee Hiller

Adler, Myrna Beth Haskell, Tiff ani Hill,

Sarah Aultman M.D., Lynn Grisard Fullman,

Pam Molnar, ACA

sales Special Events Coordinator Sharon Menachemi

Account Executives Kayla Fricks, Melanie Cade

Webmaster David Evans

Social Media Melanie Cade

art & production Art Director Hilary Moreno

Distribution T&P Deliveries

Legal Counsel Balch & Bingham LLP

BIRMINGHAM PARENT IS A PUBLICATION OF EVANS PUBLISHING, LLC. Publish-ers: Carol Muse Evans, David K. Evans Sr. Birmingham Parent (EIN20-0694149) is published monthly by Evans Publishing LLC. www.birminghamparent.com or [email protected]. Birmingham Parent is © 2013 by Evans Publishing LLC. Family Connections Media ©2011 by Evans Publish-ing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Editorial submissions are welcome. For back issues, please send a self-addressed 10” x 13” envelope with $4 for postage and handling.

Thanks for picking up this issue!Carol Muse Evans, Publisher/[email protected]

EDITOR'S NOTE

I still remember the way my mama smelled – a mix of Pond’s Cold Cream, Oil of Olay, and her favor-ite perfume, Anais Anais. The last time I held her hand was

almost 19 years ago, but I still remem-ber the feel of her skin, her freckled, soft, wrinkly fingers embracing my much younger ones. I didn’t really comprehend how much it would hurt this many years later to lose her, or how much I would still miss her. She was only 65 when she died of compli-cations from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Her last words to me were, “I love you.” She had hardly spoken in the previous couple of years, so that was her last gift to me.

I think of her a lot more this time of year as I reflect on Mother’s Day, and I spend some time examining my life with my now grown children – and what kind of mother I was and am today. If there’s anything good about my mothering, it is because of her. She led by example, even though she’s no longer here for me.

My mother was a treasure. She

didn’t have an enemy, unless it was someone who was jealous of the fact that everyone loved her. She could make lemonade out of lemons any day of the week – and she did, because her 65 years weren’t a bed of roses.

She made me believe a scrawny, shy, overachiever from a little North Alabama town could do anything and be anything, and that I was loved beyond measure. She disciplined me and made me treat everyone the same, and with respect. She taught me to love God and work hard, and that you work for what you have – that I’m not simply entitled to things.

This Mother’s Day, I’m trying to make my now-grown kids believe that they can do anything, and that they are loved beyond measure. I’m trying to teach them a good work ethic, and to love God. I sometimes falter, but I keep trying. I know you do, too.

Happy Mother’s Day! Here’s to all the moms who have passed on, and to those of us who keep trying to be the best we can be.

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THE PREMIER PARENTING MAGAZINE FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA

MAY 2014

FREE

Navigating the Territory

PREPARING FOR

COLLEGE:Navigating the TerritoryCOLLEGE:

The Top 12 Things

COLLEGEADMISSIONS

O� cers Want to See

SAT OR ACT?

7 Great Ways to SPEND YOURTAX REFUND

TOWARD COLLEGE

departments

04 Editor’s NoteHappy Mother's Day

07 Parenting with Dr. Friedman

08 Short Stuff

22 Ask the Specialist:Postpartum Depression or Baby Blues?

24 May Pull Out Calendar

26 May ExpandedCalendar of Events

32 Destination:Whitewater Rafting

46 Death by Children:How to Fold Your Daughter's Thong

MAY2014

DESTINATION GUIDE — WET & WILD: Whitewater Rafting in Columbus, Georgia

32

COLLEGE & CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

COLLEGE PREPARATION:Navigating the Territory

College & CareerDIRECTORY

The Top 12 ThingsCollege AdmissionsOffi cers Want to See

7 Great Waysfor Parents of High School Students to Spend Tax Refunds

SAT or ACT? What are the Diff erences, and Which is the BestTest to Take?

10

1316

18

20

FESTIVAL FUN in Alabama This Spring and Summer

36Happy

Mother’s Day

10162018

CURRENT CAMP TRENDSACA estimates that there are 12,000 traditional, organized camps in the U.S. Each year more than 11.5 million children, youth and adults attend camp. A wide range of ages participates in everything from day camp programs family camps and senior camps. The American Camp Association (ACA) predicts that by the year 2020, more than 20 million will have a camp experience each year.

43

birminghamparent.com | 7

A: It is easiest to teach children to do chores when they are very young. Small children are

natural parent-pleasers. They love to be around their parents and to win their praise. When habits are established, it is easier to keep them going during the teen years.

Basic rules go a long way to creat-ing order in the home. If dishes never leave the kitchen, the room cannot have dirty dishes and old food in it. If there has been clean-up time before bed every night of her life, she will not suddenly stop now.

Getting a teenager to cooperate is de-pendent upon the relationship you have with her. If you were absent during the years when she needed you as a young child, you will have a hard time step-ping in now to take charge. This teen is used to autonomy and likes it at this point in her life.

If you overindulged her when she

was sweet and cute, you will be ex-pected to continue indulging her now even though she is old enough to do her share.

Some children are not really re-sistant or even lazy, but many parents make the mistake of bossing and demanding teens to do tasks. If you ask your teen the way you would ask a friend or a colleague at work, you are more likely to elicit compliance.

Parents often forget to thank their children when they behave as you wish them to do, as you would any other person. Many parents ask, “Why should I have to thank her? She lives here and she should do her share.” You don’t have to thank your child, but if you do she is more likely to feel appreciated and to do what you ask of her. Behavior that is rewarded will be repeated.

On the other hand, some children are simply lazy and entitled. If your teen is not doing her share, you can simply

rescind the privileges she has and stop providing your services. For example, if her room is not cleaned, then you can stop doing her laundry.

When appeals to your child for help have failed, you can withhold privileges until chores are done. You might take away the car keys until her room is to your liking. Give her plenty of warn-ing so that you are not withholding car keys the night of the prom. You want the punishment to be significant, but not inadvertently a trauma that she will remember for the rest of her life.

Be pleasant and positive in your request. Be consistent in your expecta-tions and be firm in the consequences you set. The line in my house was, “Clean your room or I will.” Anything I picked up was not returned. It takes only one episode like this to turn behav-ior around. The key is to mean what you say and not to give in and give back. If you are calm and firm, it will work.

Parenting with Dr. Friedman

Q: My 16-year-old daughter lives in a pigsty that she calls her room. When I tell her to clean it, she says, “It’s my

room. Why can’t I keep it messy if it doesn’t bother me?” We live in a new, large house and when my friends come

over for the fi rst time, they always want to see the whole house. Her room is an embarrassment to me. How can I

get my teenager to clean her room?

Vivian K. Friedman Ph. D. is a child and family psychologist at UAB, Department of Psychiatry. Send questions for response in this column to [email protected]. No personal replies are sent.

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short stuff

SEND US YOUR SCHOOL [email protected]

NEWSWe welcome photos, too, but be sure you have the rights to the photo before sending and include any caption or photo

credit we should include. There is no guarantee about what news items we will use – we are limited by our space restrictions, but will try to include all we can! Deadline each

month is the 10th prior to the month of the magazine.

BMA Opens Renovated African Galleries After two years of renovations, the Birmingham Museum of Art re-opened its African galleries on April 26. “Over the past several decades, the Birmingham Museum of Art has built an exceptional collection of African art, one that beautifully reflects the ethnic, cultural, and re-ligious diversity of the many regions in Africa,” says Gail Andrews, R. Hugh Daniel director of the Bir-mingham Museum of Art.

“The new geographic orientation of the gallery created by Dr. Emily Hanna underscores the vast and dis-tinctive art forms that have existed in Africa for thousands of years and those which are being developed today. The gallery offers visitors the opportunity to explore the collection in an entirely new way.”

For more information, visit ARTSBMA.org.

RIGHT: Plank Mask, Yacouba Bonde, Bwa People, Burkina Faso, Village of Boni. Late twentieth century. Wood, pigment. LEFT: Field Photograph by Emily Hanna,

2004, Village of Boni, Burkina Faso. PHOTOS COURTESY OF BMA

The Birmingham Zoo’s spring campaign, “Born to be Wild,” is now underway, featuring a new zipline and the adorable “Baby Bunch.” Named the “Jane H. Brock Soaring Safari Zipline Adventure,” this new at-traction was made possible through a generous dona-tion from the Brock Family and officially opened to the public April 18.

Guests of all ages can soar 20 feet above ground level as they glide through the treetops of the Alabama Wilds. Soaring Safari of-fers four ziplines of vary-ing length, one transition bridge and a spectacular tree house. The zipline is powered through a partner-ship with Red Mountain Park and operated by their experienced staff.

“The Birmingham Zoo and Red Mountain Park are nonprofits that rely on com-munity support and on-site revenue. This new partner-ship will create even more value to the community at

large by showcasing all that both organizations have to offer,” says Dr. William R. Foster, president and CEO of the Birmingham Zoo.

Guests can book their zipline ride in advance on-line or via phone. The cost to zip is $20 (plus tax) for mem-bers or $25 (plus tax) for non-members, not including the purchase of a regular priced admission ticket.

The “Born to be Wild” fun continues as the Zoo presents “The Baby Bunch,” featuring some of the Zoo’s youngest animals. The Baby Bunch includes an ostrich, reticulated giraffe, Suma-tran orangutan, two North American black bears, two giant river otters, two red pandas and nine Dwarf Ni-gerian goats. Families and guests can enjoy the fun of spotting the various mem-bers of The Baby Bunch throughout the Zoo.

For more information, please visit the Zoo on Face-book and Twitter or at www.birminghamzoo.com.

Zipline at the Birmingham Zoo



COLLEGE PREPARATION:navigating the territory

college & careerDIRECTORY

The Top 12 ThingsCollege AdmissionsOfficers Want to See

7 Great Waysfor Parents of High School Studentsto Spend Tax Refunds

SAT or ACT? What are the Differences, and Which is the BestTest to Take?

10

13

16

18

20

We know families come in all shapes and sizes. One major

milestone in a child's life - and a family's - is life after

high school. Whether your child plans to attend technical

school or college, there are tests to take, applications to

fi ll out and loans and scholarships to explore.

We hope this annual look at "Planning for College &

Career" will make that a little easier. From SAT vs. ACT, to

navigating the college application maze, we've got great

information and resources in this guide for you.

10 | birminghamparent | may 201410 | birminghamparent | may 2014

College preparation can be one of the most daunting

processes both a student and his parents go through.

It can often be overwhelming and confusing, as well as

costly - particularly if a student is applying to colleges

that don’t match his specifi c needs. A college-bound

student should not wait until the summer before senior

year to start thinking about where to apply or how to

present himself to various admissions offi ces. Every

choice a student makes from the fi rst day he enters ninth

grade will eventually be scrutinized by college admis-

sions personnel.

Think AheadChoose the right course work in high school. This should be course work specific to the field of study one plans to pursue in college. For instance, if a student is interested in pursuing a degree in microbiology, the amount of sci-ence credits required by a student’s state for high school graduation may not necessarily match the number of credits a college admissions office requires.

If a student is looking into highly competitive uni-versities (such as an Ivy League school), the amount of advanced course work she has taken in high school will be analyzed. According to undergraduate admissions staff at Yale University in New Haven, CT, “The single most important document in the application is the high school transcript. We look for students who have consistently taken a broad range of challenging courses throughout their high school careers.”

A student needs to work very closely with her guidance counselor so that the courses she takes throughout high school will enhance her candidacy for the types of col-leges she plans to apply to. Even if a student does not have a specific career in mind, selecting course work which will attract the types of universities she plans to attend is imperative. Students also need to narrow their choice of schools to about five to seven, suggests college officials.

Explore Your Special TalentsColleges do not consider academic history alone. Admis-sions offices want to see well-rounded students with special interests and talents. Rice University in Houston, Texas explains their philosophy in evaluating students’ applica-tions: “We look at whether they chose a more challenging road than the normal path through high school. This might mean an especially strenuous course of study, a prolonged, in-depth engagement in a school project or a particularly creative and wide-ranging set of extracurricular activities. Beyond indicators of academic competence, we look for other qualities among applicants such as creativity, moti-vations, artistic talent and leadership potential.”

Therefore, a student’s involvement in music programs, athletics, and the arts, as well as various civic organiza-

COLLEGEPREPARATION:navigating the territory

By Myrna Beth Haskell


Photo by Donald Love

birminghamparent.com | 11birminghamparent.com | 11


tions and leadership programs will set one student apart from another. Students need to consider becoming involved in these types of activities before their freshman year in high school. Students should also consider putting together a portfolio that high-lights their special skills and talents.

Standardized Tests – Be Prepared!Millions of students across America take the SAT or ACT each year because it is required by most universities as part of the admissions process. It is important to understand that the ACT is an achievement test (tests what students have learned) while the SAT is an aptitude test (tests how well a student will do in college).

Standardized test scores are only one of many factors that admissions committees take into account when considering an applicant. However, because they provide a way of compar-ing a student in Texas to a student in Florida, they are weighted highly by

most universities because they provide a scale for comparison.

Therefore, students need to realize that their SAT score (and other stan-dardized test scores such as the ACT) can wind up being the difference be-tween going to a college of their choice and settling for a college that doesn’t match their needs.

Many of America’s top colleges re-quire the SAT Reasoning Test and two additional SAT subject tests or the ACT test with the writing option. Home-schooled students are often required to take additional tests. This is why it is critical to peruse specific admissions requirements for one’s top choices. Once a student knows the number of standardized tests he needs to take, he can begin to prepare.

There are different levels of test preparation. Students can purchase re-view books for both the ACT and SAT which provide an explanation of the parts of the test, test taking strategies, and sample questions. Taking a class is more comprehensive (your high school

guidance counselor will have a list of SAT prep services and sites in your area). Some classes offer one-to-one instruction which is individualized for each student by focusing on the areas of the test where the student needs the most work. Be sure to check with the test preparation service and ask ques-tions about what is covered. It is also a good idea to talk with students who have already taken a class to see if he or she found the class to be beneficial.

Apprenticeships and Hands-On ExperienceVolunteer or paid positions in a spe-cific field a student plans to pursue are always highly regarded. Work-ing as a “girl Friday” with a local magazine, obtaining an apprenticeship with an environmental study group, or working in a local hospital are all great examples of hands-on experience students can acquire during their high school years. Young entrepreneurs also stand out. Students who have already started up their own business are seen

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Finding a college that is right for you:

U.S. News and World Report – America’s Best Colleges 2013:http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/

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Peterson’s College Search:www.petersons.com/ugchannel/code/searches/srchCrit1.asp

College View: College Search:www.collegeview.com/collegesearch/index.jsp

as creative and motivated. Some examples of student business ventures are in the areas of landscaping, computer technology, and clothing design. Many young people today are becoming entrepreneurs and obtain-ing patents before they enter college.

Leadership and Civic ExperienceColleges are interested in students who have consis-tently demonstrated leadership, maturity, and motiva-tion because these qualities are all necessary for a successful college experience. Experience under this category might include class officer positions held in high school, leadership programs, coaching experi-ence, student council, teacher aide positions, camp counselor jobs, National Honor Society, and volunteer work for a state representative.

Be Yourself & Seek HelpOne can easily see how complicated the college prepa-ration process can be. Students should seek advice from their parents, high school counselors, teachers, and other professionals as they begin the process of choosing the right college. A message from the Office of Admission at Stanford University in Stanford, Cali-fornia, seems to sum up the process very well:

“Before you begin, take time to reflect on your personal goals and values. What do you want from your college education? How do you learn best? What activities and interests do you feel passionate about? Many applicants worry so much about whether or not they will get in that they neglect to think first about who they are, what they value, and what they want to achieve from their college experience. If you take time to reflect on what matters to you and why, you will have prepared to develop a strong application.”

Myrna Beth Haskell is a feature writer, columnist and author of, LIONS and TIGERS and TEENS: Expert advice and support for the conscientious parent just like you (Un-limited Publishing LLC, 2012): For details: www.myrna-haskell.com. Also available at: Amazon.com.

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PREPARATORYAdvent Episcopal School2019 Sixth Ave. N.Birmingham, AL 35203205-252-2535info@adventepiscopalschool.orgwww.adventepiscopalschool.orgAdvent, located in downtown Birmingham, off ers an advanced curriculum to bright 4K through 8th grade students who score among the highest on the SAT nationally.

Joseph S. Bruno Montessori Academy5509 Timber Hill Rd. Birmingham, AL 35242205-995-8709www.jbma.orgFor 30 years JBMA has equipped children with the essential skills and knowledge they need to thrive as a successful adult. Enrolling toddlers - 8th grade.

UNIVERSITIESBirmingham Southern College900 Arkadelphia Rd. Birmingham, AL 35254800-523-5793 www.bsc.eduFounded in 1856, BSC, a liberal arts

school, is affi liated with the United Methodist Church and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Central Alabama Community College

ALEXANDER CITY CAMPUS1675 Cherokee RdAlexander City, AL 35010256-234-6346

CHILDERSBURG CAMPUS 34091 US Highway 280Childersburg, AL 35044256-378-5576

TALLADEGA CENTER1009 South Street EastTalladega, AL 35160256-480-2066

www.cacc.eduCentral Alabama Community College is a multi-campus community college providing quality, customer-driven educational opportunities to enhance the lives of those we serve.

Dental Staff School489B Cahaba Valley Pkwy. N.Pelham, AL 35124678-819-3919888-307-0320

janet@dentalstaff school.comwww.dentalstaff school.comDental Staff School is a post-secondary school off ering hands-on, skill-focused, dental career training. Our mission is to provide practical and lifelong learning opportunities.

Samford University800 Lakeshore DriveBirmingham, AL 35229205-726-3673www.samford.eduSamford University is Alabama’s top-ranked private university and enrolls more than 4,800 students annually from almost every state and 22 countries across its 10 academic schools.

Troy University 600 University AveTroy, AL 36082334- 670-3100www.troy.eduFounded in 1887, TROY off ers degrees in fi elds like business, education, nursing, computer science, and criminal justice – some of the world’s most in-demand career fi elds.

TEST PREPAND TUTORINGMathnasiumThe Math Learning Center410 Inverness CornersBirmingham, Alabama 35242205-437 [email protected]/invernesscornersOur goal is to signifi cantly increase your child’s math skills and overall school performance, while building confi dence and a positive attitude towards math.

The Tutoring Center2804 John Hawkins PkwySuite 100Hoover, AL 35244(near Academy Sports)205- 987-9577isaaczeidan@tutoringcenter.comwww.hoover.tutorcenter.comOne-to-one tutoring designed to help your child develop stronger academic skills, earn better grades, score higher on standardized tests, while gaining confi dence, motivation and focus.

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600 University Ave, Troy, AL 36082www.troy.edu

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Troy University: Home of the Warrior Spirit

Whether you are attending college for the fi rst time, return-ing to complete your education,

or pursuing a specialized degree, Troy University off ers incredible opportunities and the personal

approach to teaching that can help students achieve more than they

thought possible. TROY calls it the ‘warrior spirit’, and it’s at the heart

of everything they do.

Founded in 1887, TROY off ers degrees in fi elds like business, education, nursing, computer science, and criminal justice –

some of the world’s most in-demand career fi elds.

At TROY, students benefi t from quality academic opportunities

in an atmosphere that combines the large-college experience with personalized attention, whether that be on campus,

in class or online.

TROY has been recognized by the

Princeton Review as “one of the

best in the Southeast,” by U.S.

News & World Report as “ one of

the top universities in the South,”

and by Military Times as “a top

university for troops.”

No doubt, the warrior spirit is alive and well at Troy University.

To fi nd out more about on-campus, in-class, and online degree

programs at TROY,

visit troy.edu/spirit or call 1-800–586–9771.

troyuniversity


900 Arkadelphia Rd, Birmingham, AL 35254

www.bsc.edu(205) 226-4600

BSC: Preparing the professionals of tomorrow

You can go anywhere for a college degree. At Birmingham-Southern

College, we’re committed to off ering you the hands-on experiences you’ll

need to succeed—no matter what fi eld you choose. Our unique January term gives you four weeks of fl exibility to

pursue your dreams, and our top-notch academic programs will give you the

skills to succeed. At BSC, you’ll:

EXPLORE the world and discover your

own passions. You’ll fi nd your own path, all while building the skills

today’s employers want.

EXPERIENCE learning in a new way. Tackle

challenges you never imagined, then take what you learn beyond the classroom. Whatever you choose—an internship, research with a professor, a one-on-one mentorship, a service

project, or your own invention—you’ll get the tools you need.

EXCEL before graduation and beyond.

Our students are among the very best, and our alumni exceed all expecta-

tions. U.S. senators, museum directors, prize-winning authors, NASA scientists, attorneys, entrepreneurs, physicians, and more credit BSC for their success.

They’re also eager to help you meet your goals.

With more than 50 areas of study, we have countless routes to your

future. Come see why Forbes magazine so often ranks BSC No. 1 in the state, and the book “Colleges That Change

Lives” lists BSC among just 40 schools honored, calling it “what college ought to be.”

ARE YOU READY?

BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN COLLEGE

www.CACC.edu

CENTRAL ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Central Alabama Community College has a strong history as one of Alabama’s fi ve original

community colleges. With three loca-tions, Alexander City, Childersburg,

and Talladega, Central Alabama off ers a wonderful higher education

opportunity truly in the CENTRAL part of Alabama. In keeping with that

tradition, we at CACC understand how valuable the fi rst two years of

college are to laying a solid founda-tion for your future. Our classes are

accessible and accommodating to fi t the busiest of schedules, with day,

evening, hybrid, and on-line courses.

The focus of your college experience will revolve around strong academ-ics and the unparalleled access to state-of-the-art technology, highly

qualifi ed faculty and the personal at-tention aff orded by CACC’s intimate class sizes. Whether your aim is cer-tifi cation, a two-year degree, a jump start on a four-year degree or simply continuing your education, you can

feel confi dent that you will leave CACC with a sharper focus on life.

High school students can even get a jump start on their college career by enrolling in CACC’s dual-enrollment program, which allows high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to earn college credits while still

enrolled in high school. In addition to strong academics, CACC off ers a

vast array of clubs and organizations, performing arts, and state & national

championship athletic teams in baseball, softball, and golf.

Central Alabama... Central to YOU...

Central to YOUR Success

central alabamacommunity college

D I S C OV E R YO U R I N N E R WA R R I O R.

© 2014 Troy University© 2014 Troy University

Becoming a TROY Trojan is about more than identifying with a symbol or mascot.It’s about adopting a mental attitude that will lead you to success. We call it the “warrior spirit.” Everything about our public university embodies it, from the way our professors

engage with their students to the intensity our athletes bring to the game. Do what youlove, and be great at it. That’s the warrior spirit, and it’s alive and well at Troy University.

Madison W., StudentHospitality, Sport and Tourism Management

Feel it at troy.edu/spirit or call 1-800-586-9771.


The Top12 ThingsCollege Admissions Officers Want to SeeBy Mandee Heller Adler

High school students can get into the college of their

dreams. All it takes is gumption, advance planning

and guidance. Colleges want a range of students to

create a diverse campus community, so students need

to present themselves as a whole, showing off their

own unique mix of qualities in the best way possible.

Students should focus on the following:

Banish self-doubt.

Fear of failure and doubting personal abilities only hold students back from achieving what they want to achieve. Just say no to these thoughts and others

like them.

6

Choose the right high school classes.

Take challenging classes, including advanced place-ment and international baccalaureate, when possible. Students need to challenge themselves but not to the extent they are hurting themselves grade-wise. Stu-dents must also meet all high school course require-ments for their chosen college and to meet statewide graduation requirements in order to earn a diploma.

1

Take standardized tests early.

At most highly selective colleges, SAT or ACT tests are very important. The schools are looking to see if

test score are consistent with – or exceed – a student’s high school performance. No student knows how high

his or her score can go until the test results come in. But, if a student waits too long and does not get a desired score, there won’t be enough time to retake it. Many unexpected circumstances can affect test scores on any given day. Taking the test early will

also allow time to take a test prep course if necessary.

4

Do your homework and try hard.

No matter what the class, even one with a loathsome teacher and boring subject matter, students need to do their homework, try hard, and behave. Keep the eyes on the prize: college. Plus, teachers are where college

recommendation letters come from so you want to impress them.

5

Engage in the right mix of extracurricular activities.

Admissions officers are looking for commitment and impact in a student’s activities. It is better to be highly involved in one to three activities and/

or sports over a number of years than less involved in many activities. Anyone can join 10 clubs and be

marginally involved in them all. Schools are looking for a student to demonstrate the willingness to stick with something and make the most of it. Schools are

not so interested in hearing about passions; they want to see them proven! Once a student finds the activities he or she wants to focus on, the next step is to work on

becoming a leader or to demonstrate initiative.

3

Get to know the college counselor.

High school counselors can help students with their big-picture planning for the future, including academic advising, college planning and personal

counseling. College counselors are also needed for the all-important college application letters of recommen-dation. Make an appointment to see a school counselor at least once each year. The more the school counselor

knows about a student, the more he or she can help.

2



Mandee Heller Adler is the founder and principal of International College Counselors, one of the world’s largest and most successful college and graduate school admissions counseling businesses. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with Honors and two degrees before receiving

an MBA from Harvard Business School, all after attending a Florida-based public high school. Adler has personally helped hundreds of students across the world find, apply to, and gain acceptance into college.

Do the research.

Know what the choices are when it comes to colleg-es. Research can be as simple as visiting a school’s website. Students should also try to attend college fairs and meet with admissions experts when they

visit colleges.

9

Maximize summer opportunities.

High school students who want to stand out on their college applications should consider the

summer an ideal time to add some resume gold. Good choices include attending a summer enrich-

ment program, taking a summer job or internship, participating in volunteer work, taking virtual

classes, attending a dual enrollment program, or taking classes at a local college.

10

Make smart decisions.

Say no to alcohol, drugs and embarrassing usage of social media. Don’t text and drive or drive under

the influence of drugs or alcohol. One dumb mis-take can ruin a student’s life.

12

Keep up the grades.

Students who find themselves falling behind should get help before falling too far behind. Grades count, and schools look for students who have challenged themselves and expressed a passion for learning.

In the best-case scenario, a student maintains good grades throughout his or her high school career. Though, if the grades started off badly and then

improved, colleges give points for this.

7

Take the college application seriously.

Put time and effort into every part of the college application, from the essay to the resume. It gives the admissions team a chance to learn something about a student that they won’t find elsewhere in the application. Admissions teams tend to prefer thoughtful, authentic essays that show real in-

terests and passions combined with complicated thinking and good writing. Extracurricular ac-

tivities should be carefully described so a student can best highlight all of his or her accomplish-ments and experience. The best recommenda-

tions come from individuals who really know the student. They should offer detailed information and/or personal stories about the applicant that

back up the information on the application.

8

Develop special talents or abilities.

Students who do something extraordinarily well do gain an edge in the college admissions process. A special talent or ability can include performing or visual arts, athletics, science, math, speech and

debate, or writing. Colleges will look for evidence of a student’s accomplishments through recognition from others (i.e. awards, scholarships). They may

also look for significant contributions that show the student’s depth of commitment and follow-through.

(i.e. newspaper articles).

11

18 | birminghamparent | april 2014


7 Great Waysfor Parents of High School Students to Spend Tax RefundsBy Mandee Heller Adler

According to the Internal Revenue Service, the average tax refund last year was roughly $3,000. Here are some great suggestions for what to do with the money you get back if you’re a parent of a teenager who plans to attend college:

Pay for Tutoring. The importance of grades for colleges cannot be ignored. The GPA is the single most important part of a college application. Colleges want to see a challenging high school curriculum. If your student needs help in one or more subjects, spend some money on tutoring. (It may even pay off more in the form of scholarships).

Put money into a 529 plan. Even if your child will be a junior this year, it’s not too late to make a tax-preferred investment for college. Many states, including Alabama, provide a tax deduction for 529 contributions even if you’re investing for only a short time.

Invest in a summer enrichment program. Summer enrichment programs can help propel your student toward college and gain acceptance into a school of their choice. Let your student explore a subject of interest or bolster volunteer work credentials. There are pro-grams for all interests, including engineering, career exploration, robotics, entrepreneurship, women’s leadership, music, drama and test prep. Nearly every school offers a summer program for high school students, allowing students to experience life on a college campus. Some programs offer col-lege credit.

Go for the test prep. Next to grades, test scores are one of the most important factors in college admissions. Look into test prep courses with an SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Test, AP and/or TOFEL tutor who can help you increase your test scores.

Visit colleges. College visits can be costly but worthwhile. Your student just may find their top-pick school is nothing like they imag-ined. Visiting a school may also increase chances of gaining admittance and of getting a better award package, if only slightly.

Encourage summer college courses. Summer college courses can give your student the opportunity to attend school classes with undergraduate students or other select high school students and earn college credits.

Hire an independent college counselor. An expert college advisor like one at International College Counselors can give your student the individualized attention to properly tackle the college admission process. From help choosing colleges, going on interviews, edit-ing essays and applications, refining extracurricular activities and more, an expert private college advisor will give your student the tools to find and get into the college of his or her dreams.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.Mandee Heller Adler is CEO of International College Counselors and author of From Pub-

lic School to the Ivy League: How to get into a top school without top dollar resources.

Summer enrichment programs can

help propel your student toward

college and gain acceptance

into a school of their choice.

Let your student explore a subject

of interest or bolster volunteer work

credentials. There are programs for

all interests, including engineering,

career exploration, robotics,

entrepreneurship, women’s leader-

ship, music, drama and test prep.

BSCBirmingham-Southern College

exploreexploreexploreexploreexperience

exploreexploreexperience

exploreexperienceexperience

exploreexperience

exploreexcelexcel

exploreexcel

exploreexcelexperienceexcelexperienceexperienceexcelexperience

exploreexperience

exploreexcel

exploreexperience

exploreexperienceexcelexperienceexperienceexcelexperience

exploreexperience

exploreexcel

exploreexperience

explore

Whether it’s an internship, study abroad, research partnership, or service, you’ll find your passion and learn from the very best.

That’s the pathway to success.

are you ready?are you ready?

At BSC, we prepare the professionals of tomorrow by giving our students every opportunity to apply what they learn to the real world.


THE ACT

✱ Designed to evaluate your overall educational development and your ability to complete college-level work.

✱ Has four multiple-choice subject tests cover-ing English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each content area is approached in one big chunk, with the optional writing test at the end.

✱ Optional 30-minute writing test is designed to measure your skill in planning and writing a short essay. If you opt to take it, the additional scores will be listed separately.

✱ 215 questions.

✱ You’ll have 2 hours and 55 minutes, not includ-ing breaks or the 30-minute optional essay. This makes the test faster paced.

✱ There is no penalty for incorrect answers, only correct responses count. So there is no penalty for guessing.

✱ Subject test scores (ranging from 1 to 36) are determined by correct answers. The four areas are then averaged together to come up with your overall, or composite, score.

✱ The ACT Math section requires you to have a broader range of knowledge than the SAT. For example, on this test there’s a little trigonom-etry, in addition to the algebra and geometry. That said, the ACT Math section is not necessar-ily harder, since many students find the ques-tions to be more direct.

✱ Focuses more on grammar and punctuation.

✱ Science section is logical reasoning based on data and scientific terms, not based on class-room science.

✱ ACT Reading asks questions that rely more on retrieving information from the text.

✱ ACT questions are said to be more straight-forward and easier to understand on a first read than those on the SAT. The ACT is also more intuitive and a better measure of what a student has learned in school.

SAT or ACT? What are the Differences, and Which is the Best Test to Take?By Mandee Heller Adler

The College Board recently announced new changes to the SAT; however, the new changes won’t go into eff ect until the spring of 2016, so this only applies to freshman and middle school students. For high school sophomores and juniors, every college accepts either the SAT or the ACT, so the trick is to fi gure out which test is best suited to your standardized testing strengths. Each test emphasizes diff erent test taking skills and tests your familiarity in diff erent subjects.

THE SAT

✱ Designed to evaluate your general thinking and problem-solving abilities.

✱ Content areas (Critical Reading, Math, and Writing) are broken up into 10 sections, with the required essay at the beginning. Keep in mind, this means you will be moving back and forth between different content areas.

✱ Required 25-minute essay.

✱ 170 questions.

✱ You’ll have 3 hours and 45 minutes with three short breaks.

✱ Test scores range from 600 to 2400, combining test results from three 800-point sections.

✱ Slight penalty for wrong answers on the multiple choice questions.

✱ Unlike the ACT, the SAT has a part in the Math section where you’ll be required to produce your answers.

✱ SAT Critical Reading relies more on prediction, inference, etc.

✱ Favors those who are very strong in vocabulary. If you aren’t an ardent wordsmith and English is not your first language, you may do better on the ACT.

✱ The SAT is often described as a more teachable test. The “tricks” and “puzzles” can be learned because there are more test-specific concepts.


Something to ConsiderAlmost all competitive colleges “cherry-pick” SAT sub-scores, mean-ing they consider the best combination of Math, Critical Reading and Writing earned on different dates. Very few colleges do this with the four ACT sub-scores.

International College Counselors' Recommendations✱ Take practice tests to see which test you prefer.

✱ Start studying for the tests as early as possible. Both the SAT and the ACT are not tests you can wait until the last minute to study for.

✱ If the colleges you’re interested in accept scores from both the SAT and the ACT, consider tak-ing both tests to see which one you perform better on.

Mandee Heller Adler is CEO of International College Counselors and author of From Pub-lic School to the Ivy League, How to get into a top school without top dollar resources.


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New mothers expect sleep-less nights and daunting responsibilities when they take their baby home

from the hospital. However, many times new moms feel more than just overwhelmed; they feel depressed. Baby blues and postpartum depres-sion are much more common than most people realize. It is important for new moms and their families to recognize the signs of baby blues and postpartum depression, so they can get the support and evaluation they need.

The baby blues usually begin around the time the mother is discharged from the hospital. New moms may begin crying for no rea-son, or become easily agitated with those surrounding them, including their newborn, have trouble sleep-ing and have difficulty making deci-sions. These feelings start to subside within a few days and resolve within one or two weeks after delivery.

One out of every 10 new moth-ers develops postpartum depres-sion. It usually starts about one to three weeks after childbirth and is characterized by intense feelings of sadness, anxiety, or despair that prevent new mothers from perform-ing their daily tasks. Postpartum depression is a medical condition and should be evaluated and treated by a physician.

Postpartum depression is often treated with medication and talk therapy and should be addressed as symptoms develop, since it can lead

to chronic depression or postpartum psychosis. A mother can usually continue to breast feed on depres-sion medications and the risks and benefits of prescribed medication are weighed at the time of the diag-nosis. Talk therapy, also referred to as psychotherapy, comes in two formats — one-on-one therapy and group therapy. Women who have a history of depression of any kind have an increased risk of developing postpartum depression. Many obste-tricians suggest starting medication before depression symptoms devel-op. This may be during pregnancy or immediately after childbirth.

Postpartum psychosis is a rare but dangerous condition that presents with the same symptoms of postpartum depression, plus disori-entation, delusions, hallucinations, or thoughts of harming oneself or others, including the newborn. If a new mother ever has thoughts of hurting herself or others, she needs to notify her family and her doctor for immediate evaluation.

If you feel that you or a loved one has any signs of postpartum depression, please tell someone and seek physician evaluation.

Postpartum Depressionor Baby Blues?by Sarah Aultman, MD

Sarah Aultman, MD, is an OB/GYN with Brookwood Women’s Care.

If you feel that you or a loved one

has any signs of postpartum

depression, please tell someone

and seek physician evaluation.

#ichooseb

Tag your Twitter or Instagram photos with #ichooseb so we can collect and curate them for our photo gallery on iChooseB.com, or upload them directly to iChooseB.com/photo.

There’s only one way to decide where to have your baby: Ask a mother.There are certain things only a mother can know. Like why kisses are the best medicine for boo-boos. Or how a tiny pair of socks can break your heart in the best way. Or most of all, how it feels to carry a life inside you—then welcome it into the world. That’s why, if you’re deciding where to have your baby, there’s only one recommendation you should trust: a mother’s. So don’t take our word for it. Ask your friends.

iChooseB.com

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2 FRIDAY

12th AnnualSpring Plant Sale9am-5pm, Aldridge Gardens. Many varieties and sizes of hydrangeas, including Snow-fl ake, All Summer Beauty and much more. Also fi nd natives, bulbs and companion plants. www.aldridgegardens.com. FREE.

Tails in the Trails6:30-10:30pm, Birmingham Zoo. Adults 21 and up are invited to enjoy live music, appetizers, a cash bar and ani-mal greetings at the Birming-ham Zoo Junior Board’s fourth annual event. Tickets are now on sale. Net proceeds from the event benefi t the Barbara Ingalls Shook Black Bear Trail,

the new black bear exhibit coming to the zoo. $15. http:/www.birminghamzoo.com.

Suzy Bogguss8pm, Hoover Library Theatre. The Library Theatre presents Suzy Bogguss Fri. and Sat. Tickets $25 plus processing fees. Reserved seating. 205-444-7888, www.TheLibrary-Theatre.com.

3 SATURDAY

Ballet, Bourbon and Bowties3-6pm, Alabama Ballet Center for Dance. Alabama Ballet’s signature fundraising event benefi ting CityDance. Tickets $35 single, $60 couples. Kids attend free. 205-322-4300, www.alabamaballet.org/after-hours-pointeball.shtml. fee.

Hikes for Tykes with Fresh Air Family10am, Birmingham Botani-cal Gardens. Hikes for Tykes is a guided tour focused through the lens of pre-school children. This hands-on, biol-ogy for babes tour through the Gardens introduces little ones to the wonders of the great outdoors, from worms to tadpoles to fl owers. Register: events@ FreshAirFamily.org. 205-540-6642, www.freshair-family.org. FREE.

Free Classes from Magic City Chess U10am-noon, Birmingham Public Library, second fl oor. Learn to play or improve your play. 205-862-2018, http://magic-citychessu.wix.com/magicci-tychessu. FREE.

34th Annual Trussville City Fest11am-9pm, Mall area, down-town Trussville. Formerly Dog Daze, this festival has some-thing for everyone: music, dance, children’s activities, food, booths and much more www.trussvillecityfest.com. FREE.

Free Comic Book Day1-5pm, Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place. The youth department will distribute free children’s comic books. One comic book per child, while supplies last. www.bplonline.org. FREE.

Elements7:30pm, Alabama Theatre. Dances inspired by the beauty, power and wonder in the world around us and the world within us, performed by Children’s Dance Foundation’s Upper School students. http://childrensdancefoundation.org. FREE.

12th Annual Spring Plant Sale8am-noon, Aldridge Gardens. See www.aldridgegardens.com. FREE. See May 2.

Suzy Bogguss8pm, Hoover Library Theatre. Tickets $25 plus processing fees. Reserved seating. 205-444-7888, www.TheLibrary-Theatre.com.

4 SUNDAY

Audubon Teaches Nature: Butterfl ies: Nature’s Bejew-eled Winged Wonders1:30-4pm, Alabama Wildlife Center. Complimentary re-freshments at 12:30 pm in the observation room followed by guest speaker Vitaly Charny at 1pm. A butterfl y walk follows. 205-663-7930, Ext. 4, www.awrc.org. FREE.

Events may change after publication deadline; please phone ahead to confi rm important information. The deadline for submitting calendar items for the June 2014 issue is May 3. Mail calendar items to: Calendar, Birmingham Parent, 3590B Hwy 31 S #289, Pelham, AL 35124; fax to 987-7600; e-mail to [email protected]; or enter directly to the online calendar at www.birminghamparent.com. Entries added online after the print deadline will not appear in the print version. Information cannot be accepted over the phone. Birmingham Parent publishes a calendar 11 times a year. January events are included in the December issue.

Guidelines: Birmingham Parent’s calendar is designed to be a resource and service to the community and our readers. Events which are open to the public, fund-raisers, free classes, etc., are events that may be included in our monthly calendar. We reserve the right to reject any event or listing due to rules or space restrictions. For questions regarding calendar entries, call 987-7700.

Calendar sponsored by

34TH ANNUAL TRUSSVILLE CITY FEST - SATURDAY, MAY 311am-9pm, Mall area, downtown Trussville. Formerly Dog Daze, this festival has something for everyone!

daily calendar of eventsmay2014

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May the Fourth Be With You Day2-4pm, Albert L. Scott Library, Alabaster. This special Star Wars program is for families with kids 6 and older. All kids must be with an adult. Star Wars Show & Tell, Star Wars Lego Station and Star Wars Creation Station and more. Light refreshments in the Cantina. Sign up is suggested and fans are encouraged to wear a costume. Guests may receive a Star Wars mask while supplies last. www.cityo-falabaster.com/departments/library. FREE.

6 TUESDAY

Family Tour: Africa!10:30-11:30am, Birmingham Museum of Art. Join museum educators to explore the gal-leries in a fun, interactive ex-perience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. Travel across the globe to Africa! www.artsbma.org. FREE.

Lego League4pm, Albert L. Scott Library, Al-abaster. Youngsters of all ages who love to build can make new buildings and buddies during this program. Young-sters 6 years old and younger must be with an adult. www.cityofalabaster.com/depart-ments/library. FREE.

8 THURSDAY

Alabama Family Rights As-sociation6pm, Hoover Public Library. Re-establish the concept of family and promote equal rights for fathers, mothers and their chil-dren. www.alfra.org. FREE.

10 SATURDAY

Pepper Place Market7am-noon, Pepper Place. Alabama growers, food pro-ducers and artisans here each week, rain or shine. www.pep-perplacemarket.com. FREE.

Hikes for Tykes with Fresh Air Family10am, Birmingham Botanical Gardens. See May 3.

Free Classes from Magic City Chess U10am-noon, Birmingham Public Library, Second Floor. See May 3.

Shredding and Recycling Day at Vulcan Park10am-2pm, Vulcan Park’s lower lot. The Arc of Jef-ferson County’s RecyclABIL-ITY shredding program will be shredding documents, Technical Knockout will be recycling electronics (comput-ers, phones, printers) for a nominal fee. Any proceeds from the shredding go to The Arc’s day, residential and early intervention programs. http://arcofj eff .org.

Alabama Wildlife Center’s Baby Bird Shower11am-2pm, Alabama Wildlife Center. How tweet it is: we’re expecting! Approximately 1,000 baby birds will arrive at AWC this year. Bring a gift (awrc.org/support us/wish lists/Baby Bird Wish List), tour bird nursery and aviaries, free re-freshments, and fun children’s activities. Free after paid admission to Oak Mountain State Park. 205-663-7930, Ext. 8, www.awrc.org. FREE.

Bart’s Art Cart: Hope Holders11am-1pm, Birmingham Mu-seum of Art. This drop-in art program for kids and families features a monthly theme from our galleries. Make hope hold-ers. Wrap your wishes for the summer in a beaded pouch. www.artsbma.org. FREE.

11 SUNDAY

International Orangutan Mother’s Awareness DayBirmingham Zoo. In recog-nition of Mother’s Day, all mothers will get in FREE to the Birmingham Zoo on May 11 with the purchase of a full-price child’s admission ticket. Keeper chats, face painting and educational activities will be held in front of the Primate Building for mothers and children of all ages. www.birminghamzoo.com.

13 TUESDAY Moms Connect6:30-8:30pm, Riverchase Community Church. Moms Connect at Riverchase Com-

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This spring, join others and glide through the treetops of Alabama Wilds. Feel the cool breeze as you zip through the dense

woods during an exciting aerial journey on the Jane H. Brock Soaring Safari Zipline Adventure. Soar to extraordinary heights reaching 20 feet above ground level. This adventure, fun for all

ages, doesn’t end here! Throughout the Zoo, new life is thriving. Be sure to meet all seven species in The Baby Bunch and

watch some of the Zoo’s youngest animals grow!

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munity Church is a support group of mothers with children of all ages. Need to get orga-nized? Come get a little advice on where to start! Childcare is available. Please contact Lynn for childcare reservation. 205-664-4531.

Family Tour: Africa!10:30am-11:30am, Birmingham Museum of Art. See May 6.

Wizard of Oz Book Bash6-7pm, Albert L. Scott Library, Alabaster. Follow the Yellow Brick Road and come Over the Rainbow to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the movie, The Wizard of Oz, and the anniver-sary of the birth of Oz author L. Frank Baum who was born on May 15, 1856. Wear a costume if you like! www.cityofalabaster.com/departments/library. FREE.

16 FRIDAY Flicks Among the Flowers7-9:30pm, Birmingham Bo-tanical Gardens. Goldfi nger, a classic fi lm from The Gardens’ fi rst decade, will be shown on the formal lawn in front of the newly renovated Conservatory. Couples are encouraged to en-joy food and beverages while viewing the fi lm under the stars. 205-414-3960, www.bbgardens.org. FREE.

17 SATURDAY St. Aloysius Most Delicious Bar-B-Que Cook-Off and Festival10am-7pm, St. Aloysius Catholic School. St. Aloysius has been serving the children and fami-lies of Bessemer and surround-ing areas for over 100 years through education and service.

Tickets, $12 presold at the school or $15 at the door. Live Music, Great BBQ and family fun! For more information con-tact the school offi ce. Luann @ 205-425-0045, www.facebook.com/StAloysiusBBQ.

Zoo Run 2014-Run Wild for Painted Dogs6:30am, Birmingham Zoo. Open to all ages and levels. There are also kid-friendly fun runs for children 0-12 years. Each participant receives an event T-shirt and free admis-sion to the zoo that day. http://ww.birminghamzoo.com.

Pepper Place Market7am-noon, Pepper Place. See May 10.


Free Classes from Magic City Chess U10am-noon, Birmingham Public Library. See May 3.

Bart’s Art Cart: Hope Holders11am-1pm, Birmingham Museum of Art. See May 10.

Targeting Genes to Improve Memory6:30pm, Hoover Public Library. The UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center presents Neuroscience Café. David Sweatt, Ph.D, UAB Department of Neurobiology, presents. 205-444-7840. FREE.

20 TUESDAY Family Tour: Africa!10:30am-11:30am, Birmingham Museum of Art. See May 6.

Cuentos para Niños10:30am-11am, Pelham Library. Spanish story time for children. 205-721-8876, www.ispeakwell.com. FREE.

Birmingham Science Café, presented by McWane6pm, John’s City Diner. This cool series brings the gen-eral public face-to-face with scientists in the community. Join other science geeks (or science novices) for an exciting pre-sentation, lively discussion and science trivia. Topic is "Being a Christian Scientist: God, Biology and Aerospace Engineering." www.mcwane.org.

24 SATURDAY Pepper Place Market7am-noon, Pepper Place. See May 10.


Free Classes from Magic City Chess U10am-noon, Birmingham Public Library. See May 3.


25 SUNDAY Preserve Jazz FestivalNoon-11:30pm, Sloss Furnaces. Start the summer at the world-class, outdoor jazz festival in the beautiful Birmingham/Hoover metro area. Rain or shine. No refunds or exchanges. www.preservejazz.com. Fee.

26 MONDAY

MEMORIAL DAY27 TUESDAY

Moms Connect6:30-8:30pm, Riverchase Com-munity Church. Moms Connect is a support group of mothers with children of all ages. End of Year Party. Childcare is avail-able. Please contact Lynn for childcare reservation. (205)-664-4531, FREE.

Family Tour: Africa!10:30am-11:30am, Birmingham Museum of Art. See May 6.

30 FRIDAY Tales for Tots —Story Time with the Arc10am-11am, The Arc of Shelby County. Fun-fi lled story, craft activity, snack and best of all family fun! Story Time is open to everyone in the commu-nity ages birth to 4 years old. Please bring a donation as your admission (wipes, glue, stickers, paper towels, etc). June Romero 205-664-9313, www.TheArcOf-Shelby.org.

Free Friday Flicks – “Planes”Starting at Dusk, Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Road, Hoover, opening night. Grab a blanket, your family and friends and come for a free family fi lm every Friday night this summer. Come early and visit vendors, grab some food and enjoy fun activi-ties. Presented by ALAGASCO and Backyard Movie Parties, and sponsored by Birmingham Parent. www.backyardmov-ieparties.com. Follow us on Twitter for any weather updates aff ecting a movie @BYMov-ieParties or friend them on Facebook. FREE.

31 SATURDAY Pepper Place Market7am-noon, Pepper Place. See May 10.


Free Classes from Magic City Chess U10am-noon, Birmingham Public Library, Second Floor. See May 3.


daily calendar of eventsmay2014

SATURDAY MAY 3, 7:30PM — CHILDREN'S DANCE FOUNDATION: Dances inspired by the beauty, power and wonder in the world around us and the world within us.

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ALDRIDGE BOTANICAL GARDENS 3530 Lorna Road, Hoover. 205-682-8019, www.aldridge-gardens.com

ALABAMA JAZZ HALL OF FAME1631 Fourth Ave. N., Birming-ham. 205-254-2731, www.jazzhall.com

ALABAMA WILDLIFE CENTER100 Terrace Drive, Pelham. 205-663-7930. www.awrc.org

BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK6040 Barber Motorsports Park-way, Leeds. 205-298-9040, www.barbermotorsports.com

BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENSBe sure to download the trea-sure map to take with you!www.bbgardens.org/docu-ments/treasuremapforweb.pdf2612 Lane Park Road, Birming-ham. 205-414-3900, www.bbgardens.org

BIRMINGHAM CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTEThe archives of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) will be closed to the public from March 1 through June 30 for in-stallation of a collection storage improvement project. 16th St. N., Birmingham. 205-328-9696, www.bcri.org

BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM OF ART Family Tour: Musical Moments Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover? Dance through the Museum searching for Musical Moments! Note: Due to the Mu-seum Ball, part of the Museum

will be closed on May 1 and 2, the Museum will be closed on May 3 and Slow Art Sunday on May 4 is canceled. April 1, 5, 8, 15, 22 and 29 10:30-11:30am. 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., Birmingham. 205-254-2565, www.artsbma.org

BIRMINGHAM ZOOGiraff e Feeding & Keeper Chat, Saturday & Sunday 11am-12pm & 2-3pm, $3. See Griffi n, the fi rst giraff e born in a North American accredited Zoo in 2014!

Sea Lion Training, daily 10am & 2pm

Predator Zone, Saturday & Sunday 11:30am & 3:30pm2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham. 205-879-0409, www.birminghamzoo.com

HEART OF DIXIE RAILROAD MUSEUM1919 Ninth St., Calera. 205-668-3435, www.hodrrm.org

MCWANE SCIENCE CENTERIMAX MoviesTORNADO ALLEY Tornado Alley takes audiences on a thrilling quest to experience a tornado’s destructive power at point blank range. Dazzling computer-generated imagery brings this mysterious era to life - from saber-toothed cats and cave bears to dire wolves and woolly mammoths - giants both feared and hunted by prehis-toric humans. Through May 31.GREAT WHITE SHARKMisrepresented, maligned and misunderstood, the Great White Shark is an iconic predator: the creature we love to fear. Great White Shark explores the Great White’s place in our imaginations, in our fears, and in the reality of its role at the top of the oceanic food chain. Through May 31.TO THE ARCTIC An extraor-dinary journey to the top of

the world, the documentary adventure “To The Arctic” tells the ultimate tale of survival. Through October 1.JERUSALEM Explore for the fi rst time in IMAX this crossroads of civilization and faith. The fi lm conveys the story of Jerusalem in all its beauty and diversity, il-luminating global public opinion and understanding about Jeru-salem on a vast scale, present-ing an exceptional vision of Je-rusalem – as a city of universal historical, spiritual, cultural and archaeological importance. May 23-November 26ISLAND OF LEMURS: MADA-GASCAR Academy Award® winner Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby, Dolphin Tale) nar-rates the IMAX documentary Island of Lemurs: Madagascar, the incredible true story of nature’s greatest explorers, lemurs. Madagascar takes audi-ences on a spectacular journey to the remote and wondrous world of Madagascar. Through December 2.Robots + Us. This exhibit, ending May 11, features more than a dozen interactive robotic components, showing how robotic technology can change our lives for the better.ANIMATION featuring Cartoon Network. Explore how art, math, science and technology come together in the exciting world of Animation featuring Cartoon Network. Experiment with ani-mation from concept to fi nished product — from story boarding, character design and drawing techniques to movement, tim-ing, fi lming and sound. May 24 through September 1. www.mcwane.org/calendar_items/1290-animation.200 19th St. N., Birmingham. 205-714-8300, www.mcwane.org.

MOSS ROCK PRESERVEPreserve Parkway, Hoover. 205-739-7141, www.hooveral.org.

OAK MOUNTAIN STATE PARK200 Terrace Drive, Pelham. 205-620-2520, www.alapark.com.

PELHAM PUBLIC LIBRARYThe Pelham Public Library’s spring book sale is underway. Prices are $1 for hardbacks, DVDs and audiobooks; 50 cents for kids’ books, paper-backs and VHS tapes. Plan sev-eral trips – the library is putting out new items almost every day. Through May 10.3160 Pelham Parkway, Pelham. 205-620-6418, www.pelhamli-brary.com

RUFFNER MOUNTAIN NATURE CENTERChildren’s Story Time. On the fi rst Monday and third Satur-day of every month at 10am, children 3-5 are invited to story time to encourage their excitement about the outdoors. Short activity follows. Must be accompanied by an adult. $3, $2 for members. 1214 81st St. S., Birmingham. 205-833-8264, www.ruff ner-mountain.org.

SOUTHERN MUSEUM OF FLIGHT4343 73rd St. N., Birmingham. 205-833-8226, www.southern-museumoffl ight.org

TANNEHILL IRONWORKS HISTORICAL STATE PARK12632 Confederate Parkway, McCalla. 205-477-5711, www.tannehill.org

VULCAN PARK1701 Valley View Drive, Birmingham. 205-933-1409, www.vulcanpark.org

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“I started getting nervous while we were carrying the boat down to the water,” my 12-year-old daughter says of our whitewa-ter rafting trip in Columbus, Ga. “While the guide was showing us how to paddle I got a little scared. And when we got to the first rapid, I screamed.”

Because … mom overboard! The first rapid, aptly named Ambush, tossed me off the side of the yellow raft like a rag doll. Somehow, I managed to not panic (our two boat mates said I was very calm), and even more miraculous, our guide, the funny and ruggedly adorable Joseph Berg-er, managed to haul me, soaking wet, back into the boat without making me feel like a complete fool. He did, however, laugh. “Who goes in on the first rapid?!” he said.

Though my pride was bruised, I quickly got over it and laughed with him. Because, let’s face it, tumbling out of the boat on the first pass is pretty funny.

MANMADE THRILLSWhat’s that? You didn’t know there were whitewater rapids about three hours from Birmingham, on the Chattahoochee? Well, for a long time they were dammed up, but in 2013, after the City Mills Dam and the Eagle & Phenix Dam, once used to power textile mills, were removed, the river was restored to its natural flow and the water frothed once again.

Now, Columbus, Ga., and Phenix City, Ala., share what USA Today called the “best manmade whitewater” – Chattahooch-ee Whitewater Park. The 2.5-mile stretch is the “longest urban whitewater rafting in the world,” and from its opening in May 2013 through December 2013, 16,000 rafters had navigated the “Hooch.” The season kicked off in February and is open daily.

Outfi tter Whitewater Express supplied our rafts, guides, safety equipment, and rides to and from the river. After a quick

hello at the store, Riley and I struggled into our splash suits, which are cool weather gear (in summer, splash suits are unnecessary), our life vests and helmets. On the way out, we each grabbed a paddle. Our group of 10 piled into a passenger van and headed to the put-in spot.

CRASH COURSEWhile the guides unload the boats from the trailer, it was our responsibility to get them down to the water. The four people in our boat, three women and a tween, had no trouble carrying the inflatable raft down to the river. Once on the water, Joseph gave us a crash course in paddle safety and how to ride the rapids. “Crack on crack” means your rear should be half on the side of the boat and half on the seat. Always keep the paddle handle in your hand. Like Rose told Jack after “Titanic” went down:

Wet & WildWHITEWATER RAFTING IN COLUMBUS, GA.

IS A THRILL FOR THE WHOLE FAMILYBy Tiff ani Hill

continued on page 34

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“Never let go.” And most important: Listen to your guide.

SPLISH SPLASHAfter the quick lesson, the four of us and Joseph began paddling toward Ambush. Before I knew what was happening, I was popping up out of the water and wiping my face, thinking, “Wow! My sunglasses stayed on. Now how do I get back in the boat?”

As Riley laughed, Joseph hauled me in, then we took off toward the next rapid. Because Riley was still a little fearful, Jo-seph had her sit in the middle of the raft while the rest of us propelled the boat. However, she quickly decided she wanted to be part of the action and took matters (or paddle) into her own hands.

NO FEARAs we closed in on the more challenging rapids like Pemberton Falls and Wave-shaper, my heart pounded and I felt like I did in college when stepping into the batter’s box. I told myself I would NOT fall out again. With Joseph yelling, “Forward two! Forward three!” we kept pace and hit the whitewater. Paddles gripped tightly, we were tossed and splashed and bounced around by the rapids. And we conquered them all. What a rush!

After navigating the rapids, Joseph guided us back into the foam to “surf the holes.” While he kept us in the current, we sat in the floor of the boat, paddles up, enjoying the cold rush of water as it

poured into the front. I imagine that’s an excellent way to cool off in summer.

The best part was seeing my little girl grow up a bit on the river. “I started having fun,” Riley says. “I felt strong, confident and brave.”

THE DETAILSChattahoochee Whitewater Park is no lazy river – we worked hard to keep our raft afloat and to keep ourselves in the boat. But at no time did I feel we were in danger. Our guide did a great job of mak-ing us feel safe and directing us down the river.

While we took the Classic trip, featur-ing five class II-III rapids, Whitewater Express also runs a Challenge High Water trip that offers class IV+ rapids for the more adventurous. The Classic trip costs $32.50 per person, and you have to be at least 7 years old and weigh at least 60 pounds. The Challenge trip is $48.50 per person, and rafters must be 12 years old or older. The outfitter also offers kayak and stand-up paddle board trips.

If you’re looking for a fun, affordable, off-the-beaten-path family trip, this is it. When you go, be sure to pack towels, extra clothes and shoes and maybe a baseball cap, because you WILL get wet. We didn’t think about that and ended up driving back to our hotel in our soggy, musty clothes and slicked-back ponytails. Also, remember sunscreen, sunglasses and a strap to keep them around your neck.

UPTOWNAfter a day on the water working up an appetite, you’ll find plenty of places to satisfy your hunger in Columbus. Just head to Broadway to find something to suit any taste, whether it’s the salmon at The Cannon Brewpub or pizza at Your Pie or barbecue at Country’s or shrimp pasta at The Loft.

Once you’ve fueled up, hit the street for a little shopping; you’ll find every-thing from books to jewelry to running gear to artwork. If you’re there on a Saturday, grab a cup of coffee at Iron Bank or Fountain City and scout the sidewalk market. Hundreds of vendors show off metal yard decor, fresh fruits and vegetables, jams and preserves, art, handcrafted jewelry, baked goods and homemade soaps.

Columbus is a thriving, fun, family friendly town, and we can’t wait to catch another wave.

If you’re ready to plan a trip, call Whitewater Express at 800-676-7238, visit Whitewater Express on Facebook (www.facebook.com/WEChattahoochee) or its website (www.whitewaterexpress.com/chattahoochee/). Tell them Birmingham Parent and “mom overboard” sent you.

Tiffani A. Hill is an award-winning journalist who writes about parenting, pop culture, and girlpower. Contact her at [email protected] or learn more at http://tiffanihillpatterson.com.

ON THE WEB

A taste of the whitewater raftingwww.youtube.com/watch?v=Jsv7q8cxhL0

Meet our guide Josephwww.youtube.com/watch?v=_78fj vXCmEg

USA Todaywww.usatoday.com/story/travel/destina-tions/2013/08/27/adventures-bungee-jump-ing-freefalling-sharks-whitewater-safari-raft-ing/2702325/

Whitewater Expresswww.whitewaterexpress.com/chattahoochee/www.facebook.com/WEChattahoochee

Saturday Marketwww.uptowncolumbusga.com/plaintext/market/market.aspx

“Never let go.” And most important: Listen to your guide.


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FESTIVAL FUN IN ALABAMA THIS SPRING & SUMMER:

HERE’S THE LOWDOWN

By Lynn Grisard Fullman

Winter was long and dreary – and now we want to get outside and explore, play and romp. Added reasons to look beyond our own back yards, festivals and special events add extra incentives to come out, come out, wherever we are.

Combining food and music, Bob Sykes BBQ and Blues Festival returns to Bessemer’s DeBardeleben Park on May 31. The event is the brainchild of Van Sykes, owner and pit master at the western-area restaurant begun in 1957 by his parents. A variety of blues musicians will perform in a fam-ily-friendly, relaxed atmosphere. When you go, plan to take a chair or blanket to stake your claim in a grass expanse with abundant shaded places. Take your appetite, too, because Sykes’ barbecue never disappoints.

To learn more about Helen Keller, a woman deaf and blind who overcame obstacles to impact the world, look no further than the north Alabama town of Tuscumbia. On Friday and Saturday evenings, June through mid-July, the outdoor drama “The Miracle Worker” remembers a child, her teacher Annie Sullivan and where the veil of darkness and silence was lifted at a well pump where Helen first understood the meaning of “w-a-t-e-r” as Annie spelled into her palm.

May events are so abundant in Florence that local event organizers joined together to create a month-long celebration called “Florence May Days” spotlighting spring-time festivities. You will find their complete schedule on florencemaydays,com.

The following list of upcoming festivals and special events should provide motivation to explore in Alabama. For certain, there are a host of additional happenings, but, hopefully, this should be enough to whet your appetite. Consider the possibili-ties and the adventures that your family might enjoy together as you take to the roads to discover and enjoy Alabama.

Before heading out, call ahead to confirm times and days. You will find more details and additional festivals and events on www.alabama.travel.

Lynn Grisard Fullman is a Birmingham-based, award-winning writer who has contributed to newspapers, magazines and blogs. Follow her on Twitter @lynnfullman

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MAY2-3: Whistlestop Festival. Music and barbecue. HUNTSVILLE

DEPOT. whistlestopweekend.com

2: First Friday Days (arts & crafts). FLORENCE.

firstfridaysflorence.com

3: University of North Alabama Derby Day. FLORENCE. una.edu/derbyday

3: George Washington Carver Arts & Crafts Festival. TUSKEGEE. carverfestival.org

3-4: Blessing of the Fleet. BAYOU LA

BATRE. fleetblessing.org

9-18: Restaurant Week. Downtown FLORENCE. florencemainstreet.org

16-18: Hangout Music Festival. GULF

SHORES hangoutmusicfest.com

16-18: Coosa River Whitewater Festival. WETUMPKA. www.coosariverwhitewaterfestival.com

16-17: North Alabama Front Porch Storytelling Festival. FLORENCE. una.edu/storytelling

17-18: Arts Alive ( juried arts and crafts festival). FLORENCE. artsalivealabama.com

22-25: Airbus LPGA Classic. Robert Trent Jones Magnolia Grove. MOBILE. rtjgolf.com

24-25: Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Festival. DECATUR. alabamajubilee.net

26-30: Birmingham Barons vs. Chattanooga Lookouts. Regions Field. (Check the Barons’ schedule for a complete list of games.) barons.com

30-31: Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. UAB’s Alys Stephens Center Concert Hall. BIRMINGHAM. alabamasymphony.org

31: Bob Sykes BBQ & Blues Festival. BESSEMER. bobsykesblues.com

JUNE1: Vulcan 110th Birthday Bash. Vulcan Park and Museum. BIRMINGHAM. visitvulcan.com

3-7 & 10-14: Three Little Kittens. Children’s Theatre. BIRMINGHAM. bct123.org

5-8: Depot Days. STEVENSON. stevensondepotdays.com

6-7: Hank Williams Festival. GEORGIANA. hankwilliamsfestival.com

6-July12: The “Miracle Worker” play. Helen Keller’s birthplace; Friday & Saturday nights only. TUSCUMBIA. helenkellerbirthplace.org

7: Alabaster City Fest. ALABASTER. alabastercityfest.com

7: Juneteenth Celebration. BIRMINGHAM. bcri.org

7: 2nd Annual Big Green Egg Fest. ROSS BRIDGE. Birmingham.instagift.com/eastersealsofbirmingham

7: Heritage DaysDays. ROGERSVILLE.

rogersvilleheritage.org

13-14: Jazz Fest. ALEXANDER CITY.

alexcityjazzfest.com

13-14: Riverfest. GADSDEN. gadsdenriverfest.com

20-22: Triumph Superbike Classic. Barber Motorsports Park. BIRMINGHAM. barbermotorsports.com

21: Antiques Roadshow. Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/

21: Alabama Blueberry Festival. BREWTON. alabamablueberryfestival.com

27: Peach Jam Jubilee. CLANTON. chiltonchamberonline.com

JULY3: Wiregrass Freedom Fest. FORT RUCKER. ftruckermwr.com/special-events

3-4: Spirit of America Festival. Decatur. spiritofamericafestival.com

4: Fourth of July Celebration. AUBURN. auburnwa.gov/things_to_do/community/4th_festival_s_p207.htm

4: Thunder on the Mountain Fireworks Display. BIRMINGHAM. visitvulcan.com

4: Freedom on the River. DEMOPOLIS. demopolisal.gov

4: Watermelon Festival. GRAND BAY. grandbaywatermelonfestival.org

4: Sand Mountain Potato Festival. HENAGAR.discoverlookoutmountain.com/calendar.shtml

22-26 & 29-31: Goldilocks & The Three Bears. Children’s Theatre. BIRMINGHAM. Check site for additional productions. bct123.org

AUGUST1-Sept. 30: Fall Scarecrow Trail. HUNTSVILLE. hsvbg.org

2: Battle of Mobile Bay Commemorative Day. DAUPHIN ISLAND. dauphinisland.org/fort-gaines/150th

7-10: World’s Longest Yard Sale. FORT PAYNE.

lookoutmountainparkway.org/yardsale.html

15-16: Franklin County Watermelon Festival. RUSSELLVILLE. franklincountychamber.org

18-20: The Music Man Junior. Red Mountain Theatre Company. BIRMINGHAM. redmountaintheatre.org

20-23: National Pro Fastpitch Championship Series. Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. BIRMINGHAM. npfchampionship.com

22-24: 16th Annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival. Birmingham.sidewalkfest.com

23-24: Black Belt Folk Roots Festival. EUTAW. eutawonline.com/festival.htm

30: Okra Festival. Burkville. okrafestival.org

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THE ABOVE ADS HAVE NOT BEEN SCREENED BY THE SOUTHEASTERN ADVERTISING PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION (SAPA) or BIRMINGHAM PARENT; Therefore, any discrepancies thereof shall not be the responsibility of the

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If you would like your kid to be a Birthday Kids contestant, complete and send this form, along with a recent photograph of your child (photos will not be returned) to Birthday Kids, Birmingham Parent, 3590-B Hwy. 31 S., #289, Pelham, AL 35124. Child must be 15 and under to win. By entering, contestants and their parents or legal guardians release the photo to Birmingham Parent with no further obligation to Birmingham Parent, and give consent to Birmingham Parent to reproduce and publish any photographs submitted whether or not the entry is chosen as the winner. All entries must be signed by parent/guardian. Employees of Evans Publishing and contest sponsors are not eligible. June entries much be received by May 12, 2014. Entries can be sent ahead for later months.

If you would like your kid to be a Birthday Kids contestant, complete and send this form, along with a recent photograph of your child (photos will not be returned) to Birthday

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Billy Blair Cobbs Allen

Jarvis Escott First Impressions Marketing Group

Gabe Harris UAB, Free the Hops & Fairhope Brewery

Toni Hill Freedom Financial Group

Libby Lassiter Bayer Properties

Don Pierini Liquid Gold Foundation

Daniel Snyder Burr & Forman

Dan Starnes Starnes Publishing

Henry Walburn Northwestern Mutual of Alabama

The two individuals who raise the most funds during this 10-week campaign for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society earn the title of Man and Woman of the Year. Title-holders will be announced at the Black Tie & Blue Jeans Grand Finale at Iron City on May 15 at 6 pm..

For more information or to sponsor a candidate, please visit www.mwoy.org/bhm or call 205-989-0098.

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ACA estimates that there are 12,000 traditional, organized camps in the U.S. Each year more than 11.5 million chil-dren, youth and adults attend camp. A wide range of ages participates in everything from day camp programs fam-ily camps and senior camps. The American Camp Asso-ciation (ACA) predicts that by the year 2020, more than 20 million will have a camp experience each year.

What types of camps are most popular?Traditional camps are still very popular — maybe even more so than a decade ago, as young people are very concerned about the envi-ronment, global awareness, mentorship, and getting along with one another. The camp community embraces those values.

There has also been a rise in the popularity of specialty camps, day camps and family camps, as camps constantly adapt to meet changing needs of families. Many young people like to use the camp ex-perience to sharpen a special skill or develop new ones.

What activities are popular?The most popular activities at camps today are swimming, arts/crafts, challenge/ropes course, archery and aquatic activities. In addition, ACA

research shows 52 percent of day camps and 50 percent of resident camps offered one or more academic/science and technology programs.

Whatever the activity, camp gets kids moving! While at camp, campers are typi-cally active three to five hours per day. This exceeds the recommended daily amount – one hour daily - of physical activity from the CDC.

With so many options, how do I find the right camp?There is a camp for every child, every interest and every budget. The ACA’s Find a Camp database helps families find the perfect camp experi-ence — whether it’s a tradi-tional, day, specialty, family, or even trip or travel camp. Visit www.CampParents.org to start your search, and be sure to check out the expert advice, packing tips and more.

About ACAThe American Camp As-sociation® (ACA) works to preserve, promote and enhance the camp experience for children and adults. ACA-Accredited® camp programs ensure that children are provided with a diversity of educational and developmen-tally challenging learning opportunities. There are over 2,400 ACA-accredited camps that meet up to 300 health and safety standards. For more in-formation, visit HYPERLINK www.CampParents.org.

Reprinted from www.ACA-camps.org by permission of the American Camp Association; copyright 2013 by the American Camping Association, Inc.

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Neil is a Class A member of both the PGA of America and the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland, and was honored as the 2011 Dixie Section PGA Teacher of the Year and 2009 DtSPGA Alabama Chapter Teacher of the Year. He has also been an Honorable Mention for US Kids Top 50 National Junior Teacher of the years for 2011 and 2012.

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M.D. Calling When: June 22–25What: Three-day workshop features premedicine advising, expert panels, networking and field tripsWebsite: howard.samford.edu/md-calling

J.D. CallingWhen: June 22–25What: Four-day program features expert panels, a mock trial, analysis of legal cases and advice about law school applicationWebsite: howard.samford.edu/jdcalling

Great IdeasSummer Institute When: July 6–12 or July 13–19What: Five-day program gives students the opportunity to engage in lively discussions with faculty members and other exceptional high school studentsWebsite: www.samford.edu/fellows/greatideas

Quantitative Finance Summer Institute When: July 6–12 or July 13–19What: Five-day seminar allows students to study the mathematical and analytical methods used in modern financeWebsite: www.samford.edu/fellows/greatideas

Minority YouthScience AcademyWhen: July 6–9What: Three-day program offers college preparationand mentoring for outstanding minority studentswith an interest in the sciencesWebsite: howard.samford.edu/mysa

Summer Debate InstituteWhen: June 22–July 5What: Two-week program emphasizes 21st centurydebate skills led by a national-caliber staffWebsite: www.samford.edu/debate

Imagine! Summer Camps When: June 2–6 and 9–13What: Two-week camp gives students the chance to plan, create and participate in a production of The Somewhat True Tale of Robin HoodWebsite: www.samford.edu/arts/theatre/imagine.aspx

Piano and Chamber Music InstituteWhen: June 8–14What: One-week program gives students the opportunity to further their performance abilities while increasing general knowledge of musicWebsite: www2.samford.edu/piano/opus14

Produced by Samford Office of Marketing and Communication

Samford University


death by children

Christopher “Bull” Garlington is a syndicated humor writer and a Birmingham native. His fi rst book, by the same name as his column, is available at Amazon.com.

How to Fold Your Daughter's ThongBy Christopher “Bull” Garlington

Being a stay-at-home dad has its advantages. I watch TV while I work. I listen to the stereo real loud. I can eat or drink what I want when I want. The downside is the long-suffered horror all moms know: There are no secrets.

You go through everyone’s drawers. You wash their clothes. You sweep under their bed.

You fold your daughter’s thong.Look, I’m a ninja-level pop. I will go into Walgreens and buy anything my

maturing daughter needs. I’ve already suffered through puberty.But a thong in the laundry is a new horror.My first impression was “ooh la la, Mommy for the win!” Mere seconds

later I realized my voluptuous wife couldn’t get this miniscule strap around her foot, much less up to her – OMG! My second impression was OMG!

Unlike a bra, which, no matter how much black lace or pink rib-bons it has, still is structurally important, a thong has no practical use except to say to the world, “I am legally not naked,” which only happens in situations where someone else is – OMG!

We dads can work our minds around most daughter stuff. We plan ahead for puberty, driving lessons and boyfriends. But we forget that our little princesses are exploding out of puberty into

unparalleled womanhood. Never in the history of man have women been so unfettered and free. They are the fortunate great-grandchildren of women’s rights. They grew up in a world of equality, highly paid women CEOs and Oprah.

Thank goodness for my golf skills. Using a seven iron, I carried my daughter’s thong upstairs, like a dead rat on a skewer.

I was halfway across the living room when she walked in. At this juncture, the highly educated father would employ a sports maneu-

ver that snatched the panties out of sight before either of us needed to acknowl-

edge them. Most.“You dropped your floss.”

“Father, why are you hoist-ing my unmentionables into

the air like a flag?”“I’m surrendering.”

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Birmingham Parent Magazine - May 2014

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Transcript of Birmingham Parent Magazine - May 2014