The Harford Ballet Company will hold open auditions for its annual production of the holiday favorite, “The Nutcracker,” on Saturday, Sept. 11, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Dance Conservatory of Maryland campus at 701 Whitaker Mill Road, Joppa MD 21085.

Auditions are open to dancers from any dance school ages 6 to 12 who are enrolled in at least one ballet class per week. Dancers and parents should arrive at 4 p.m. for registration. There is no audition fee.

The annual HBC production is the first opportunity for many local children to experience the magic of a professional ballet production. Dancers will have weekly rehearsals with knowledgeable instructors, and will have the opportunity to share the stage with guest professional dancers from the New York City Ballet.

Harford Ballet Company is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization overseen by an advisory Board of Directors who work with the artistic director and the company manager to provide administrative support for the Company. The Company’s annual season features two programs of classic favorites and new works, including “The Nutcracker.”

4 days until Labor Day
7 days until Rosh Hashanah
12 days until Primary Election Day
59 days until Halloween
84 days until Thanksgiving
112 days until Winter Break

Today was a day! My three babies went back to school today, only they aren’t my helpless little babies anymore. Henry started second grade, Audrey first grade and my littlest, Stanley, moseyed his way into kindergarten.

One, two, three, just like that we walked down the familiar halls of Beth Tfiloh, first Stanley, then Aud, then Henry. Gone — like they were going off to college, I was nervous and excited for them and filled with mixed emotions. I wanted them to need me or cry a little at the thought of leaving their poor lonely mother who fed them, bathed them, and cared for them up-and-until the proverbial school bell rang — but there were no tears — none.

I was too nervous to even take in all the wonderful new reintroductions of friends and first meetings of their new teachers. With bags of labeled and organized supplies in each hand, I got each child systematically situated, gave them a tender kiss and hug and moved on down the hallway. Each teacher greeted the children with enthusiasm and warmth, I felt as if I was leaving them with a good friend. My children went nicely to their seats or to their friends and began to engage. It was harmonious and yet for some reason I was filled with angst. One of them would surely cry or need me in some way, but it just didn’t happen.

As I walked out of the school and through the parking lot, I felt relief. I did it. They did. We all did it.

Check out our latest issue for a look back to 1990 and all the great people, places and events that have appeared in our pages over the past 20 years. Be sure to read our interview with founder Rudy Miller and catch up with some of the families we’ve covered over the years (including our first cover family — the Kenny Cooper clan).

We’ve chosen the latter. My girls had a week of field hockey practice before we left and have missed the rest. My older son is missing two weeks of soccer practice and even my 5-year-old is missing a practice. There’s not a fall sport out that waits until Labor Day to begin. It’s bad enough that school vacations are getting shorter but sports starting at the beginning of August? It just doesn’t seem right.

My kids are still fairly young and I don’t think the missed practices are a big deal this year, but it won’t be long before missing practice will not be an option. And I don’t like it. I’m not OK with cutting vacation short — even if we don’t go anywhere. We are crazy hectic 11 months of the year so one month off is a necessity. Is that too much for a mom to ask? Next year, I’m seriously considering suggesting my older kids not play a fall sport. Unless they are totally in love with the sport (which doesn’t seem to be the case at this point) then I think we should just cut it out.

Not only will we be able to vacation without the guilt of missing practice, our fall will be much less hectic when we return and much more enjoyable.

Looking at my daughter today, I can’t believe she’s the same child I described just three months ago.

She spent July hanging with her friends at the pool and often leaving early with one friend or another to head to their houses. For the first two-weeks’ of August, I barely saw her at all. She was off all day with her friends at the beach, at theater camp every evening and then out with friends until 9 every night. Now that camp is over, there’s been a bit of a breather — but she’s not as content to lounge around the house reading, playing DS or hanging out with us as she was last spring. The other day, she called up a new friend and had me drop her off at the friend’s house. Where in the past she was indecisive and often teary when it came to going with friends, this time she hopped out of the car without so much as a wave good bye.

I don’t know what came over my 11-year-old this summer, but something sure did. I certainly don’t need to nag her to be social any more. Now I have to nag her to come home and spend time with us.

Want to let your children know you are thinking about them when they are at school, but have little time to jot a note for their lunchbox? Now you can buy mini note cards called Mommy Messages for just that purpose.

Two sisters came up with the idea for the cards that express sentiments such as “I’m thinking of you” and “Have a special day.”

The sisters, Jill Franks and Alison McKinstry, remembered how much they loved finding hidden notes from their mom when they were growing up, and they wanted to do the same for their kids, according to their website.

Their business is called Good Stuff Products, and the cards can be purchased in area grocery stores or online at www.goodstuffproducts.com. They range from $1.95 to $2.49.

10. Mustela brand baby toiletries — this line makes my son smell so good, and the fragrance lasts a long time. Although scented, these French-made products are touted as hypoallergenic, and they indeed do not irritate my son’s baby skin. Jake loves a nice warm bath, and always giggles and coos to me when I put his clothes on afterward and tell him how handsome he is and how good he smells. I like to wash my hands with the baby wash before I leave for work, so I can have a little reminder of him on my way to work. I have found Mustela at Nordstrom and online from a number of companies.

9. Mustela “Stelaker” cream — this is designed for cradle cap, and it really works! Jake’s head was scaly and crusty, and the cream started clearing him up in a couple of days.

8. Swaddling blankets — At my baby shower, I was lucky enough to receive several hand-sewn flannel swaddlers from my aunt. Just perfect for a colicky winter baby! As beautiful and happy as he is normally, Jake can turn into a screaming mess when he is tired or overwhelmed. Recently, after a truly hot night during which I had to swaddle this crazy, spinning-Tasmanian-devil of a child in a king-size pillowcase to settle him [necessity being the mother of invention and all], I began a search for a lighter-weight option to the flannel. Moms to the rescue! A friend of mine suggested Aden and Anais’ muslin swaddling blankets. They are about $40 for a pack of four, and worth EVERY penny! At approximately four feet square, they’re big enough for Jake to use into his nursery school years. The single layer of muslin swaddles beautifully, and is gauzy-enough to not make him sweaty.

7. “The Five S’s” from “The Happiest Baby on the Block” — without going into too much detail, since it’s easy enough to Google, the Five S’s calmed Jake so well, that I stopped thinking of him as being colicky after a few days. I couldn’t believe how fast a few simple soothing tricks could work to allow Jake some rest and comfort, and my husband and me some peace and quiet!

7. Coffee — I work nights. Giving up coffee completely was not even a thought in my mind after first trimester. Now that I’m back to work from maternity leave, coffee is a regular feature of my work shifts. If you’re breastfeeding, though, make sure you limit your caffeine to whatever your doctor recommends, and continue to drink your water!

6. (That brings me to) Water — really, water is so important! I was bad about it while pregnant, but I noticed that breastfeeding makes me unbelievably thirsty, so I try to drink as much water and other non-caffeinated beverages as possible.

5. “No” and “Yes” — as a new mom, I found I had to know my limits. Initially there were many days I couldn’t get going until 1 pm. What I learned: don’t feel bad about saying “no” to going out when you aren’t up to it, or to having visitors over when you are too tired to stand. And definitely say “yes” when anyone offers to help you out, whether it is around the house or out and about. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that our dog groomer would bring the dogs right to the car when I had the baby with me. I avoided having to negotiate trying to get both an unwieldy infant carrier and an excitable 120-pouns Great Dane to the car at the same time. When someone offers to make you a casserole or bring you a random pan of stuffed shells, TAKE IT! It’s amazing how pampered it can make you feel to not have to make dinner even one night.

4. Parents — mine stayed several days after my son was born. That was not in my original plan, as I have always tried to be very independent, but my husband and I definitely needed them! Sure, they ran errands and did things around the house, but they were also here for conversation and just to be around. I would not have survived the first week without them. That doesn’t mean you need parents, specifically. It applies to whatever your support system happens to be.

3. Ice cream — I had gestational diabetes, so I had to follow an ADA diet plan to protect the baby while I carried him. I still had ice cream, but only a little bit, and I was pretty tightly diet-controlled so I could try to avoid insulin therapy (I luckily did manage to be under control by diet and a little exercise). The end of the pregnancy signaled the return of “regular” portions of ice cream to my life. I’m not suggesting anyone go buck wild with the sweets, but a little vanilla ice cream with a spoonful of hot fudge goes a long way. It is my little indulgence at the end of the day.

2. “Me Time” — the amount of a mom’s time required by a new baby is staggering, but I found I felt my best if I took a few minutes each day to take care of me. I had healing to do from the birth, I was exhausted from nursing every few hours, and I felt a bit guilty that I couldn’t participate in household stuff because I couldn’t initially get around very well. Setting aside a little while every day for something as simple and seemingly mundane as a hot shower or a cup of tea was very restorative. When I felt clean and more relaxed, I felt like I bonded with Jake better and started to heal faster.

1. Bouncy seat — I’m convinced it is the secret to life as a new mom! That simple piece of equipment has allowed me full meals, hot showers, and household maintenance, all while engaging the baby as necessary, soothing him if required, and keeping a watchful eye on him while I’m trying to get stuff done.

If you’d like to be a guest blogger, send a sample blog to cclemens@patuxent.com.

Maryland State Fair: Aug. 27 to Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the State Fairgrounds in Timonium. Livestock, crafts, produce, farm and garden exhibits, food, midway rides, horse raising and entertainment. Admission $8; children 6 to 11, $3; under 6, free. www.marylandstatefair.com

There’s a pond where they can play on the docks, a small bridge where they can crab, a rundown yacht club with ping pong tables and swing sets, a rocky beach for hunting for treasure, a little store with overpriced candy and small bumpy roads where cars can’t go faster than 20 miles an hour.

Needless to say, my older kids have been very independent since we arrived here. They head off to the beach ahead of us, meet friends in the evenings to play flashlight tag or to watch a movie on the beach and they wander at will if they get bored at home.

The other day, we arrived home from the beach and I was collecting towels for showers when it occurred to me that I hadn’t seen Adam’s bike in the garage. He left the beach a few minutes before us to head for home. I asked several times if anyone had seen Adam when a strange car pulled into the driveway. A man got out and as I approached the car, he mentioned that there had been a small bike accident. He rounded the car and let Adam out of the back seat.

Apparently, Adam had fallen off his bike in front of this man’s house. They heard the crash and rescued Adam from the street. They brought him in, cleaned him up and tried to call my cell phone. When I didn’t answer, they parked Adam’s bike in their yard and brought him home.

Where else on earth can your son go missing for just five minutes before a car pulls up and someone you’ve never met brings him home safe and sound. All the man had to say was: “I know you’d do the same for my child.”