Not how I saw this Mother's Day going. David came down with the flu and went into full quarantine mode, which left me and Jamie to figure out the weekend on our own. I'll be honest - I had (very) low expectations. But something about having no backup plan and a toddler who doesn't know the difference ended up being kind of freeing.
A huge THANK YOU to my mom, who came through Sunday morning so I could get out of the house for a bit - I met up with a friend at the pool for their Mother's Day event, which was exactly the reset I needed. Then I picked Jamie back up and somehow we ended up with last-minute tickets to the final round of the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow. A toddler. A very pregnant me. Zero plan. It was a great afternoon. More on that below.
🌱 What We’re Doing
Your week in Charlotte, planned.
If you haven't heard of KiddieCade Happy Hour, it's $35 for two hours of supervised toddler play while you sit in actual lounge seating with Wi-Fi, charging stations, and a real cup of coffee. I'm not saying that's the whole reason to have kids but I'm not not saying it. Thursday 1-3pm, book ahead because it fills up.
On the recurring front, the Splash About and Explore water playgroup at Charlotte Aquatics runs free every Friday through the end of the year. Purposeful play stations in the water for babies and kids up to 5. Registration required, space is limited, do it now while you're thinking about it.
✨ A few standouts:
The Charlotte Knights are doing Princess Day Sunday: ten princesses, themed food, make-your-own crowns, and everyone runs the bases after the game
Japan Fest at Urban District Market Sunday: free, origami, yukata try-ons, martial arts - go before the evening cosplay crowd arrives
Fort Mill's Italian Festival Saturday: 29 years of homemade lasagna, hand-rolled meatballs, and a full toddler inflatable zone
Pineville Regional Library Update: The Pineville Regional Library is still closed due to damage from a car crash 2 weeks. Please be sure to check the library’s website for updates on their reopening before you plan a visit
Carowinds Pre-K Pass: act before May 31. If you have a kid between 3 and 5, this one's worth five minutes of your time. Six Flags' Pre-K Pass gets them unlimited visits to Carowinds all season, free. You just have to register and activate before the end of the month.
Charlotte is in a drought. Exceptional drought conditions have triggered water restrictions across the area - so if you've noticed your neighbors side-eyeing lawn sprinklers, that's why. Worth knowing before you make any summer outdoor plans that involve a lot of water.
Secret Gardens of Fourth Ward: this weekend. A self-guided walking tour through Fourth Ward's private courtyards and Victorian porches, with complimentary food, wine, and cocktail tastings at stops along the way. Strollers are explicitly flagged as tricky on the brick sidewalks, so this one requires a sitter. Runs Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17, noon to 4pm. Tickets are $35/day or $45 for a weekend flex pass. Get Tickets
Core + Floor Basics at Grow Cafe: Thursday morning. Dr. Abby Schroeder is running a workshop on pelvic floor and core fundamentals designed specifically for mothers -- how they work together, what changes after pregnancy, and what to actually do about it. Thursday, May 14, 9:30-11am at Grow Cafe in Huntersville. $10. Reserve Your Spot
🌳 Where We're Playing
One place we loved this week.
Somehow a last-minute Sunday at the Truist Championship final round turned into the best two and a half hours of the whole weekend. Late arrival, one StubHub ticket, a full-size stroller, and no real plan - and it worked out better than most things I actually plan in advance.
I have a lot of thoughts on the 3pm strategy, what to order, what to skip, and specifically what happened when we stopped in the shade to eat ice cream on the way out. That last part I'm still thinking about.
This one came from a TikTok rabbit hole and I haven't stopped thinking about it. People are building birthday boxes for their local food pantry - a box of cake mix, a can of Sprite or 7Up (which replaces the eggs, oil, and water, so recipients just mix and bake), a container of frosting, candles, and maybe some sprinkles or balloons, all packed into a covered aluminum pan.
Birthdays don't pause because money is tight, and most pantries don't carry the stuff that makes a kid's birthday feel special. It's an easy activity to do with a toddler - let them pick the sprinkles, let them put things in the pan - and most of what you need is a Dollar Tree trip.
Adding this to our summer list. Charlotte's own Nourish Up is a great place to drop them off, though it's worth calling ahead to confirm they can accept items packed outside the pantry.
Programming note: no newsletter next week - I'm taking Memorial Day weekend off and I fully intend to be horizontal by a pool for at least part of it ✌️. See you back in your inbox the first week of June.
Here's to your mom coming through when you need her most, last-minute tickets, and the random patch of shade that changes everything.
💚 Emily
Founder, The Charlotte Sprout
P.S. David is recovered. He will not be receiving a sympathy card.
Help The Sprout grow. If one idea made your week easier, please forward this email or tag @thecharlottesprout so more Charlotte parents can find us. 🌱
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