School started back for us last week, and for the most part, it went off without a hitch. We did hit one tiny snag when I daughter discovered she’s been in the wrong math class all week. I received several robo-calls from the school alerting me of her absences in 8th period, but since Rose was coming home with homework and insisted she was in class, I assumed it was some sort of weird beginning of the year hiccup and ignored them. Thursday night Rose received this text from a classmate:

“Mr. M keeps calling your name during roll but ur not here? Where r u?”

A quick look at her schedule showed she’d been in room 402 for math instead of next door in room 404. At this point I’m perplexed. How did she manage to be in the wrong classroom for four days and not realize it? “Didn’t your teacher take roll?” I asked. “Yes. but she didn’t ever call my name.” I then asked why she didn’t tell the teacher that her name wasn’t called,  and she replied. “I figured she knew who I was so she just skipped over my name.” I tried not to sound too sarcastic when I said, “Yes, it’s completely realistic to expect a teacher with 8 sections of classes and 200 plus students to know every single one of them by the second day.”

If jumping back into the school routine has you out of sorts, or just in the wrong math class, take a break with one of these family-friendly events picked just for you.

Photo: Near Southside, Inc.

Summer is slipping away faster than you can say, “Pumpkin Spice” but there are still a few opportunities to get out and enjoy some summer-like activities. It just so happens that this Friday is one of the last chances you’ll have to catch Friday on the Green at Magnolia Green Park for the season. The monthly music under the stars concert series features live music, food, and drinks from Near Southside eateries and eats from food trucks. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and pets for this free, neighborhood gathering.

Photo: DallasChocolate.org

Nothing shakes off the blues like chocolate. Lucky for you the 8th Annual Dallas Chocolate Festival is happening this weekend at the Fashion Industry Gallery (the F.I.G.) in the Dallas Arts District. You’ll forget all about homework, carpool, and math class as you sample chocolate from area chocolatiers, meet artisans, and watch live demonstrations of the chocolate making process. To make the event that much sweeter, organizers will be collecting donations and baking supplies for victims of Hurricane Harvey at the event.

Photo: Ben Willis/Fort Works Art

Treat yourself to some eye candy at Fort Works Art’s  interactive exhibition, Candy Man.  The show, curated by Phoenix-based artist Ben Willis, is inspired by the childhood-favorite game Candy Land and transforms the gallery into a family-friendly, experiential wonderland filled with whimsical, candy-inspired artworks. Saturday is your last chance to see the whimsical, candy-inspired artworks.

If your clan is a fan of improvisational comedy you need to check out Frisco Improv Players’ A Night of Improv. The comedy troupe specializes in family-friendly, interactive, game-based shows similar to what you’d see on the “Whose Line is it Anyway?” comedy sports show. Get your funny bone tickled this Saturday night at the Black Box Theater at Frisco Discovery Center. The G-rated shows are very popular so be sure to get your reservations early.