Were you bullied at school? Chances are you still remember who did it and when, but did you know that past bullying could be the cause of your current anxiety, fatigue and – yes – even your runny nose?

An Australian study just published found that adults who were bullied as children were more likely than others to suffer from depression and anxiety, as well as many other physical ills, including fatigue, pain and a greater susceptibility to colds, MSNBC reports. Apparently, the daily stress of being bullied can wreak long-term damage on your body.

A couple of decades ago, bullying was considered a rite of passage at school, and many parents encouraged their children to “stand up for themselves.” Other kids just never told their parents and took matters into their own hands. A girlfriend of mine who now has four children told me last week that she was regularly getting beaten up at school, until she paid another “bully” to bully her tormentor....

Feeling squeezed between caring for your children and your parents? President Obama Monday unveiled a package of initiatives designed to help families pay for care for their children and elderly relatives, save for retirement and pay off student loans, The New York Times reports.

If you’re among the “the sandwich generation” — struggling families squeezed between sending their children to college and caring for elderly parents — you know help can’t come soon enough.

The president is asking Congress to nearly double the child care tax credit for families earning less than $85,000 and proposes to expand financing to help families care for elderly relatives at a cost of $102.5 million, The New York Times reports. With these proposals, Mr. Obama is looking to help the middle class—a group he says has been under assault for a long time – and his State of the Union address on Wednesday is expected to continue to seek ways to ease...

Hunting family fun in the Triangle this weekend? Keep the weather in mind, as Saturday’s forecast is sunny but Sunday’s is rainy. But you’ll find lots for you and the kids to do both indoors and outdoors, from bird counting and animal tracking at local parks to bargain shopping indoors for kids' items.

On Saturday, from 1 to 3 p.m., don’t miss Nature Crafts: Tricky Tracks, at the Blue Jay Point County Park, at 3200 Pleasant Union Church Road in Raleigh. The session is $8 per child and is designed to teach kids ages 6 to 8 the art of tracking. Park Aide Dana Fitz-Simmons said the program is a hit with kids because they really like the “less delicate parts of nature.” Kids will look at animal tracks, make a take-home bandanna with an animal track on it and go hiking. Pre-registration is required. Call 870-4330. Visit www.wakegov.com/parks/bluejay/default.htm.

On Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m., head to the Little River Regional Park and Natural...

With gray skies outside, today is a day to dream up some February fun. I’m talking Valentine’s! Across the Triangle, love is in the air. Folks are planning ahead for Valentine’s family fun with an array of free and thrifty events offered ahead of Valentine’s Day.

Some ideas? Cary and Raleigh are offering daddy-daughter dances. Or catch Mommy and Me Stroller Skate days at the ice rink in Raleigh. Carrboro has a Valentine’s drop-in program for kids where they can make cards and felt pouches, and you’ll find a Valentine’s story time in Cary. In Raleigh, kids can make a Victorian Valentine at a museum drop-in program or head out to a County Park to play deer games before making Valentine crafts. Some programs require pre-registration, so check them out in www.CarolinaParent.com's Valentine’s Guide to the Triangle.

If you’d like to take the whole family for a getaway, see our...