Mind+Body April/May 2017

Mind Body +

APRIL/MAY 2017

LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDS

THE DALEY FAMILY SHARES THE CHALLENGES AND JOY FOSTERING AND ADOPTION

the

FAMILY

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M+B

contents A P R / M AY 2017

12 ASPIRE

10 3 GREAT PARENTING GROUPS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Meet like-minded parents and find support for your family

12 ADOPTION DREAMS COME TRUE

Building Fort Collins, one family at a time

NOURISH

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28

CULTIVATE

4 5 FAMILY FRIENDLY FORT COLLINS RESTAURANTS

LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDS

Meet the Daley family and get to know the everyday challenges that can greet a family adopting a special needs child

24 WHAT’S FOR DINNER Please the whole family with flexible dinners from Trish O’neill of The Cooking Studio

28 COOL SIPS Embrace the warmer weather with these great frozen drinks

Enjoy dinner judgement free at one of the local favorites

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8 3 FUN IDEAS FOR YOUR

MOM’S NIGHT OUT 3 great ways to enjoy a Ladies’ Night with your young ones in tow

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Call today Mind to experience +Body

Natural Hearing!

President/Publisher Kathy Jack-Romero

kathyjackromero@coloradoan.com

Editorial Director Lauren Gustus

lgustus@coloradoan.com

Executive Editor Kristin Deily

kdeily@coloradoan.com

Graphic Designer Erika Moore

erikamoore@coloradoan.com

Interim Advertising Director Ryan Young ryoung@coloradoan.com

Production Manager Matt Varns mattvarns@coloradoan.com

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EDITOR’S LETTER

It always comes back to

FAMILY THIS ISSUE OF MIND+BODY IS ALL ABOUT FOUNDATIONS. We took a look at one of the most primary foundations of society – our families – and tried to understand a little bit more about what makes them work here in Northern Colorado. Each of our families has a different story behind it, but at the heart most have more similarities than differences.

For some of our local families, supporting the foundation means feeding the masses without having to do everything twice (Pg. 24 has kid- and adultfriendly meals with Trish O’Neill), finding other families to call friends (Pg. 10 has awesome family support groups and activities), or just finding a great spot to go have fun as a parent where you can take the kiddos along with you (Pg. 8 highlights some of the most kid-friendly adult fun in town). Northern Colorado is a community of people eager and willing to support one another, whether through the sharing of knowledge and experiences, or through a more hands-on assistance.

There is no greater example of this handson support for families than the work of local organizations who facilitate adoptions and foster care in our communities. Mind+Body is privileged to share the story of one local family – The Daley Family – as they continue on their journey of foster, adoption, and growth as a unit. Their incredible generosity of spirit is inspiring, and getting just a sneak peek into their lives is humbling.

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Stories like the Daley’s are special, but not unique.

M+B also had the chance to sit down with some of the people making happy endings happen at Adoption Dreams Come True. The dedication of this organization and others like it are changing the world for the families they touch, and in turn making the wider community a better and stronger place.

We hope you enjoy taking a look at some of the amazing stories and the people behind them in this Spring 2017 issue. We certainly enjoyed the emotional journey of getting to know them just a little bit and bringing them to our readers. We can only scratch the surface of their experiences, but we feel lucky to be able to share them.

Cheers!

Kristin Deily Executive Editor kdeily@coloradoan.com

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 3

C U LT I V A T E GET OUT

ENJOY DINNER JUDGEMENT FREE AT ONE OF THE LOCAL FAVORITES

5 FAMILY FRIENDLY FORT COLLINS RESTAURANTS

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W RI TTEN BY MO NI KA LEI NI NGER

FORT COLLINS HAS OVER 400 RESTAURANTS specializing in every type of cuisine. While most places in town are known to be relatively casual and welcoming to the whole family, picking one from the bunch that will The Blind Pig Pub

make your dinner plans go smoothly can sometimes be a challenge.

Take a look at these 5 ideas for family friendly restaurants to help

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make answering the age old question of “What are we doing for dinner?” go a little bit smoother.

4 Mind+Body APRIL/MAY 2017

COOPERSMITHS 5 Old Town Square GO FOR: A true family friendly atmosphere with all the bells and whistles. Coopersmiths has pool tables, ping pong tables, darts, shuffleboard, board games and even a jukebox where kids can download any artist they like.

everyone can get exactly what they want! Kid’s menu also offers pasta with sauce of your choosing and chicken fingers with veggies.

TRY: The eclectic pizzas, chicken strips and nuggets, nachos and even something new like Bangers and Mash!

BLIND PIG PUB

DEALS: Don’t forget to show up the $10 pizza deal on every Monday.

LA LUZ MEXICAN GRILL 140 E. Boardwalk Dr. GO FOR: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner to try the locals’ favorite Mexican food spot in town. All dishes are made with fresh and locally purchased ingredients.

TRY: Treat yourself to a delicious enchilada made with La Luz’s infamous green chili sauce. While you’re busy getting your Mexican food fix, kids have a variety of options ranging from small burritos, quesadillas and tacos. Lu Luz also offers a variety of great vegetarian options!

Deals: Getting really fired up about this place? The goodness doesn’t stop there, on Sundays kids eat free from 11am-9pm.

NICK’S ITALIAN 1100 S. College Ave. GO FOR: Eat local at this unforgettable Italian spot with your family. Whether you’re looking for a more filling entrée, or just a small bite, Nick’s has something for everyone.

TRY: Have you ever wanted a pizza but your family couldn’t decide on toppings? At Nick’s you can get delicious pizza by the slice so

DEALS: On Sunday night it’s family style! Kids eat free!

214 Linden St. GO FOR: A light-hearted brunch buffet with an atmosphere that’s inviting to everyone. Blind Pig Pub is a hidden gem! At this buffet, adults can enjoy cheap mimosas in a variety of flavors and a delightful Bloody Mary bar, while giving kids the option to be as choosy as they want!

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TRY: The chef’s different weekly theme! Some of the favorite past buffet items are French toast sticks, beer cheese soup and goat cheese grits.

DEALS: Adults pay $15 for Sunday brunch and kids get in for only $8.

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LARKBURGER 2539 S. Co llege Ave. GO FOR: Organic, high quality burgers made to order!

Larkburger has become the neighborhood favorite burger joint. Variety of burgers, salads, milkshakes and even unconventional sides like edamame for a healthier spin on your evening.

Bring your ideas and we’ll create something exquisite and unique.

TRY: Any angus burger how you like it. The staff also takes special care to accommodate food allergies and gluten sensitivities. Try the truffle fries. It only takes one taste to get hooked.

DEALS: Monday is little Lark’s night out, kids eat free with an adult purchase. MB

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C U LT I V A T E GET OUT

3 FUN IDEAS FOR YOUR MOM’S NIGHT OUT

2

W RITT E N BY MO NIK A L E I N I N G E R

Wondering where you can have a relaxing time out with friends, family and include your kids in the fun? Considering planning your

1

next retreat at these local, family friendly amenities.

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8 Mind+Body APRIL/MAY 2017

1 BEERS A great option for catching a couple of brews on a Mom’s night out is Intersect Brewery. Intersect Brewery offers a dedicated Kid’s Zone in the taproom. The Kid’s Zone is decked out in toys, games and even fun for the adults like cornhole.

“When we began designing Intersect, our goal was to be a neighborhood brewery for all. With the size of our indoor and outdoor space, we saw it as the perfect opportunity to not only allow adults to relax and hang out with friends and family, but also a space where responsible parents could bring their children and everyone could enjoy themselves,” said co-owner Will Herdrick.

If you’re looking for a place to grab a beer and a cheap bite on the other side of town, every Tuesday at Black Bottle Brewery kids eat free all day long!

2 CRAFTS AND COOKING Take a new spin on your craft night! The Fort Collins Recreation Center offers fun crafting classes that are geared towards parents and children. Some popular programs are Cupcakes n’ Canvas, Clay Making, and Art Start with Parents.

Additionally, private sessions can be booked if you’re looking to get friends together for a special occasion.

“The pottery programs are great because we provide the supplies such as kilns, shelving and chemicals so families can pursue pottery in a budget friendly manner,” said Steve Dietemann, Arts and Crafts coordinator Another great option is attending one of the child-friendly cooking classes. Mother’s Hubbard’s cooking class integrates story-book themed cooking recipes that are sure to be fun for both your friends and your family.

3 COOL BEANS Centrally Located in Fort Collins is Cool Beans, an indoor playhouse and café. Cool Beans features a treehouse, rope swings, slides, dress-up clothes and even enrichment classes. The space also offers yummy drinks, snacks and plenty of space for parents to relax. This is a perfect place to meet your busy girlfriends for coffee!

“We think Cool Beans is a great staple for all families to have a place where their kids get to be kids and they can engage in the play, get a little work done, meet with a friend or make a new one,” said owner Will Brown.

Cool Beans also has special parties that have included Valentine Making, Christmas ornament construction, princess parties, and special parent’s night out. Cool Beans has a mailing list to keep their fans updated about upcoming events. MB COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 9

ASPIRE GET CENTERED

3 GREAT PARENTING GROUPS YOU SHOULD KNOW W RI TTEN BY MO NI KA LEI NI NGER

Whether you are new parent in town or seeking a support system of other moms and caregivers.

Fort Collins is home to great support groups that offer meet-ups, play dates, workshops and more.

MOM’S LIFE IN FORT COLLINS Mom’s Life is a local Facebook-based group for moms in the northern Colorado area.

In real life, the group has two meetings every month, held at Life Pointe Church on Prospect Road in Fort Collins.

This group focuses on supporting moms with children in the preschool age range. The meetings are the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, starting at 9:15am and lasting about two hours.

Meetings cost $7, which covers the cost of brunch, guest speakers, child care and crafts. Some past guest speakers have included information on food, benefits of therapy and planning fun family nights.

“This group has been such a lifesaver to connect with others who are on the same journey through motherhood. It’s wonderful to have people to bounce ideas off, have adult conversations and better yourself whether it be in your marriage or personal life.” Jessica Neuroth, Co-coordinator and member of Mom’s Life Fort Collins.

10 Mind+Body APRIL/MAY 2017

MOM’S CLUB OF FORT COLLINS The group doesn’t stop there. On the first and third Tuesdays of the month, they alternate between having a play date and having a mom’s night out at a local restaurant.

Like Mom’s Life on Facebook to stay informed about upcoming events.

PARENTS OF FORT COLLINS Parents of Fort Collins is another Facebook group for local parents looking to cross virtual groups into real-world support and friendships. The group is always planning and looking for fun, innovative activities around town, which makes getting in on the action easy for newcomers.

Group members have a great space – both online and in person -- to bounce ideas off each other and plan together. Past events the group has held are craft nights, gymnastic classes, and outdoor activities.

“It has been really fun to share with other parents and our group is starting to pick up some steam! I’m feeling really plugged into this community after living here for four years and I would encourage other parents to do the same,” said Tawney Summers, founder of Parents of Fort Collins.

Mom’s Club of Fort Collins has both east and west chapters within Fort Collins, to bring the fun closer to home and make activities more accessible to everyone.

The group hosts a variety of functions including weekly play groups, bowling, mom socials, and two service projects a year.

Additionally, the group has a way of lending a hand when other members are in need. In a program called “Meals for Moms” mothers will exchange familysized meals when a group member is having a particularly stressful week.

“Meals for Moms is a great support system when something big takes place in a mother’s life. For instance, if an expectant mother has a baby, or someone in the family has surgery, just if anyone needs assistance. It’s a nice way for moms to connect and help others in the club,” said Erin Myrtle President of Mom’s Life.

Like this group on Facebook to stay up to date about upcoming events. MB

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ASPIRE GET CENTERED

BUILDING FORT COLLINS, ONE FAMILY AT A TIME

ADOPTION DREAMS COME TRUE

Above: Alex, a 16-month old Fort Collins boy, clings to a toy while his mother looks for clothes for him in the Dream Room, located in the basement of Adoption Dreams Come True in 2013

WR I T T E N BY SA M H E R N A N D E Z

Old Town Fort Collins neighborhoods are filled with cute, quaint homes lovingly maintained or restored. The tree-lined streets effortlessly achieve a feeling of idyllic Americana, and it is no mystery why so many people want to call this city home. Outside of one of these charming houses, a New Belgium cruiser stands propped up next to a sign that reads, “Adoption Dreams Come True”.

“We never wanted to be the biggest agency, we just always wanted to be the best,” said Cindy Sarai, Executive Director at ADCT. “Ten years from now we want to say that we are one of the best agencies in Colorado.”

Sarai and Director of Development, Ginger DeReus, have helped pilot the organization on its mission, including finding its current home in Old Town eleven years ago. The two women are seasoned professionals, but are still as dedicated as ever to creating happy and healthy families. And despite their experience, their roles in shaping the lives of so many still affects them deeply.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to work with people who are going through the rawest times of their life,” Sarai said. “No one walks in our door happy, but the end result is always a good result.”

But even with an attempt to keep a professional distance, DeReus and Sarai recognize that every new case is different from the last, needing hands-on attention and regard for the unique people involved.

Creating a perfect family unit is no easy task, but the organization is committed finding the best fit for children and parents alike.

“You have to have flexibility,” DeReus said. “People come to us in often very dark stages of their lives”.

Sarai and DeReus consider newborn adoptions their area of expertise.

When considering adoption, Adoption Dreams Come True wants birth parents to feel good about their options. ADCT is committed to having open communication with the birth parents about their concerns, as well as the impacts of their decision to either move forward with an 12 Mind+Body APRIL/MAY 2017

adoption or not. Clarity and context are valuable counsel in any decisionmaking process, but when it comes to such emotionally charged one, good guidance becomes even more important.

“You must [try to] distance yourself from the outcomes, making certain that whatever is good for baby is what happens,” DeReus said.

To be considered as candidates, potential adoptive parents go through a rigorous licensing process, including psychosocial evaluation, background checks, medical exams, financial evaluation and personal referrals among others. The ADCT prerequisites aim to guarantee an ideal situation for any child, and also help birth parents feel secure in their decisions. The birth parents familiarize themselves with the potential adoptive families, and spend time getting to know each of the candidates personally to make the best match possible.

“One of the greatest parts of our work is to do open adoption, where the birth parents get to see the child in stages of development throughout life,” said Sarai. While all circumstances don’t lend themselves to this “whole family” arrangement, ADCT promotes this kind of relationship whenever possible.

The Dream Room sets ADCT apart as a true supporter of families in the Fort Collins community. The room is a free resource for low-income families with children between 0-2 years of age, and provides donated clothes, toys and other supplies for families to help them offset some of the costs of raising a family. The Dream Room provides a space for local families to help support one another.

ADCT, as a nonprofit, supports the community in other ways as well, providing free counseling, and fundraising to financially assist families in their organization. They hold many events throughout the year, including bingo night fundraisers, silent auctions, and other volunteer events where the community can pitch in and contribute. Their website, www.adoptiondreams.org, has more information on donations, volunteering, and the amazing work that the organization does. MB

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love knows

no 16 Mind+Body APRIL/MAY 2017

W RI TTEN BY TRI SH O ’NEI LL PH OTOS BY ERI KA MO O RE

T

bounds

he Daley family lives, like many in Colorado, on the outskirts of town in a copy-paste suburban maze of idyllic streets and endless lawns.

Their house features two rambunctious hounds that rush the door only to sit and wait to be pet. A sprawl of family pictures hang from their walls, and a couch sits across from a large flat screen TV in their living room. They have two sons and a daughter and at first glance, they’re the quintessential middle class, American family.

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 17

“He fit within our life plan as far as we knew what was going to happen with us. We were ready to commit to him and his needs.”

18 Mind+Body APRIL/MAY 2017

THEY GREET YOU WARMLY, welcome you into their kitchen and offer you coffee and everything seems blandly ordinary. But if you peer into the room off the kitchen to the left you’ll find an oxygen tank, various medical supplies and a walled off crib cradling a seven-year-old boy who’s jousting toys towards the ceiling. The Daley family is normal. Their story, however, is not.

Ten years ago, Justin and Lindsay Daley started their adult lives by welcoming their first son Jeremiah who, because of a placental abruption, was born without a heartbeat and nearly died. Still wanting to grow their family, the Daley’s consulted with their doctor about another potential pregnancy. They were told that, though another child wasn’t impossible, it was “high risk”— a prognosis they were less than comfortable with. They were, however, comfortable with the idea of adoption.

The avenue towards adoption in Colorado is a complicated obstacle course of regulations and requirements designed to weed out the uncommitted and unfit. You’re required to foster a child prior to adoption. In order to foster, you must register with either a private

Justin Daley loads nutrition bag into the green backpack that Zayden’s wears for nutrition and hydration throughout the day.

adoption agency or your county. Then you have to undergo foster classes, meet multiple prerequisites and turn in an application complete with a background check.

Finally, you consent to a home study.

This means a representative from the state scrutinizes everything you’ve ever done and your living situation in order to determine whether you’re fit to raise a child. The Daley’s explained this process as, “like a criminal interrogation, except you paid them to do it.”

All of these steps take nine to 18 months to complete — if you pass — and then another six months of fostering a child before you can petition for adoption.

At the time, the Daley’s weren’t financially equipped to adopt and decided to foster. They began chipping away at the intimidating process through a non-profit Christian adoption agency called Project 1.27.

Shortly after finishing the training, a caseworker from the agency contacted Lindsay with a proposition that would forever change their family’s fate, saying, “This never happens, but we were approached by another agency who

is having trouble placing a [special needs] boy in care but... he’s a real match for your family.”

The unusual part wasn’t that an adoption agency was having a tough time finding a home for a child. That, unfortunately, happens all too often. This was bizarre because the Daley’s hadn’t even performed a home study, much less finalized their paperwork with the county. But Lindsay’s five years of experience as a gastrointestinal assistant, coupled with the special needs of the child, Zayden, forced a flexing of the rules.

Zayden’s life story is one that exhibits both the worst and the best of humanity.

Zayden’s mother was savagely beaten at seven months pregnant by the baby’s father. The abuse caused severe nerve and brain damage to the unborn child.

According to a written statement from Zayden’s birth mother, the doctors at the hospital told her, “he would likely be a vegetable” if he didn’t die at birth and encouraged her to end the pregnancy. Zayden’s mother was devastated by the news, but due to her personal beliefs continued with the pregnancy.

“It was super courageous...” Lindsay said. “It was a really tough spot for her to be in.”

Despite the risk, Zayden survived. However, he was born blind, developmentally disabled, and unable to walk, talk, breathe on his own or eat without feeding tubes. He was plagued with a plethora of other complex medical issues, not all of which were apparent at the time.

Still, his mother attempted to care for him on her own. But because she was single and homeless, she was utterly unequipped for the demanding job. Shortly after realizing that she couldn’t properly care for the child, she surrendered him to a private agency called Adoption Options.

The Daley’s told Project 1.27 that they were “open to more information,” hung up the phone and proceeded to debate whether they were ready for such a colossal commitment.

“We really talked it through...We weren’t like, ‘Oh. Well, he’s cute,’” said Lindsay. This was a child that would be dependent on them the rest of his life and would need constant attention.

But eventually, they decided that with Lindsay’s medical background, her capacity to be a stayat-home mom and Justin’s steady employment, they could adequately care for Zayden.

“We didn’t have any dreams or aspirations that would have been ruined had we decided to

take Zayden,” Lindsay said. “He fit within our life plan as far as we knew what was going to happen with us. We were ready to commit to him and his needs.”

But there was one issue: the Daley’s were broke. Justin, though employed, was just beginning his career at Valley Steel and Wire in Fort Collins. They sell building supplies. That wouldn’t have been a problem had their decision not come on the heels of the 2008 recession caused by the housing and banking industry.

“We had savings for the next month’s rent,” said Justin. What they didn’t have was the substantial bankroll required to adopt through a private agency like Project 1.27, which can cost $30,000 or more. And that’s not even considering the cash needed to support Zayden’s medical needs.

Still, the Daley’s assumed the responsibility of fostering what they hoped would be their new

The walls of the Daley house are lined with memories and reminders that family is the cornerstone of their lives.

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 19

son. Unsurprisingly, the first few months were rife with frustrations, fears and rapid life changes.

Almost every decision involving Zayden needed approval from the adoption agency and birth mother, including seemingly benign actions like cutting his hair. As Lindsay said, “You’re not a legal guardian, like you’re not even that. So you literally have no rights or any say.”

Compounding the anxiety, Zayden, already acutely disabled both mentally and physically, was collared with a trach tube at birth to aid his breathing. As a result, he had never learned how to make noise, which created serious consequences. “[H]is cry was silent because none of the air would go past his trach ... you couldn’t even hear him breathe like it was just perfectly silent ...” Lindsay said, “That was terrifying.”

Then there was the process of learning when and how to administer drugs, treatments, food and water streams, how to operate alien medical equipment and what the nurses’ names were.

Like any new parent, their sleep was spotty and had they had to finagle a new family balance between Zayden and their son Jeremiah. And though these months were grueling, they were falling madly in love with their new son.

ABOVE: A whiteboard outlines Zayden’s daily routine and includes a list of medications and important phone numbers.

LEFT: Bookshelves full of toys, books and medical supplies line the walls of Zayden’s room.

20 Mind+Body APRIL/MAY 2017

Sadly, this growing love was juxtaposed with the growing question: How are we gonna pay for all this?

Near the end of their foster, Project 1.27 was hosting a fundraiser and invited the Daley’s to come and tell their story. The agency explained that those in attendance would be allowed to donate to them in order to help cover their expenses.

Justin and Lindsay stepped up onto the stage that night and told the crowd that they wanted to adopt Zayden, but that they were financially strapped. They revealed their helpless feelings of terror that they wouldn’t be able to give him the home he so desperately needed and be forced to say goodbye to the kid they so adored.

When they finished, “the auctioneer was so moved… he decided to donate his pay for the night towards our adoption and he said, ‘Who else here will donate with me? Can I get a thousand? Ok, I have a thousand here. I have a thousand there’....” Lindsay recalled. “I couldn’t see who was bidding because I was crying so hard, but so many people bid that our adoption was paid for within a minute by strangers.

People we’d never met before.”

As if by a miraculous intervention, they left that fundraiser with their entire adoption paid for.

But unfortunately, Justin and Lindsay still had to worry about the medical costs associated with Zayden. Here too, the kindness of complete strangers came to their rescue in the form of a lawyer. Tim Eirich, one of the top adoption attorneys in the state, donated his services to negotiate terms for Zayden’s unique situation.

Among other things, he helped them navigate the type of insurance Zayden would need.

Before they met Eirich, the Daley’s believed that they could simply place their newly adopted child on their own private insurance and everything would be fine.

“Now we know that we would have been bankrupt by now if that had happened. Kiddos like him need to be on Medicaid… unless you’re very, very independently wealthy.”

Lindsay said. “It covers most every need that we have with him, from the home healthcare services to the equipment that we need for him to special car seats.”

In 2014, the Daley’s fostered once again, this time taking in an emotionally scarred teenager named Sabrina. Lindsay met Sabrina through

Zayden smiles while receiving a respiratory treatment following a bout of pneumonia. Lindsay says they’re lucky that Zayden enjoys the treatment, designed to clear his lungs using vibration, because the treatments last 15-20 minutes at a time — multiple times a day.

“Zayden’s one of the strongest people you’ll ever meet and also one of the most positive. Everyone that meets him is lucky.”

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 21

Zayden smiles up at Lindsay while receiving a respiratory treatment to clear his lungs following a recent bout of pneumonia.

✱ For those who are interested in following Zayden’s story, the Daley family has created a Facebook page called The Amazing Zayden that gives updates on the day to day highs and lows of life with such a special child.

22 Mind+Body APRIL/MAY 2017

the Charis Youth Ranch (a nonprofit that aims to rehabilitate troubled kids) and helped her get back on her feet.

They were awarded legal guardianship in 2016 and she regularly returns for holidays and to skateboard around Old Town with Jeremiah.

Sabrina now considers the Daley’s family and currently lives in Denver where she sings lead vocals for a punk rock band called “Theft Under a Thousand.”

ZAYDEN IS NOW SEVEN, though he looks like a “two or three year old” due to his height (he’s around 2’ 5”) and weight (around 35 pounds). Two tubes extend from his stomach and attach to a light green backpack that holds his food and water. A white choker holds his trach tube in place while he laughingly bangs two circular toys around and smiles.

The future for Zayden is uncertain and he’s been to the hospital more than eight times since December of 2016. But he’s still advanced far beyond the doctor’s predictions of being a “vegetable.”

Not only is Zayden highly interactive and affectionate, he’s recently learned to make sounds and possesses some sign language abilities. Zayden understands a substantial amount of what’s being relayed to him and he’s not completely blind. In fact, he has enough vision to pelt you with his toy balls, make eye contact and tell the difference between their similar looking dogs.

Zayden’s even set to attend school soon with his brother. For his part, Jeremiah is in the gifted and talented program and wants to become an engineer because, “You get to help a lot of people.”

Despite their successes as parents, the Daley’s still have very little sleep, a limited social life and, at times, an intense stress level. Thankfully, they’re supported by their family and friends, as well as their church, and though their road to this point has been pebbled with hardships, they say it was worth the journey.

“Zayden’s one of the strongest people you’ll ever meet and also one of the most positive …”

Lindsay said. “Everyone that meets him is lucky.”

So yes, the Daley family may be a bit abnormal. But the immense love they show for their children is anything but. MB

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Spicy Peanut Salad

24 Mind+Body APRIL/MAY 2017

NOURISH FO O D

What’s for

DINNER REC IPES BY T RISH O ’NEI LL | PH OTOS BY ERI KA MO O RE

ASK ANYONE WHO HAS TO COOK FOR CHILDREN ON A REGULAR BASIS, and they are bound to give you a similar answer.

In short: it’s tough.

Mind+Body took this challenge to Trish O’Neill at The Cooking Studio: how do you create meals that will satisfy both grown-up and kid taste buds without necessitating a completely different meal for each. As usual, Trish did not disappoint. Check out her recipes for Spicy Peanut Salad and Chicken Kiev, each prepared two ways but using the same general ingredients and process. MB

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 25

Chicken Kiev

26 Mind+Body APRIL/MAY 2017

SPICY PEANUT SALAD

CHICKEN KIEV

Servings: 4

Servings: 8

INGREDIENTS: 1/3 cup peanut butter 1/3 cup rice wine vinegar 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon Sriracha (for adults, not kids) 1 large garlic clove, minced 1 pound of shrimp or shredded cooked chicken breast 1 head of cabbage, thinly sliced 1/2 pineapple cut into strips 2 carrots, peeled and grated 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced 4 scallions, thinly sliced 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional) 1/2 cup chopped salted peanuts Lime wedges

INGREDIENTS: 4 boneless chicken breasts Salt and pepper to taste 3 garlic cloves, finely minced 1 handful Italian parsley, finely chopped 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped 8 fresh basil leaves, finely chiffonaded 8 tablespoons butter, slightly softened 1/2 cup flour 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup white wine Extra lemon juice for sauce 8 lemon wedges

DIRECTIONS:

Lay out the salad ingredients for the kids (and anyone else) to pick what they want for their plates. Let kids pick ingredients first and set them aside so they can choose how much sauce they would like to use.

Next, in a large bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients except the Sriracha. Season with salt to taste and set aside a small amount for the kids to use as dipping sauce. Add the Sriracha to the remaining sauce and whisk to combine.

Toss with the cabbage, pineapple, carrots, red pepper, scallions, cilantro, and chicken for adult salad entree.

Serve sprinkled with peanuts and a squeeze of lime juice.

✱ TIP: If the vegetable options in this salad don’t suit the palates of your picky eaters, supplement them with vegetables and fruit that pair well with the dressing like celery, strawberries or apples.

DIRECTIONS:

Place each breast between pieces of plastic wrap. Using a mallet, pound and flatten the chicken breasts to about 1/4inch thick — taking care not to tear them if possible.

Slice each flattened breast in half. Set a portion to the side for your kids’ portion. With the “smooth” side of the breasts down, lightly season the breasts with salt and pepper. Divide the garlic and herbs evenly, and sprinkle each breast half with an equal portion. Shape each tablespoon of butter into a cylinder, and place in the center of the breasts. For the kid’s portion omit the herbs and place just the butter in the center of the breast.

Wrap a breast tightly by folding over the breasts on the sides first, then top and bottom. Dust the Kiev lightly in flour and secure it with a toothpick. Repeat this process for the remaining chicken breasts and place them in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes so they can firm up.

In a large skillet heat the olive oil over a medium heat.

Using tongs, place the Kievs in the skillet and brown on all sides, including the tops and bottoms. The browning may take about 15 minutes total.

Place the Kievs on a cookie sheet in a 300°F oven for approximately 10 minutes or until the temperature is 165 in the center of the thickest part of the chicken. Prepare the sauce while the chicken finishes cooking.

To the skillet, add the wine and gently scrape all drippings from the bottom of the pan. Add a small pat of butter to create a sauce with the wine. Reduce the sauce until it is nicely brown and shimmering.

Add a small squeeze of lemon juice to add brightness to the sauce, if necessary.

Plate the Kievs and pour the sauce over them (omit the sauce for the kids at your discretion). Garnish with lemon wedges and serve with your family’s favorite sides.

✱ TIP: If your children belong to the “I’ll only eat nuggets” crowd, set aside a portion of the pounded chicken.

Cut it into strips, coat in panko breadcrumbs and sauté them in the pan after sautéing the Kievs. Set them aside until the rest of the meal is ready and serve with their favorite condiment.

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 27

NOURISH DRINKS

Black & White Milkshake

28 Mind+Body APRIL/MAY 2017

Cool Sips REC I P E S A N D P H OTOS BY ERIK A MOORE

SPRING IS HERE AND SUMMER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. With the warm winter we’ve just experienced, they are bound to be scorchers. Luckily, we’ve got just the thing to cool you down — homemade frozen drinks that are sure to please the whole family.

TYPES OF BEVERAGES The classifications of frozen drinks are now somewhat murky, with the introduction of smoothies, frozen coffees and the like. But back in the days before there was a Frappucino™ on every corner there were four categories of frozen drinks — the milkshake, the freeze, the float and the soda.

The milkshake is the crown jewel of frozen drinks for most. Delicious ice cream blended with whole milk and served with a straw, it’s the perfect way to end a great family hike or bike trip.

Floats and sodas look the same on the surface with one main differentiator. Floats typically use a carbonated beverage, like root beer or cola, where a soda consists of ice cream, some sort of flavoring and actual soda water.

Harkening back to the days before Coke or Pepsi, a soda is generally less sweet and bubbly with a bit of a bite to it.

Then there is the freeze — cousin of the float — ice cream, sherbet or sorbet, blended with some sort of flavored, carbonated beverage or juice. The end result is light and frothy, similar in appearance to a smoothie but sweeter and smoother with a bit of fizz.

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 29

Raspberry, Mango, Ginger Freeze 30 Mind+Body APRIL/MAY 2017

BLACK & WHITE MILKSHAKE Serves 4 INGREDIENTS: 1 cup chocolate ice cream 1 cup dark chocolate ice cream 1 1/4 cup milk 1 cup vanilla ice cream 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Crushed Oreo® or similar sandwich cookie DIRECTIONS:

In a blender, add the chocolate ice cream, dark chocolate ice cream, half the salt and half the vanilla.

Blend, adding small amounts of milk, until you have a very thick chocolate shake. Place the chocolate mixture in the freezer to stay frozen while you make the vanilla shake.

Clean the blender glass and add vanilla ice cream, the remaining vanilla extract and the remaining salt. Blend, adding milk as you go until you have a very thick vanilla shake. Remove the chocolate shake from the freezer. Fill a pint or milkshake glass one third of the way with the chocolate shake. Sprinkle in a layer of the crushed cookies.

Carefully spoon in the vanilla shake, filling another third of the glass.

Add another layer of cookie. Fill the final third of the glass with chocolate shake and garnish with another layer of cookie.

THE GROWN UP VERSION:

Add chocolate liqueur, kahlua or irish cream in lieu of some milk in the chocolate milkshake to make yourself loaded version.

RASPBERRY, MANGO AND GINGER FREEZE Serves 4 INGREDIENTS: 2 cups of raspberry sorbet 1 cup of mango sorbet 3/4 cup ginger ale 1 lime Crystallized ginger DIRECTIONS:

In a blender place raspberry sorbet, mango sorbet and ginger ale. Using a microplane, zest half of the lime into the blender. Add the juice from the lime. Finally, using the microplane, finely grate two or three pieces of crystallized ginger and add to the mixture.

Blend throughly. Serve in a martini glass (with or without stem) and garnish with a piece of crystallized ginger.

THE GROWN UP VERSION:

Substitute ginger beer or champagne for the ginger ale and add a splash of limoncello.

✱ TIP: You don’t need a blender to make a great frozen drink. A deep bowl (to prevent splashing) and an immersion blender will work fine.

And you can even use a wisk or spoon in a pinch. Just make sure to allow your ice cream to soften up and stir carefully until blended well.

THE KEY TO A GREAT FROZEN DRINK You can certainly make a good chocolate milkshake with just milk, vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup. But the key to a great milkshake or freeze is to layer in the flavors, just as if you were cooking a great soup or sauce. Instead of using single flavor of ice cream, use a blend, like vanilla, chocolate and dark chocolate when making a chocolate shake. And don’t forget ingredients that enhance flavors. A pinch of salt and a splash of vanilla extract will make flavors explode on your tongue. A little bit of acid (lemon, lime, etc) great way to cut the sweetness and add zing to fruitier drinks.

And, for the grown ups, adding a shot of liqueur is a great way to “mature” your favorite frozen treat.

Now is the perfect time to introduce your children to some of the “deep cuts” in the world of frozen beverages while embarking on the quest of creating the perfect milkshake. MB

3 MORE GREAT FROZEN DRINK COMBOS: MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP MILKSHAKE Use 1/3 mint chocolate chip ice cream to 2/3 chocolate chip ice cream for a cream shake with just a hint of mint.

STRAWBERRY BASIL MILKSHAKE Add a spoonful of strawberry jam, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, splash of vanilla extract to amp up your next strawberry milkshake. Muddle a little fresh basil in the bottom of your glass, pour in the milkshake and stir.

CHOCOLATE ORANGE SODA Mix together 2/3 plain soda water and 1/3 orange juice thoroughly in a glass. Add 2 scoops of ice cream and serve.

✱ TIP: The thicker the shake, the more of a parfait-like effect you’ll get. But if you find that you aren’t getting the layers you’d like (because it’s hot out or because you like your milkshakes on the thinner side), it still tastes great if you float spoonfuls of the vanilla shake in the chocolate shake.

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 31

FINAL WORD

THE KIDS NEXT DOOR W RITT E N BY KRIST I N OWE N S

FULL DISCLOSURE – I HAVE NO CHILDREN. My husband and I are

childless – or rather childfree for several reasons. None of which are your business. But to be completely transparent, we married later in life, catered to high-powered careers, and I had a faulty uterus. ‘Nuff said.

It’s okay.

When we purchased our home on a lovely, quiet, cul-du-sac the Fertility Gods smiled upon us, or at least displayed their fantastical sense of humor.

The real estate agent was crafty; he showed the house during the middle of the day when all the neighborhood kids were at school. Shortly after moving in, we found ourselves inundated by eight children all under the age of eight. I almost lit my hair on fire.

Whether rollerblading, bike riding, or radio-controlled car racing, we have a constant stream of activity in our neighborhood. It’s like Chuck E. Cheese on steroids. The kids play outside from sun up to sun down during each of Colorado’s three seasons.

How wonderful.

Who knew Batman lived next door — he runs across the yard complete with cape to fight crime. Disney princesses parade down driveways, ending in tents pitched in the front yard for a tea party. Boys tie each other to trees and play ‘hostage.’ We try not to interfere, but my husband can’t help saying, “not too tight, now.” The girls sell lemonade and dainty donuts from a well-organized small business operation by the mailboxes. The boys, feeling threatened, concoct a spin-off and sell fake pizza slices from a puzzle — we’ll never fall for that again.

It turns out, kids are fun... especially when they’re not yours. We see the occasional scrapes from bike accidents on self-made ramps, but any high drama is left for their parents. We ask them about school and the sports they play. Their new pair of sneakers. We are the happy observers who wave from next door, not day-to-day decision makers. What a great deal, we get all the fun and none of the responsibility.

32 Mind+Body APRIL/MAY 2017

The kids think we’re fascinating. We’re not. Whenever we do chores outside, they run over full-throttle and ask “whaddaya doin?” Most times we don’t know what to say, except state the obvious. Our life is so boring: “painting the driveway,” in 101-degree summer heat or “digging a hole for a drain pipe, hold this shovel.” Yet, the kids are fascinated in our hum-drum goings-on and respond with “cool.” Needless to say, they buoy our egos.

Most importantly, the kids next door remind us about the beauty of simplicity. They don’t worry about calories in M&Ms, just who gets which color. They don’t fret about mortgage payments or who’s turn it is to unload the dishwasher. They shouldn’t, that nonsense will arrive in due time. But they help us recall what it was like making easy, breezy choices... like deciding between a grape or strawberry popsicle.

Ironically, I grew up in a similar fashion. Next door to my parents’ house, Mr. Greg and Mrs. Chris had two fuzzy dogs and no kids. They never got angry when our ball wound up in their yard. They cheerfully threw it back, talked to us, and asked us about school. Hmmm. The great circle of life.

By watching the neighborhood kids’ antics, it reminds me how fast time travels from playing freeze-tag to owning my own lawn. I want desperately to tell them, enjoy this now, please! But I’m afraid my intensity will scare the bejeezus out of them, we’ll be shunned, and they’ll bypass our house at Halloween.

Alas, over the years, we’re seeing them grow up. No more chalk drawings on the driveways. No more tricycles. Now they sell us Girl Scout cookies and give us back the correct change. Bikes are ridden further from the house.

They walk to school. Their circumference of independence is expanding.

In the meantime, we’ll enthusiastically continue to watch from our unique vantage point. First dates, first cars, proms, and weddings... the kids next door will continue adding chapters to our own book. And we are grateful.

So, the next time they run over and ask, “whatcha doin?” with big smiles on their faces, a ready answer would be, “watching you grow up.” MB

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