The Larriba family: 4-year-old Sadie, her mom Steffanie and her dad FrankieNow more environmentally friendly! FREE Sep/Oct 2022 FRIENDSSPECIAL What a therapist learned PURCHASINGAHOME Buy a healthy existence RACEWAYFIREBIRD History & family funMONTHAWARENESSSYNDROMEDOWN Sadie’s story
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Features ColumnsInEachEdition ChildWednesday’s Meet Adrian 13 Real Money, Real Families A healthy existence 6 Family CalendarEvents10 Contents September/October 2022 The Larriba family: 4-year-old Sadie,her mom Steffanie and her dad Frankie Now more environmentally friendly! FREESep/Oct 2022 FRIENDSSPECIALWhat a therapist learned PURCHASINGAHOME Buy a healthy existence RACEWAYFIREBIRD History & family funMONTHAWARENESSSYNDROMEDOWN Sadie’s story RacewayFirebird History & family fun 8 Special friends Lessons from young patients 4 Food Wars Dealing with picky eaters 9 Help schoolnavigatekids Starting now 12 Gluten CinnamonOrangeFreeRolls Recipe 14 MonthAwarenessSyndromeDown Sadie’s story 3
Volume 10, Number 5 Publisher J.J. Plew Associate Publisher Adrianne Adrianne@globalpsd.comGoff Arrowleaf Photography Editor Gaye editorgaye@gmail.comBunderson Sales & Marketing J.J. jj@idahofamilymagazine.comPlew208-697-2043
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Idaho Family Magazine would love to put your child or children on our cover. All photos should be high quality, sharp and clear, and high resolution of around 300 ppi. Color photos are preferred, and all photos need to be vertical not horizontal. Please identify the children in the photos, the children’s ages, and what Treasure Valley community they reside in. (If chosen for the cover, their last names will not be used without permission.) Send the photos to editorgaye@gmail.com.
Idaho Family Magazine, published monthly by Gem Production Co., LLC, is committed to providing readers with informative and entertaining information to help them in maintaining healthy families and positive lifestyles. It is distributed throughout the valley as a free publication. Idaho Family Magazine does not assume responsibility for statements or opinions expressed by editorial contributors or advertisers. The acceptance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or information. Idaho Family Magazine does not knowingly present any product or service which is fraudulent or misleading in nature. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without express written consent of the publisher. Reader correspondence and editorial submissions are welcome. Idaho Family Magazine reserves the right to edit or reject all materials submitted. All rights reserved. Copyright 2022 by Gem Production Co., LLC.
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Contributors Luke Erickson, Macaile Hutt, Cara Johnson-Bader, Dennis Lopez, Sandy McDaniel, Mary Ann Wilcox Graphic Design Carol csmileydesign@gmail.comSmiley Shauna Howard, Doris Evans
2 SEP/OCT 2022 | Idaho Family Magazine www.idahofamilymagazine.com
It had been the family’s hope that Sadie, who loves equines, could ride a horse this year but, according to her mom, “She’s still too small for a horse, so we’re waiting until she’s a bit bigger — maybe next year.”
It’s a trait that serves her well and one she’ll no doubt need all her life long. Sadie takes longer to master skills other children take for granted, such as jumping. Her mom said she spent a lot of time just trying to get Sadie to figure out how to jump, but with the patience of both mother and daughter, the child mastered it. “She jumps everywhere all the time now,” Larriba said.
By Gaye Bunderson When
• She goes to a regular ballet class and, said her mom, “She’s super-focused, and she excels. She listens to the teachers.”
• She loves books and reading. At present, people read to her, and she is especially fond of “Curious George” – a nightly reading ritual at the Larriba home.
www.idahofamilymagazine.com Idaho Family Magazine | SEP/OCT 2022 3 DOWN SYNDROME MONTH
• She plays a number of simple musical instruments and mastered the ever-popular “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” on the chimes.
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asked what she’d say to a mother who just gave birth, Steffanie Larriba replied, “I would say, ‘Congratulations’.” No surprises there — until you realize the question was asked this way: “What would you say to a mother who gave birth to a baby with Down syndrome, and what advice would you give her?” No, Larriba did not misunderstand the question. Four years ago, she gave birth to a baby with Down syndrome. Larriba and her husband Frankie named the little girl Sadie. She’s been their bundle of joy ever since, starting with her first visit to a pediatrician.“Mypediatrician said to me first thing, ‘Congratulations’. And I thought, ‘Doesn’t he know the baby has Down syndrome?’ We talked about it, and he said he had a brother with Down syndrome.” Yes, he knew. And he meant to say “Congratulations!”TheLarribasare people of faith and feel Sadie was given to them to help other parents of children with Down syndrome and to give them encouragement. Steffanie wrote a book titled, “He Gave Them Something Extra,” a reference to the extra chromosome children with Down syndrome are born with. She is now working on a second book titled, “He Gave Me Something Extra,” about Down syndrome from a mother’s perspective.In2021,she addressed the Idaho Legislature regarding a bill that would help pregnant women realize that having a child with Down syndrome was a positive event, not an adverse one. “Sadie was on my hip the whole time and was well-behaved,” saidSadieLarriba.turned 4 years old this past January, and if you’d like to know what she’s been up to ‘all those years’, the list is long and includes plenty of fun. On June 22 of this year, her mother said, “She had her first swim lesson and rocked it — she’s amazing. She used a noodle and did some kicks and then was jumping into the pool into her instructor’s arms.”
• She’s an acclaimed hugger and isn’t stingy with displays of affection. Her mother shared a story about a recent display of love: “We were in a store and a really sad-looking woman was behind us in line and commented on how cute Sadie was. We made small talk and I could tell she was down about something. Sadie looked at me and then looked at her, pointed to her and said, ‘I love you.’ The woman clutched her chest and said, ‘That makes me feel so special. You don’t know what that did for me!’ God is using this little girl in ways that I will never know but am so beyond blessed to witness.”
Okay now, let’s cut to the chase: Sadie can’t be perfect.
Sadie, age 4, helping to raise awareness
Right? When asked if her child ever acts up like other children, Larriba replied, “She tests us every day – she’s very typical in that way. She’s very determined. Her key trait is an ‘I can do it’ attitude and not giving up.”
• She’s acquiring more and more oral speaking skills and learning sign language as well; she’s still working on both.
Still, despite her dimunitive size, Sadie has achieved some big Sadie, 4, is helping her family and others realize the value and beauty of a child with Down syndrome. October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. (Photo by Arrowleaf Photography)
accomplishments, such as:
“There is some delay, but her vocabulary is quite vast,” said Larriba.
‘This little girl’ has become a beloved part of both her parents’ extended families. “The grandmas are crazy about her,” Larriba said.
Another challenge she needed to conquer was riding a tricycle. “It took her a good year to learn to ride a tricycle, but she can do it now. Every triumph is a celebration.”
We are all perfectly imperfect and we all have strengths and weaknesses to help make us unique. When something feels weird or wrong at first, it’s usually just because it’s different from how we are used to it being. And choosing to reframe our mindset to talk about differences rather than turn away from them allows us the opportunity to meet and become friends with all kinds of people. It also helps us take a step closer and see that, deep down, all of our hearts beat the same throughout a time when our world is divided with more differences than ever before.
3. There is strength in numbers. These kiddos have helped me learn that it’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to admit that I can’t do something alone. We are almost always more capable together than we would ever be if we were completely on our own. Ask for help. Offer help. We are all in this together.
7. There’s always a reason to be thankful. I completed one of my clinical rotations in a school district in Arizona and I remember being in a session with a second grader who was fully blind. He was asking me questions about what I looked like, what the room we were in looked like, and asking me to describe in intricate detail the sensory bin that I wanted him to put his hands into. Out of nowhere, I got really emotional thinking about how difficult it would be to not be able to see anything ever again. I found myself feeling so sad and so sorry for him, and he could tell from the tone of my voice that I was holding back tears.
8. Normal is boring. I often hear the phrase “I just want my kid to be normal.” But normal is such a relative term. What does it even mean? I know I sure don’t feel ‘normal’ most days. If we were all the same, life would be so boring. And most of my favorite moments at work come from the deep belly laughter than ensues from all sources outside of normalcy. These beautiful children have helped reframe my perspective to celebrate and rejoice in our differences. You’ll never catch us chasing “normal.”
Macaile Hutt
I always try to remind my patients and their families that we were all born exactly as we were intended to be.
6. Giving up is not an option. I’ve been beat in planking competitions by a child with cerebral palsy; I have been schooled in The Game of Life, Monopoly, and Go Fish more times than I can count by children — with genetic, mitochondrial, and chromosomal abnormalities — that some said would never walk, never talk, or ever live a ‘normal’ life. And all I have to say is not only am I thankful those people were so incredibly wrong, but, more than that, I have to make note that those people were only wrong because none of those children ever gave up on themselves and what they knew they were capable of accomplishing.
I sat down to write an article for one of my favorite Idaho Family Magazine issues of the year, I decided to flip the script a bit and share a few lessons I’ve learned from some of my special friends over the years. Our world is brighter simply by having them in it.
“Why are you crying?” he asked. “I just feel sad that you can’t see the things I’m describing to you. I wish there was a way you could see them,” I replied back.
2. Is it wrong or is it just different? I ask myself this daily. Not just with my patients, but with my friends, family members, and even sometimes to complete strangers. Working in this profession has allowed me the wonderful ability to see differences as beautiful, even if they initially seem strange, wrong, or weird.
By Macaile Hutt As
1. Perspective is everything. My special friends have taught me so many ways to reframe my perspective and recognize there’s always a second side to the coin. Rather than count how many reps we have left, we can focus on how many we have already accomplished. Instead of stating our failures, we can do our best to focus on all of our many successes. I have learned that if we focus on what we are lacking, it often feels like we have even less than we do. But when we stop to focus on all of the reasons we have to be thankful, we almost always realize that we have more than enough exactly as we are.
5. Everyone can teach us something if we will let them. I have learned more from my patients and families than I could ever dream of teaching them. I have learned that if we humble ourselves and allow our pride to step aside, we can learn something from every single person we encounter. Sometimes people teach us lessons directly and, other times, people teach us lessons in patience, forgiveness, understanding, and perspective through adversity and difficult situations. These kids come to me with an open mind every single day, and that open mind is what allows them to make every ounce of the progress they make.
9. Too much swinging in circles will make everyone sick eventually. That one is pretty self-explanatory.
For every single thing we are without, we have a hundred more reasons to be thankful.
4 SEP/OCT 2022 | Idaho Family Magazine www.idahofamilymagazine.com
SPECIAL FRIENDS What a therapist learned from patients
4. Sometimes we have to try 100 times before it sticks. I often tell my families in feeding therapy that often we have to present something 100 times on a child’s plate before they will even TOUCH it. How often do we give up on something before we’ve given our all? How different life would be if we realized that sometimes we have to try 100 times before we will even get close to getting it right. But, if we keep trying, we will always, always get it right eventually.
“Oh, it’s okay, don’t feel bad,” he began, “some dogs are also blind AND dogs don’t have thumbs. I can still play video games even though I can’t see the screen.” I couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the exact same time as this sweet kiddo lent me his perspective in its most pure and innocent form.
OPENING FALL of 2022
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Pre K-6th Classical Christian Education
Macaile Hutt is the Director of Occupational Therapy for Star Speech and Occupational Therapy located in Star, Idaho. Her therapy style takes a holistic and child-directed approach, with the goal of children succeeding across multiple environments. She holds a master’s degree in occupational therapy from A.T. Still University and has received continuing education as a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional for Children and Adolescents (CCATP-CA), Handwriting Without Tears, pediatric kinesiotaping, Interactive Metronome, and Beckman Oral Motor. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing, backpacking, and traveling.
www.girlscouts-ssc.org/joinForGirls.ByGirls.EveryGirl.Funwith friends.
New forGirlMakingadventures.adifference.Scoutsishereeverygirl.
10. Tiny hands often leave the biggest marks on our hearts. I’m admittedly sitting at my laptop with tears streaming down my face, so incredibly overwhelmed with gratitude for all of the opportunities life has handed me to get to know my special friends. I truly can’t imagine life without them. Every tiny finger that reached for my hand inevitably ended up touching my heart. They have shown me strength unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed. They have given me kindness that I can’t comprehend. They have shown empathy that no other human I’ve encountered could possess. And they’ve taught me resilience, perseverance, and grace that has changed me forever. To all of my special friends, thank you. You are so loved, you are so brave, and you are so incredibly perfectly imperfect exactly as you are. This world is a better place because of you.
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If you are looking for an education for your child that is: we invite you to learn more about our new North Campus, located in the Foothills Church, 9655 W. State Street, Boise. Christ-centered Taught in the proven classical method Part of a loving (208)admissions@theambroseschool.orgtheambroseschool.org/north-campuscommunity323-3888
By Luke Erickson Every person needs a healthy place to exist. That’s why we never make eye contact with others at fast food joints, because we all know we’re not there to be our best-selves. “I’m just here to pick up something for a friend…I mean enemy, I would never give this stuff to a friend…or my kids…. Uh, yeah, I’ll take 4 kids’ meals, please.”
Sure, as a personal finance educator I believe that first, a home purchase is a huge financial decision, and one that should be planned for carefully. But it’s also a major lifestyle decision that has long-term and sometimes unpredictable ripple effects. In so many ways it is the foundation for countless other decisions that affect our health and happiness. It even affects our social circles, and the friends our kids will ultimately make, the values they will ultimately develop. It even determines the particular set of “Joneses” that we’ll try to keep up with. It can impact our willingness to get out and walk, run, socialize, worship, party, explore and the ways that we’ll grow. In many ways, the “tiny house” movement is an acknowledgment that only so much health and happiness can be found within the walls of your home, and that time spent outside of the house, socializing, working, being physical, and enjoying nature has extensive value. Indeed, our time outside of the home has a plethora of opportunities for healthy living, but we can’t ignore the fact that we do end up spending a good deal of our lives inside our homes. If nothing else, this is something we all learned during the ‘Rona, when the vast majority of us were homebound for months on end. Among the things I learned during this Covidquarantine is that the “home office” in our house — which also doubles as a guest bedroom, and triples as an I-don’t-know-where-this-goes catchall space — was right next to the main TV room and not a truly quiet place to work, unless you’re inspired by loud YouTube videos of kids playing Minecraft and screaming at each other. I also learned that, especially in the winter months, the house doesn’t get a lot of direct sunshine, which science says can boost serotonin and keep you calm, positive, and focused. I also gained a heightened awareness of the importance of keeping clutter down and maintaining clean and calming living spaces. In some cases, creating a healthy home doesn’t mean major changes, perhaps it’s something as simple as making a better cleaning routine. In other cases, it might be wise to spend some time or money on upgrades like additional sound proofing between your office and the kids’ TV. And when it comes to our homes, there is one activity that we do far more than any other: sleep. Or, if you have small kids, attempt to sleep. Sleep is one of the three main pillars of physical health along with exercise and nutrition. If we’re following recommended guidelines, we’ll be spending about 7 or 8 hours a day in bed. These hours are most effective when your room is dark, uncluttered, free of screens, quiet, peaceful, cool, and free of work and other distractions or possible sources of stress. And since you spend far more of your life on your mattress than you do any other piece of furniture, you should also invest in something quality and comfortable. Your bedroom should have a retreat vibe and be a place that induces calmness and tranquility. And if that doesn’t work, there’s always the option of one of my professorial lectures, which seems to cause universal narcolepsy.Whilecreating an appropriate atmosphere in the bedroom is especially important, you should approach the rest of your house the same way. You want it to be a space uniquely yours, a place that gives you some pride because it is a representation of you, your values, and your energy. Entering your home should be a positive experience for both you and your guests. And for potential burglars too — the vibe in your house will be so positive that the minute they creep in through the broken window they will be persuaded to abandon a life of crime and instead see the good and hope in the world.
Luke Erickson
In a given day, we typically find ourselves in our workplaces, commuting in cars and buses, at schools, gyms, walking the neighborhood, driving our towns (in search of the latest issue of the Idaho Family Magazine no doubt), and generally taking advantage of the conditions of our broader country and planet. But at the forefront of all of this are our homes. Your choices of when and where to buy a home impact far more than where you’ll eat, sleep, and binge-watch “Stranger Things.” You’re also making a whole heap of lifestyle decisions along with the house. No pressure! (…like a drip, drip, drip that will never stop. You got that if you have kids. And, seriously, it’s not a bad idea to check the water pressure before you buy).
But, yes, so many things are affected by our home purchase and renting decisions, like commute times, accessibility to local amenities such as greenspaces, grocery stores, libraries, schools, and your ability to make it to a coffee shop before you fall asleep in your car and die in a fiery death, unless it’s a self-driving car, which, in 2022, still means you might die a fiery death. Smart people are on it folks — with coffee, humankind can do this!
6 SEP/OCT 2022 | Idaho Family Magazine www.idahofamilymagazine.com REAL MONEY, REAL FAMILIES
How to purchase a healthy existence
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A healthy place to exist doesn’t often happen by accident. The decisions you make related to your home, neighborhood, and community can pay you back significantly if you make them with intention, thought, and care. And if you can do nothing else to make your life a little healthier, at least take routes around town that avoid fast food joints. Wait, what? They put in a new donut shop? Don’t make eye contact. Don’t make eye contact.
Luke Erickson, Ph.D., AFC®, is an associate professor of personal finance for the University of Idaho. He works and lives in the Treasure Valley; @drlukeerickson (Instagram), erickson@uidaho.edu 208.647.5337
Serving Boise, Meridian, Eagle and the surrounding areas. www. letmommysleep. com/idaho
Our Registered Nurses (RN) and Newborn Care Providers (NCP) support families with single babies, twins, and triplets by providing gentle care through the night. We use evidence-based practice to help parents feel confident and healthy in the family home.
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In so many cases, it’s not about making more money to be able to afford healthier surroundings, but simply redirecting the resources we already have in healthier ways. In my opinion, these efforts may even end up SAVING you money because they can significantly improve things like mental, physical, and spiritual health and avoid typical spending we might otherwise do in these areas.Allof these things take thought, care, intention, and yes…some well-focused spending. And while it can be easy to gloss over things like the atmosphere of your home, investing resources into it can produce significant returns for holistic health, happiness, and life experience. I strongly believe that healthy decisions pay for themselves.
“Taking over” meant ultimately dividing the duties critical to a successful racing facility. Today, Scott serves as general manager, Brad as marketing manager, and John facilities manager.
“In 2019 we were named to the National Register of Historic Places with the help of the Idaho Historical Society,” he says. “It was a long process but we became the first drag racing track in America to be named to the Registry. It means Firebird Raceway will be preserved for future generations.”
“We’ve had thousands of high school kids compete here,” New says. “Drag racing is a unique sport. We have kids competing as young as 5-years-old and one driver who is 85.”
8 SEP/OCT 2022 | Idaho Family Magazine www.idahofamilymagazine.com
“We hold between 50 to 60 races from April into October,” Scott explains. “Some feature top fuel dragsters, others, the family car. Many of the local racers are multi-generational with grandfathers, fathers and children all racing on the same weekend.”
Firebird: fast cars and family fun
D
The building and improvements to Firebird Raceway ultimately led to the three New brothers — Scott, Brad and John — growing up learning every aspect track management and maintenance from the ground up.
Firebird Raceway also serves as an incubator for the sport of drag racing. Special programs such as Junior Drag Racing offer drivers from 5-years-old to 17 a chance to compete driving half-scale versions of top fuel dragsters. Engines are limited to a single-cylinder that delivers five horsepower.
By Dennis Lopez
• Bring your camera but leave your drone.
• Try the track’s “World Famous Hot Dogs” or their half-pound of ice cream. Credit cards are welcome for all food venues as well as tickets.
• Be ready for fun. Special racing events like the recent 45th Annual Foxhunt allow visitors to see unique cars, like this jet powered dragster, in action at Firebird Raceway in Eagle. (Photo by Dennis Lopez)
On the other hand, over the 54-year course of its history, Firebird Raceway has attracted some of the biggest names in NHRA drag racing, including John Force and super rivals, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen.Thehistoric aspect of Firebird Raceway also brought the track its “finest hour,” according to Scott New.
Scratching a drag strip out of the Idaho desert off of Idaho State Highway16 from what then was barren land, the late Bill New and his wife built a sprawling 80-acre racing facility that today hosts a wide variety of drag racing.
• Motorsports are by their nature loud. Bring ear protection for everyone, especially children.
• Hats, sunscreen and sunglasses are a must as the grandstands are mostly uncovered. Personal umbrellas are okay; mega golf umbrellas should be left at home.
New says that one of the special things about drag racing is that all events allow spectators accessibility to drivers and crews.
“The racing pits are fully accessible,” he says. “It gives fans a unique perspective to motorsports. Nearly every other form of motorsports prohibits access to the pit area by the public.”
New explained that young drivers and their parents also can gain entry into the sport through the NHRA’s Jr. Street Program, one of the classes that competes at Firebird. Boys and girls from 13-to-16 years old have the opportunity to race against their peers in full-bodied street vehicles with a parent or other adult co-driver as their ride-along teammate. The program combines racing and car safety. Sponsored by the NHRA, it is seen as a way for families to use drag racing as a driving learning tool and as a unique means for family bonding.
HISTORIC RACEWAY
A growing Treasure Valley has brought some changes to Firebird — new cars and new competitors. A changing environment also may mean changes in racing at Firebird. “We’re beginning to see some changes,” he says. “For example, electric cars now are in the mix of vehicles running today.”Regarding the future of drag racing here in the Treasure Valley, New sums it up by saying he and his brothers are ready to go along for whatever ride the future may bring. “We’re eternal optimists,” he says.
“We basically grew up here and were guided along by our parents,” Scott New explained. “They gave us guidance so we eventually could step in and take over.”
IF YOU GO…
Competitors go through an orientation/licensing procedure on an eighth-mile dragstrip in their vehicles, which must meet program requirements. Approved vehicles must be registered, insured, street-legal vehicles with mufflers and street tires.
• Unlike many sports venues, Firebird does allow small six-packsize coolers with food or water but no alcohol and no glass bottles.
rag racing is all about raw horsepower, performance and elapsed time. But for Boise’s New brothers, it’s about much more. It is a commitment to continue, preserve and improve the historic Firebird Raceway drag racing venue started by their parents in 1968. Simply put, for them, it is all about their family legacy, family spectators and family racers.
If this sounds familiar, and your child’s nutrition and diet are a touchy subject, you are not alone.
By Cara Johnson-Bader
We’ve
7. Don’t force your child to eat. Forcing your child to eat leads to power struggles and avoidance of eating the food on their plate. Your responsibility as a parent is to provide healthy food choices.
Or, “Just try one bite, and you can go outside with your friends.” Bribing, nagging, and making deals almost always turn into a power struggle and won’t work in the long run, as it teachers your child to use the “Let’s make a deal” tactic in all scenarios. “I’ll brush my teeth, if you let me stay up past bedtime.” Our goal is to teach children to eat a well-balanced meal for their entire lives, so we need to focus on the long game, not the short-term gain.
5. Cook together. While cooking together requires a little more time, a lot more patience, and involves extra clean up, it is totally worth it! Not only do you spend quality time with your children, but they also build their language skills, math skills, fine motor skills, and life skills. And most
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importantly, your picky eater is more likely to eat what they helped make — a huge bonus for families concerned about the eating habits of their little ones.
all been there. After a long day at work, you come home and cook dinner only to have your child refuse to eat anything on his plate and demand mac and cheese or chicken nuggets. You want your child to eat a well-balanced meal, but they simply refuse, and you feel frustrated and concerned that your child isn’t getting enough to eat.
Here are a few tips to help you deal with a picky eater:
Many parents struggle to get their child to eat what they cook and worry about what their children eat or don’t eat. Picky eating, or as we call it at New Horizon Academy “selective eating,” is most common between the ages of 2 and 5 years. During this age span, children’s taste becomes more sensitive, and they are becoming more autonomous, with control over what they want to eat.
4. Be a role model. Sit together as a family and eat the same foods. Talk with your child about the food as you eat. At New Horizon Academy, we are fans of talking about the concept of from seed to table.
10. Listen to the Parenting Pickup Podcast for more information on navigating picky eating. The hosts of the Parenting Pickup Podcast interviewed Jill Weldon, Director of Food and Nutrition for New Horizon Academy. Jill shared a wide variety of helpful hints and tips to help you support healthy eating for your picky eater. The childrenandRestpickup-podcast/https://www.newhorizonacademy.net/about/parenting-link:assuredthatyourchild’spickyeatingistemporary,thesehintsandtipswillhelpyousupportyourchildorastheyexpandtheirfoodpreferences.Doyourbest to patiently guide your little one on a path toward healthy eating. If you are concerned about your child’s eating habits, speak with your pediatrician, who can offer guidance and support to ensure your child is getting all the necessary nutrients to grow and develop.
Cara Johnson-Bader is the Vice President of Marketing and Parent Experiences at New Horizon Academy and mother of two young boys. Learn more about New Horizon Academy at newhorizonacademy.net.
FOOD WARS Dealing with picky eaters
Cara Johnson-Bader
2. Try new foods. Introduce new and healthy foods with your child’s favorite meal. If a new food is paired with a familiar and favorite meal, your child is more likely to try it. Research tells us that children need to be offered a new food at least 15 times before they may even try it.
3. Use books to reinforce healthy eating. Introduce your child to books about healthy food. Then head to the kitchen and cook together. A few of our favorite books include: “Little Sweet Potato” by Amy Beth Bloom; “Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z” by Lois Ehlert; and “Little Helpers Toddler Cookbook: Healthy Kid-Friendly Recipes to Cook Together” by Heather Wish Staller.
1. Look at what your child is eating over the course of a week. Most children will eat more variety over several days than in one day. Try to keep your attention to your child’s selective eating behavior low-key, avoid power struggles, and focus on the positive. It is temporary for most children and ends before they enter elementary school. If you are concerned about your child’s development or eating behavior, discuss it with your child’s doctor.
8. Avoid bribing, nagging, or making deals. I don’t know about you, but I have resorted to bribing and making deals. Such as, “Just two more bites, then you get dessert.”
6. Dig in the dirt and start a garden. Start a garden and work with your picky eater to grow healthy fruits and vegetables. Research indicates that children involved in growing their own food are more likely to try eating it.
9. Skip making a special meal. Making a special meal sets the precedent that may be difficult to implement longterm. Instead of creating a special meal, include a food item you know your child enjoys into each meal and then encourage your little one to try something new.
Idaho City Days
Go to the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise every Saturday throughout October for the family-friendly Fall Harvest at the Garden programs. Events include a Scarecrow Stroll, artisan vendors, food trucks, local beer and cider, and live music. For a complete list of activities, go to events/fall-harvest-at-the-garden/.https://idahobotanicalgarden.org/
Indian Creek Festival
This open-air festival — set for Saturday and Sunday, October 1-2 — is in its seventh year, providing visitors of all ages and interests with the opportunity to meet a growing number of artists, crafters, antique dealers, and other vendors, and purchase their goods. In addition to shopping opportunities with local businesses and the vendors, the Idaho City Chamber and its fellow Idaho City organizations present an array of amusements, performances, food, and activities for the entire family. For more information, go to https://idahocitychamber.org/idaho-city-days/. send family-related calendar items to editorgaye@gmail.com
The Gazebo Concert Series is a free music concert at Heritage Park in downtown Eagle. The event is brought to the public by Eagle Parks & Rec and the Eagle Art Commission and is held on the last Thursday of the month through September. Those who attend should bring a chair, a blanket, a picnic — or enjoy food from local businesses.
The JUMP Park provides a playful environment for everyone to take a plunge, push the limit, and experience fun. Now JUMP’s five-story chute is open to the public between 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, weather permitting. Try it out on September 3, 10, 17, and 24, as well as some October dates. For more information, go to http://register.jumpboise.org/ mastercalendar/.
Nampa Parks & Recreation’s 38th Annual Harvest Classic Fun Run is set for Saturday, September 17, beginning at Harward Rec Center. The 1-mile run begins at 9 a.m., and the 2-mile and 8K runs begin at 9:30. Register online at namparecreation.org; or for more information, visit namparecreation.org or call (208) 468-5858. Pick up a race route and entry form at Nampa City Hall.
O C T O B E R Fall Harvest at the Garden
CALENDAR Please
Art in the Park
S E P T E M B E R Eagle Gazebo Concert Series
Courageous Kids Climbing
The annual Art in the Park 2022 is set for September 9-11 in Julia Davis Park in Boise. The event is free and open to the public. More than 200 artists will show and sell their works during the 3-day event. There will also be food for purchase and activities for children. Go to org/art-in-the-park/http://www.boiseartmuseum.formoreinformation.
Oktoberfest at Nampa Civic Center
There will be something for the whole family at the annual Oktoberfest at Nampa Civic Center from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, September 30. For more information as it becomes available, go to nampaciviccenter.com/events/oktoberfest/.https://
Boo at the Zoo Zoo
Harvest Classic Fun Run ‘22
Last Splash Weekends will be held at Roaring Springs, weather permitting, from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, September 10-11 and 17-18. Admission will be $17 off the regular price and cabana rentals will be 50% off. To reserve a cabana online, go to cabana-rentals.www.roaringsprings.com/plan/
Slide into Saturdays at JUMP
Boise holds an annual Halloween event called Boo at the Zoo. Go to zooboise.org for more information as it becomes available.
Swimming • Rock Climbing • Court Games Crafts • Snacks and More! FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 208-468-5858 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT HARWARDRECCENTER.ORG Before School, After School & Full Day! in action! Harward Rec Center’s St. Joseph's Catholic School Idaho’s oldest continually operated Catholic School, educating generations of students for 122 years! Currently accepting K-8 applications for the 2022 23 academic year. 825 W Fort Street Boise, ID 83702 @StJoesBoise stjoesboise Call 208 342 4909 or visit www.stjoes.com for more information.
Hyde Park Street Fair
10 SEP/OCT 2022 | Idaho Family Magazine www.idahofamilymagazine.com
Courageous Kids Climbing, which offers free, safe climbing opportunities for people with special needs, will hold a climbing event from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, September 10, at the Downtown Boise YMCA. Another program will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, September 11, at Gemstone Climbing in Twin Falls. Contact organizer Jeff Riechmann at courageouskidsclimbing@gmail.com for a registration packet or more information.
Last Splash Weekends
The 20th Annual Indian Creek Festival is set this year for 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, September 16, and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 17, in downtown Caldwell. Highlights include a car cruise, car show, chalk art contest, a cardboard kayak race, a local marketplace, and live music. Go to www.indiancreekplaza.com/indian-creek-festival.https://
The Hyde Park Street Fair 2022 is schedule to be held September 16-17 at Camel’s Back Park in Boise. Go to northendboise.org for more details.
The Boise WaterShed offers a fun, free time for families from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. during its WaterShed Weekend programs. The topic on Saturday, October 15, will be “Fall Festival.” Call (208) 608-7300 for more information.
Pediatric Orthopedic Rehab Aquatic Therapy Telehealth Available Baby Bootcamp Two sensory-motor gyms isit K P T id a h o . c o m t o l e a r n mo r e .
cash or cans to support the Meridian Food Bank would be appreciated. Look for the Food Bank booth or drop dry goods into the donations barrels. For more information, go to meridiancityspecialevents.org/trunk-or-treat.html.https://www.
C U RRENT O P ENIN G S
Meridian Trunk or Treat
The event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, October 27. Attendance is free. Donations of
Idaho Family Magazine | SEP/OCT 2022 11
Celebrate the spooky season — with a twist. Attend the annual Pumpkin Plunge from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, October 28, at the Harward Rec Center pool. Plunge into the pool for a great pumpkin hunt. The event is for ages 6-13, and pre-registration is required. Cost is $4 for members and $8 for nonmembers. Go to nampaparksandrecreation.org.
Downtown Meridian becomes a festival of costumes as more than 70 businesses participate in the community’s annual Trunk or Treat. This year, there will be a food court and game area for those who want to slow down and just enjoy the show.
Caldwell Fall Prayer Walk
of Events
Funtober Fest Harvest fun will be the theme of the Funtober Fest from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, October 15, at Nampa’s Harward Rec Center. The outdoor, carnival-style event will feature face-painting, crafts, storytelling, a costume contest, games and more. Cost is $5 for members, $6 for non-members, and free for adults with a paid child. Go to nampaparksandrecreation. org or call (208) 468-5858 for more information.
Foothills Family Days
WaterShed Weekend
P H YS IC A LS PEE C HO C C U PAT IO N A L
aleidoscope Pediatric erapy is dedicated to providing a tailored approach to therapy for ever y child. We are a family focused, multi-disciplinar y, evidence based practice specializing in comprehensive physical, occupational and speech therapy.
Beginning September, 2022
The Caldwell Fall Prayer Walk is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, October 8, at the Caldwell Memorial Park bandshell. The park is located at 619 Irving St. Those who attend will walk around downtown Caldwell and pray as they go. This is a family event and is for both adults and children. All are invited to come and pray together. A potluck dinner will be held following the walk. For more information, contact walk organizer Arlene Robinett at (208) 391-8516.
Pumpkin Plunge
N O V E M B E R
The Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center in Boise features free family days from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. The program on October 8 will be “Fall in the Foothills.” Call (208) 493-2530 for more information.
Craft & Chocolate Affaire
Over 90 artisans will display their goods at the annual Craft & Chocolate Affaire November 4-5 at the Nampa Civic Center. There will be a little something for everyone. The event caters to chocolate lovers and those who love to attend bazaars. This long-time beloved happening kicks off the holiday season. For more information as it becomes available, go to nampaciviccenter.com.
Halloween Festival
Franz Witte at 20005 11th Ave. N. in Nampa holds an annual Halloween Festival, featuring “haunted home décor, petrifying pumpkins, dreadfully delicious food, wicked workshops, and fall favorite annuals.” This year’s event will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, October 8,
With the right life insurance, you can leave a legacy for your family. I’m here to help.
State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY or WI)
Ken Wells, Agent 600 N Midland Blvd Nampa, ID 83651 Bus:www.kenwells.net208-466-4162
12 SEP/OCT 2022 | Idaho Family Magazine www.idahofamilymagazine.com START NOW Helping your child navigate school
Ken Wells, Agent 600 N Midland Blvd Nampa, ID 83651 Bus:www.kenwells.net208-466-4162 Be a Insurelegend.yourlife.
Author of five books, columnist, founder of parentingsos.com, she is a resident of Meridian and loves spending time with her three Idaho grandchicks. She may be reached at sandy@ parentingsos.com; or go to YouTube:Sandy Spurgeon McDaniel to see videos on specific parenting issues.
Be a Insurelegend.yourlife.
To connect, look in the child’s eyes and be with them completely. Take a breath! If your answer is negative (“Mom, can I please watch X on TV?”) think before you speak. “I hear that your friends watch that show, that you hate to feel left out, but it’s not something I want you to watch.” The child (especially a teen) will argue. Listen. Be present. Repeat exactly what you said before in a calm, level voice. Repeat your sentence as many times as necessary; the trick is to stay calm and not show anger. Bored, the child will stop.
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By Sandy McDaniel S
I am not a good student. My brain works differently than many teachers teach, so, I went through school thinking I was dumb, suffering as I tried to learn the curriculum. I think that’s why, when I became a teacher, I knocked myself out to be creative, to teach in all modalities (auditory, visual, kinesthetic), and it was there I learned how important it is to be really nurturing when helping a student who is stuck. For some children, reading is difficult. If a child lags in reading, every subject will have hurdles for that child. The best way to learn to read is to read! Have your child read aloud to you while you are cooking dinner. Read with your children every night before bedtime, taking turns to read a paragraph or even a sentence. Sometimes, read and just stop at a word for the child to say what it is. Helping a child to sound out a word needs to be done with NO negative body language, sighs, or a change in tone of voice. If the child feels like a failure, that child will fail. When a child was doing a math problem, I asked that it be completed aloud. That way I could hear where thinking needed to be re-taught. In spelling, sometimes a big word can be tackled in syllables. If you knock your knuckles on the table three times, ele-phant is broken into three parts: two e’s and a ph for fant. Sometimes, learning a group of ideas can best be put into mnemonics. Learn five men’s names who signed the Declaration of Independence to spell out a word, such as “flags.” That could include Franklin, Livingston, Adams, etc. The start of a new school year can be very traumatic. I have been reminded by my friend, Laura Sonderegger (author of “Emotional 911: For Parents”), how important it is to listen to a child’s fears. Listening means to ask, “What are you feeling?”
I’m setting a timer, so take deep breaths until you hear it ring.”
With the right life insurance, you can leave a legacy for your family. I’m here to help.
chool is off and running — are your children keeping up? As a former elementary schoolteacher, I will tell you that it is critical that a child does not get lost in the beginning of the year. Attitude is half the battle! If a child gets discouraged, they will give up on themselves and cause more trouble at home and at school. Have a sibling help a younger sibling (give a lesson in support as opposed to criticism), hire a tutor if needed, and be sure to let the teacher know that struggle is happening. It is also important that a parent provides a checkpoint for each child: “I want you to show me what your homework is, then show it to me when you are finished.” I would make my children do a messy paper over, with me watching. Mis-spelled words can be circled with pencil, to be corrected; math errors can be circled to be fixed — or one math problem circled, which means all the problems need to be checked by the child.
LET’S TALK TODAY.
Sandy McDaniel
Follow up by asking the child where that upsetting or negative feeling (scared, worried, anxious) is in their body; give it a color and invite the child to pretend to blow it into a balloon to float away from them. Once the fear is gone, the child can listen and focus. Thanks to our continuing COVID-19 reality, children are experiencing new kinds of trauma. Stored inside, those feeling become hurdles over which the child will need to vault throughout his or her life. They also become triggers, invisible snares that cause sudden fear and often drama in relationships. More than ever, we need to be with our children, listen to their feelings and help them to release them so they can reach for a better feeling (calm, content, happy).
LET’S TALK TODAY.
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Be a Insurelegend.yourlife.
Laura’s book, available on Amazon, will give you a gazillion ways to assist your children with their feelings, and work to heal existing trauma.
To the degree you are present and try to provide the help your child needs to navigate the school years, will your child feel safe enough to ask for help in other areas? Listen! Be present! The time you take now will save years of trying to get through the wall they otherwise build between the two of you.
For more than 55 years, Sandy McDaniel has been an international speaker and recognized authority on families and children.
I see myself mentioning the need to listen in many of my columns. Listening requires connection. If you are busy, tell your child, “I need five minutes to put this together, then I can listen.
Ken Wells, Agent 600 N Midland Blvd Nampa, ID 83651 Bus:www.kenwells.net208-466-4162
Adrian has a cognitive disability that requires his caregivers to assist him in meeting most of his daily needs. He loves parks and going on long walks around the neighborhood and is a curious boy who wants to figure out how everything around him works. He attends school full time and especially loves riding the school bus.
Adrian’s team would ideally love to find an adoptive family for him in the Treasure Valley area but is open to inquiries outside of the area as well in an effort to find the perfect fit for him. If you believe that you have what Adrian needs and deserves in his Forever Family, inquire today to learn more about this one-of-akind boy. (See information below.) For more information on the Idaho Wednesday’s Child Program, visit www.idahowednesdayschild.org, or contact Recruitment Coordinator Shawn White at swhite52@ewu.edu or cell 208-488-8989 if you have specific questions.
www.idahofamilymagazine.com Idaho Family Magazine | SEP/OCT 2022 13 Hassle FreeUpfrontSchedulingPricingClean & Professional We valuable.yourunderstandtimeis
Lovable and endearing are the first impressions you will have about Adrian after spending just a short amount of time with this sweet, funny boy. Watching Adrian’s joyful excitement over even the smallest things in life and simply being in the presence of his contagious smiles and laughter will brighten anyone’s day.
The following information is provided by Wednesday’s Child, an organization that helps Idaho foster children find permanent homes. of popcorn when it’s snack time. Adrian is primarily non-verbal but is making progress with his speech. Even though he cannot always easily communicate his needs, he continues to tackle life with a great disposition, wonder and enthusiasm.
Adrian is good with animals and likes to pet the dogs in his foster home. Some of his other favorite things include watching educational shows with patterns and rhymes and playing in the water. He’s a great eater and is especially fond
TheMagicTeam.com/Boise 208-462-0477 We won’t waste a minute of it.
WEDNESDAY’S CHILD Adrian, 12, loves riding the school bus
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This recipe was provided by Mary Ann’s Cupboards at maryannscupboards.comcom.maryannscupboards.Emailinfo@
if you have questions. Mary Ann Wilcox to about 10 inches by 5 inches. Now gently place a mixture of 4 t. brown sugar, ½ orange rind, and 4 t. melted butter mixture in the center (like making cinnamon rolls) and start to gently roll up. I often have placed the dough onto (sprayed with Pam) a plastic wrap sheet before rolling out. It is easier to roll over the wrap to turn into a roll. Seal the edge by pinching together. Gently cut into ½ in rolls with dental floss. Place in a greased round cake pan (you may need to use two round cake pans). Place them close together inThispans.recipe can be changed to make cinnamon rolls, cranberry rolls, lemon rolls, jam rolls, or even the orange rolls above. All you do is change the flavorings, add nuts if desired, change the icing, and you have created your own roll recipe.
DIRECTIONS In a bowl sift 3 c. of Amazing Grace gluten free pastry flour and 1 c. of Amazing Grace all purpose gluten free flour. Sift 3 times. Measure out 2 c. of mixed flour and add 2 t. salt into sifter. Sift into a separate bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, warm 1¼ c. milk with 1 T. quick yeast and 4 T. sugar. Stir and let bubble about 10 min. Then add 2 T. orange juice and mix. Add 1 egg and 1 egg white (or substitute) to mix, then add 4 T. soft butter flavored Crisco and 1 t. vanilla to bowl and beat with electric egg beater. Now mix in 4 T. plain potato flakes. Add the 2 c. of sifted flour with salt in it and mix for 3 minutes. Add 1 more c. of the blended flour a little at a time and beat in after each addition. Add ½ grated zest of an orange to it. On a flat surface put out 2-3 t. pastry flour and spread. Gently pat out pastry dough you just mixed, and using a slightly floured rolling pin, roll
• 3 c. Amazing Grace (or other) gluten free pastry flour 1 c. Amazing Grace (or other) all purpose gluten free flour 2 t. salt 1¼ c. milk 1 T. quick yeast 4 T. sugar • 4 t. brown sugar 2 T. orange juice 1 egg and 1 egg white 4 T. butter flavored Crisco 1 t. vanilla 4 T. plain potato flakes Zest of 1 orange
CAUTION: Don’t over-stuff the center.
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RECIPE Gluten Free Orange Cinnamon Roll
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14 SEP/OCT 2022 | Idaho Family Magazine www.idahofamilymagazine.com
“I want to instill in her that she can do anything. I want her to drive, work, go to college,” her mom said.
“I didn’t have the best childhood, and God knew my heart needed a lot of healing. He used Sadie to do that. She is the most incredible gift. … On the heels of a bad childhood, my husband also struggled. His first wife had abandoned him while he was in the military overseas, and my first husband committed suicide. God brought us together. We are now best friends – and we also have Sadie!”
Sadie’s blessings to her parents include major changes in both their individual lives and their lives as a married couple. Her mother explained: “Sadie is everything I could ever ask for in a child – and more. I feel God created her just for me; she’s healed me.
www.idahofamilymagazine.com Idaho Family Magazine | SEP/OCT 2022 15 SADIE Continued from Page 3
What is the biggest challenge in parenting a daughter with Down syndrome? “I think the biggest challenge is people putting Sadie in a disability box — doctors, teachers, other parents.”
At the beginnning of this story, only half a question was answered: that Larriba would tell the mother of a child with Down syndrome “Congratulations.” But what about the advice she was asked about? What else would she tell that new mom?
“After ‘Congratulations,’ I would also say, ‘God knows what you need and what you’re capable of doing, and He will give whatever you and your child need’.”
Sadie started preschool in September, and she is also homeschooled as well, so it’s a hybrid educational process for her.
Larriba’s book is doing well. “I hear from moms all over the world, saying it encourages them,” she said. “They also say it’s their kids’ favorite book, which surprises me.”
4PM at Expo NOVEMBERIdaho12,2022KidsDiscoveryExpo.com MORE!AND FAMILYSINGLETICKETPASSAppearances SuperheroesByandyourfavoritePrincesses!STEM/STEAM Activities Block & Roll Lego Bus Rock Climbing Wall Tree House Slide Magic FunTsunamiReptileVirtualShowsRealityExhibitSurfInflatables
Larriba is discouraged by facts such as, if children with Down syndrome need an organ transplant, they are last in line behind “normal” children. “They don’t treat them equally,” she said.
The Larribas fight for their daughter and for the children of other parents as well. “We advocate wherever we go,” stated Steffanie. Both she and her husband consider advocacy their most valuable mission in life, and that fight will continue life-long for them as well. As Sadie grows and encounters her teen years, her twenties, and her adult years, her parents will be beside her, giving her encouragement, and still doing advocacy work.
The children all likewise bond. “The kids embrace one another. It’s almost as if they know,” Larriba said, meaning it’s like they all know their commonality is Down syndrome — and for them, it is most definitely a commonality, not an abnormality.Sadiethehugger enjoys meeting other kids with Down syndrome. Said her mom: “We’ll be in Costco and Sadie will see another child with Down syndrome and she’ll go up and hug them. To me, they’re so filled with love.”
The Larriba family — Frankie, Steffanie, and Sadie — joined the Treasure Valley Down Syndrome Association. “We meet other moms [and dads] who have the same circumstance in life as us, so they’re like family.”
In Larriba’s view, all parents can take comfort in this fact: God doesn’t make mistakes. -
Larriba serves as the typical mom-teacher. She works devotedly with Sadie on all her skills. “I ask her if she wants to do things. I push her in a healthy way,” Larriba said, then thinking maybe “push” wasn’t the right word. “I encourage her,” she corrected.
10AM
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and an annual feature named the Buddy Walk takes place in the autumn month. This year the event will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, October 16, at Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell; however, this year, for the first time, the name of the program is changed from Buddy Walk to Step Up for Down Syndrome. “We’ll have a mile-long walk, and at the plaza we’ll have lots of entertainment, including the local ‘80s tribute band, Casio Dreams,” said Larriba.
My name is Harrison Beck; I’m the youngest son of Brent Beck, ‘Chief Executive Grandpa’ of Grandpa Beck’s Games. My wife Jessica and I live here in Caldwell, Idaho. We both work part time for the game business. My wife is the office, project, and inventory manager and I’m the game designer for Antiquity Quest and our newest title, Reign of Dragoness. I also help with the development of other games. Designing games around our own kitchen table is key to how we narrow down and identify good mechanics that others will enjoy. Each game has a basic set of rules as well as an advanced set of rules. This makes the games easy to learn and the strategies grow with your family. We find so much joy in making games that create lasting memories for others in their own homes. As Grandpa Beck always says, “A family that plays together, stays together.”
