Idaho Family Nov/Dec 2022

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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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Children’s Photos Wanted

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.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Taking the trouble out of holiday glow

By Gaye Bunderson

Withall the holidays entail in gift-buying and baking, include in that the beauty of Christmas lights – they literally brighten the season. This editor recently visited with three employees of Northwest Exterior Services (NES) who, in fair weather, wash windows for the company. But when Christmas starts to roll around, they start logging time making houses sparkle.

Travis White, Hunter Legg, and Taylor Legg speak positively about their yuletide labor on ladders across the valley. “It’s a very fulfilling thing to do,” said Hunter Legg.

The men start in late September in order to fill all their customer orders by mid-December. “We start around September 26, but it gets earlier and earlier each year as we pick up more customers – not all the houses can be done right after Thanksgiving,” Taylor White said.

Initially, the three men begin as one team, but as work progresses, they pick up a seasonal employee or two and break into two teams to meet their goals. Their work is primarily up high so that homeowners don’t have to climb tall, tricky ladders in an attempt to make their housetops glow. The men take some of the danger out of holiday lighting and allow homeowners the freedom not to play Clark Griswold every year. Another benefit is that homeowners don’t need to be up near the roof when it’s bitterly cold outside – the experienced light installers handle that. The three NES employees talk about the trials of wearing gloves while working with lights, saying they try to get just the right gloves for the job but remove them when they must.

“We make the lights custom-fit the house,” Travis said. And they work to bring an artistic sense to what they do. Both Travis and Hunter have been installing lights for six years, while Taylor has been doing them for four.

“We learned on the job,” Travis said. “We work for weeks, and we work fast.” They accommodate around 350 customers per year, and being timely is essential.

Monty Love, a Middleton client for seven years, said of NES’s light installation, “It’s super convenient. I like how they

come, put up the lights and make sure they’re all working. I think the lights show you’re in the spirit and let’s the whole neighborhood know you’re in the spirit. It’s one of my favorite times of year.”

NES offers professional-grade lights for sale, as well as quality extension cords. Customers purchase the lights and cords the first year. Following Christmas, Travis and crew take the lights down and store them for the customers. After the first year, customers don’t need to purchase the lights again.

Initially, costs for the lights and labor run around $4 a foot; after that, it’s half the price at $2 per foot. On average, according to Travis, costs are $200 to $400 per house, but they can also run $100 for a smaller house and up to $1,000 for a large house.

The workers do their best to hide the extension cords so that no one seeing the lights is distracted by a bundle of cords sticking out. “We try to do it nice and clean,” Travis said.

The average amount of time it takes to put up lights is 1½ to 2 hours, but it does depend on the size of the house. Some smaller homes may take only 30 minutes for a set of lights, while larger homes and more lights may take up to a full day.

The crew doesn’t do lawn displays – “We stay away from snowmen,” Travis said (with a touch of humor) – but they do install wreaths.

Hunter explained the wreaths are hanging wreaths that are often above garages. They’re large wreaths that are 2 to 3 feet in size, and sometimes 4 feet, and they have lights on them, too.

The crew also wraps lights around trees and bushes, which can be challenging for the average home holiday decorator. They make sure the lights are straight and evenly spread out, which can spare homeowners a lot of hassle and perhaps the occasional argument with a spouse.

In general, homeowners don’t have pre-set ideas about how the lights should be installed but instead defer to the expertise of the NES employees. The men attempt to complete all

Continued on Page 13

This house in Nampa was decorated with lights that are designated “cool white.” There are other light choices, including “multicolor” and “warm white.” Workers from Northwest Exterior Services installed the lights on the home, ‘making spirits bright’ while keeping homeowners safe.

(Photo provided by Northwest Exterior Services)

HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Handling the myriad of seasonal feelings

By Macaile Hutt

Theholiday season is upon us, as many radio stations, store aisles, and advertisements will endlessly remind you as you do your best to navigate your week. While this time of year can be a really positive and uplifting time for some, it can also be a time filled with heaviness, grief, loss, and sadness for others.

If entering this season brings you equal parts happiness and dread, you are not alone.

I hope these ideas and reminders serve as a beacon of light and hope in a time that often feels hopeless to enter into. We are all in this together.

1. Allow yourself to feel your feelings without judgment.

As feelings come and go throughout this holiday season, remind yourself that no feeling is ever final. Not the good ones, and not the bad ones. It’s so normal to feel triggered throughout the holiday season as we are reminded of happy and sad times, those who are no longer with us, and we revisit places that carry deep core memories from moments of impact throughout our lives.

There’s a saying in therapy: “If it’s hysterical, it’s historical.” If a particular event, feeling, person, or thought elicits a very big “hysterical” feeling or response, it’s an indication of a pattern we’ve experienced many times throughout our lives. If we can pause in these moments and remind ourselves we are experiencing one isolated incident and not all of the previous moments tied to this feeling collectively, we can respond with the appropriate size of reaction and even rewrite history by responding differently than we ever have before.

You are not your feelings, and if we can experience feelings without judgment, they will be allowed to pass through us much more efficiently than if we try to combat, avoid, deflect, or cling to them. As we navigate this season together, give yourself grace when feelings arise, and remind yourself no feeling will last forever.

2. Find small moments to bring you joy.

The little things so often become the big things. If we can learn to find joy in small moments, in a quiet cup of coffee as the sun comes up, smiling at a stranger on a walk in the neighborhood, getting lost in a good book, hitting all green lights on the way to the grocery store, or finding small moments of stillness amongst the chaos, we can rewire our

minds to lean toward all we have rather than the things we are lacking.

If we can shift our perspective to find the things we are thankful for in a season that might feel heavy or difficult to navigate, we will realize there are small moments of joy and connection nestled in the midst of even our most painful experiences. Every day might not be good, but there is good in every day.

3. Create new traditions.

Often, a big trigger throughout the holidays is the reminder of traditions or memories that no longer occur. Society tells us all the things we “should” do throughout this season, but there are no rules on how to best navigate these months. Who says you can’t trade turkey for takeout Chinese food or watch a horror movie every Christmas Eve? Sometimes planting new seeds of tradition in our heart allows flowers to grow in the places we thought for sure would never bloom again. This holiday season, I challenge you to create a new tradition, alone or with those you love, and let yourself get excited to repeat that new tradition in all the years to come.

4. Reach out for connection.

The holidays are a busy time for many, but sometimes small amounts of connection or being reminded we are not alone is the very thing that gets us (and those we love) through these seasons. When we put our pride or concern of being a burden aside to reach out to someone and connect, we are reminded time and time again that we are never alone. So often, I have been humbled when I call a friend or loved one to tell them I have been struggling in a season of my life, and their immediate response is, “You too?? I thought for sure I was the only one.”

If you find yourself in a low point this holiday season, reach out to someone you love. Call to check in and say hi. Send the text message. Leave the voicemail. Invite them over for dinner or share your ideas for the new tradition you’re going to create.

We rise by lifting others, and the driving force behind almost all forward momentum is true and honest connection. 5. Find something to look forward to.

When we find ourselves inside a dark tunnel, we can create a light at the end of the tunnel to look forward to. It might not make the tunnel any shorter, but it will definitely

“You are not your feelings, and if we can experience feelings without judgment, they will be allowed to pass through us much more efficiently than if we try to combat, avoid, deflect, or cling to them.”

Macaile Hutt

make the path we must navigate a little brighter. Plan a trip or a staycation, sign up for a cooking class, a dance class, or cross something else off your bucket list that you’ve been putting off for far too long. Schedule something at the end of the holidays to reward yourself for making it through a heavy time, and set your sights on that event or date in the moments you need a little light to break up the darkness.

6. Find gratitude in every season.

It’s often in the moments I feel the least thankful that I need the reminder of all I have to be thankful for. When I wake up on the wrong side of the bed or feel a “woe is me” attitude overtake my day, I pause to list (either physically or mentally) five things I am thankful for. Once I start listing these things, it’s hard to stop at just five. It’s incredible how quickly I can reset the tone for my day by pausing to think about all the reasons I have to be thankful. Even the simplest things, such as, I have food, I have a roof over my head, I have people in my life who love me, and I woke up this morning, can often give me the perspective I need to change my attitude and move forward from a place of positivity and optimism. As you navigate this season, I invite you to make a daily list of five things you have to be thankful for. Watch the magic that happens when you focus on all you already have.

Sending so much light and love to all my Idaho Family Magazine friends and family as we enter into this holiday season together. May it be better than you could have imagined; filled with hope, light, love, and, most importantly, so much grace for yourself. You are not alone.

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 (CCATPCA), Handwriting Without Tears, pediatric kinesiotaping, Interactive Metronome, and Beckman Oral Motor. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing, backpacking, and traveling.

are not “too cool” to care what their parents think

REAL FAMILIES

Giving a flying flip about your finances

By Luke Erickson

Oneof my favorite movies of all time is a highly underrated kid’s show called “Rise of the Guardians.” It’s an animated feature starring our favorite holiday figures like Santa, the Easter Bunny, etc. with characters voiced by the likes of Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Chris Pine, among other big names.

The premise is that these well-known holiday icons are actually guardians that keep darkness and fear away from children – which is personified by the Boogeyman (Jude Law). Jack Frost is a newbie to the group, but he’s not fully accepted into the holiday superhero lineup right away. He’s got to earn his way in by finding out who he really is at his “center.”

Like Jack, Santa, and the Easter Bunny, we’ve all got different “centers” too. We all have different purposes, values, and goals that drive our lives. And as a financial educator and counselor, I can tell you that knowing your center values is the foundation of any good financial plan.

A one-size-fits-all financial plan or budget may get us started on a good path, but it will inevitably fail you at some point, because budgets and other financial tools are meant to support your chosen goals, values, and lifestyle and not determine them.

Mark Manson is the author of a book called, “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***.” Yes, that’s a real book. And despite its unusually crass title, it is an extremely popular read, having spent 179 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. The book uses casual “street” language, but don’t let that fool you, it’s surprisingly well researched and has an almost academic vibe, except for the semi-frequent use of the F-word!

How did I go from a kid’s holiday movie, to finances, to a book with the F-word in the title? Stick with me, I promise it will all tie together!

As parents we all have a lot on our plates and if we don’t hone in on our priorities, we will eventually reach burnout. Heck, even if we do prioritize, chances are we’ll still get overwhelmed at times and just stop giving a…fig.

And believe it or not, that may not be an entirely bad thing. It’s nature’s way of saying we’re trying to do too much, physically, mentally, emotionally, etc. And in those times of burnout and crisis we can learn important lessons, that there are things that we need to stop giving a flop about.

Good news is that you don’t have to wait for a crisis to figure out your priorities. You can also be proactive and start identifying now what you don’t need to give a fudge

about.

But what mechanism should we use for deciding what activities are good, better, and best?

This is where Manson shines.

In an article called “Personal Values: How to Know Who You Really Are,” Manson discusses, in depth, a process for identifying our core values, goals and daily activities. In summary, the process helps you figure out what really matters to you and helps you get rid of the stuff in your life that you don’t need to give a flying fish about.

One of the biggest hurdles to figuring out what we authentically value is screening out all the other voices and opinions that fill our heads constantly. These could be voices of real people, i.e. opinions from friends, family and co-workers. They could also be imaginary voices, what you perceive that people or even what society and culture expects from you. Left unchecked, these real and imagined expectations of others will hijack your time, choices, and even your financial plans.

Identifying your own values needs to be done intentionally because ultimately, your life should be a reflection of WHO YOU ARE and not what other people expect it to be.

Once you know what you authentically value as an individual, it becomes a lot easier to know what you should be spending time, effort, and money on. It’s not always the “responsible” things that truly need your attention, instead they are the things that make you flourish and feel fulfilled that deserve your attention and time.

For example, let’s say that one of your values is creativity, but that you’re working as an accountant. There ARE such things as creative accountants, but most of them are in jail. In this case, your personal value is at odds with how you are actually spending your time. In this case it might be better to find another job OR at the very least, find a hobby like painting or writing poems that honors the value of creativity so that this personal value has an outlet.

Someone without the personal value of creativity might look at time spent on such hobbies as art or poetry writing as frivolous and a waste of precious time. But if you have that personal value, time spent in creative activity is not just desirable, it’s a necessity, because it’s who you are, PERIOD. It doesn’t matter if it makes money, or adds joy to anyone else’s life, or if it comes at the expense of something else you don’t value as much. It needs to be done.

In other words, your daily activities, your attention,

Luke Erickson

your time, and how you earn and spend money, as much as possible, should be a direct reflection of WHO YOU ARE at your “center.”

So, who are you?

Not an easy question to answer, is it? To get you started, try googling “list of core values.” See which items on these lists naturally grab your eye. Write them down as you see them. Next, take your list and try to narrow it down to your top 6 or 8 values, eliminating those items that seem to overlap or that you value slightly less than the top 6 or 8. Think back to when you were a kid, or teen and see what kinds of things and activities you naturally gravitated towards back then. Also, consider people who you deeply admire and reflect on what core values they likely have.

Once you authentically go through this process and have a better idea of who you are at your center, life decisions get a lot easier – including decisions around earning and spending money. Money will come in for a specific purpose and it will be more efficiently directed toward the things that really matter to you and that give you the most satisfaction and fulfillment.

This is probably the most often neglected step in personal financial management, figuring out what to give a flyin’ financial flip about, and what not to. And here’s the important part, it’s going to be different for everybody because we’re all different with different circumstances and different core values, different identities, and different life purposes.

As wonderful as Santa Claus is, we don’t need 100 of him. One Santa is enough. We also need the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman, and even Jack Frost to be exactly who they are – at their center – and for what unique attributes they offer the world.

And you just need to be you. The you you’ll find at your center if you look intentionally. Your finances and the world will be a better place once you do. Very few of us want to live our lives in a box that someone else made. Let’s have a little fun instead!

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

“As parents we all have a lot on our plates and if we don’t hone in on our priorities, we will eventually reach burnout. Heck, even if we do prioritize, chances are we’ll still get overwhelmed at times and just stop giving a…fig.”

NEED

HOBBY?

Winter’s great for tabletop photography

By Dennis Lopez

cars, drag racing, a couple of rallies and even a sprint boat race; I have had a pretty good summer as a motorsports photographer. But I know what’s coming.

Indianapolis

Far too soon the days will grow blustery and miserable and wet and snowy and…well you get the idea. Going outside to shoot photos will be more of a test of man/woman vs wild than just snapping the shutter. And most motorsports that happen in the winter need snow and ice to make them successful. Ick.

Tabletop photography is literally a hobby anyone can take up. Dennis Lopez created and photographed “The Great Southern Idaho Potato Mine” while at home during the pandemic lockdown.

What then, do I do with my cameras during the winter hiatus; no, more important, what are you going to do with your digital camera this winter? Pretty soon those photos on an Idaho “Jack Frost” morning will get pretty old. So, let me make a suggestion: try tabletop photography. And as far as cameras go, what you have, including your cell phone, will probably work just fine. Set your camera on “auto” and give it a try.

I started shooting tabletop photos when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Forced to stay indoors I saw some really creative work online and thought, “Hey, that looks like fun.” And it is.

So, what is it? Well, it is just about anything you want it to be. You get to be the director of a one-scene play or just shoot some small thing you like. Whatever you choose is dictated by its physical size and your creativity. You can express yourself and create things that appeal to you. I taught a class on tabletop photography to disabled veterans at the local VA hospital and was impressed by how quickly they reverted from “oh, yeah, show me” to “see what I made.”

There were scenes as simple as one woman’s collection of miniature wooden puzzles to dinosaurs devouring a police car. Great stuff. Just put your subject on a surface like a TV tray or a stool and you have a 360 degree shooting

platform. Best of all, you decide what to photograph and then work to get just the shot you want. Your subject too blurry? You’re probably too close. Too dark? Add some external light. Something on your little set falls over, you put it back and start again. No cranky kids or friends and family saying “are we done yet?” And if you look at your camera and don’t like the result, you don’t have someone saying you photographed their “bad” side.

What special props will you need? None really. You have stuff around your house that can do double duty…kitchen gadgets make great photo props. Once I needed a brown earthen material for a photo I made of the “The Great Southern Idaho Potato Mine.” It came down to tearing open a paper bag from the grocery store, wrinkling it up and spraying it with a little baking spray to give it a little different color in places. In fact, making up props and figuring out just how you want your “set” to look is a lot of the fun. Think of the wonderful artist Bob Ross. You can make your photo any way that suits you.

Early on, a TV tray was my stage. I would use paper or wood or whatever the heck I wanted as the “floor” on which my props would go. For light, I often just used the natural light from the window in my office and adjusted it with the blinds. You soon will figure out that you can make little “light modifiers” out of reflective papers or a bit of aluminum foil to bounce light onto exactly where you want or need it on your subject. Don’t get too concerned about this at first, just set up your scene or items you want to shoot and…with apologies to Nike, “just do it.” Experiment. Try new angles for light. If you have a tripod, great. It can help you steady your camera.

My brilliant engineer son-in-law once told me that there is learning in failure. If your shot doesn’t look the way you wanted it to, just keep trying. Erase the shots you don’t like. Change the light from a lamp to daylight coming in your window. Just keep trying. Experiment. While some say the three most important words in the English language are “I Love You,” I would submit that “Hey, what if…” are a close second. I can give you an example of how “hey, what if” plays a key role in the end result of your photo shoot. Out of boredom during COVID house arrest, I wondered

Using playtime to teach new skills

Article written and submitted by Kyo

Structuring playtime with toys and objects

Letting your child initiate and direct play helps them to connect with you and other family members. To get started, watch your child as they approach a shelf or other area that has several toys. Which toy or other object do they reach for? Let that toy or other object be the focus of your play for the next 5, 10, or 15 minutes, until your child is showing signs that they are bored or signs that they are more interested in a different activity.

As your child gravitates towards a toy, name it. For example, if your child approaches a container of bubbles, you might say, “Oh, you want bubbles!” Blow a few bubbles and allow your child to pop or chase them. When the bubbles have popped, pause and wait for your child to initiate wanting more. This might look like eye contact, pointing, exchanging a picture of the item, sign language, or them trying to say an approximation for “bubbles”.

Hold onto the container of the bubbles, so that your child is motivated to connect with you in order for you to make more bubbles appear. For as long as your child remains motivated, you can use the bubbles to extend your child’s language and imitation skills. What are some fun, silly things that you can do with bubbles? Could you model catching them on a spoon? How about blowing them up high or down low? Each time you change the activity with the item, you create an opportunity to practice new skills, such as requesting “high” or “low” or imitating actions with the object. Connecting through activity-based play

Not all play requires toys or objects. Think about games that you played as a young child. Ring Around the Rosy and Peek-A-Boo are a couple of examples of interactive games that require no objects. These activities, which require multiple people and build excitement off of anticipating the next step, offer wonderful opportunities for building a child’s shared attention, language, and imitation skills.

Let’s take “Ring Around the Rosy” as an example. The first time you play this game with your child, go through the full round of singing/movements. The next time, pause expectantly at various times and wait for your child to look at you before you continue to move/sing. If your child is learning to talk, you might pause until they vocalize an approximation for the next word. You might sing “Ring around the ____” and wait until your child makes an attempt at saying “Rosy”. As soon as they make an attempt, continue to sing/move in an animated way. You can try going slower or faster with this activity, providing your child with the opportunity to request slow or fast.

You might also try making up a movement routine. For

instance, if you are standing in your living room, and your child starts to jump, you might imitate your child jumping. This may get your child’s attention. Once you have their attention, change your movement to encourage them to copy you. For instance, you might start to turn in a circle or reach up to the sky.

Takeaways

Playtime offers rich opportunities for building a child’s communication and social skills. Think about games, songs, and toys you loved as a child and see if you can introduce a few of them with your own little one as a way to build their skills. When you approach play as an enjoyable way to help your child learn and use new words and actions, you’ll likely find yourself as engaged and excited about playing as your child is!

Download our free printable toddler communication resource guide at kyocare.com. If you are looking for more quick tips on how to use ABA strategies at home, visit our YouTube channel. You can also find more articles on a variety of ABA strategies at kyocare.com/resources.

N O V E M B E R

Back to School with The Library

The Boise Public Library (and other area libraries) offers fun and educational programs for students and families throughout the school year, including School Age Fun, Read to a Therapy Dog, and Family Storytime. There are also homework resources available, such as worksheets, videos, and educational games. Go to boisepubliclibrary.org.

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, go to nampaciviccenter.com.

Eagle Holiday Bazaar

Attend one of the longest-running craft bazaars in the area: the Eagle Holiday Bazaar. This year’s event is planned for Saturday, November 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, November 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Eagle High School, 574 N. Park Ln. Check out Eagle Holiday Bazaar on Facebook.

Family Glow Dance

Families are welcome to dance the night away with a live DJ, black lights, and glow-in-the-dark toys from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, November 12, at Harward Rec Center in Nampa. Refreshments and a photo booth will be available. For costs and other

CALENDAR

Foothills Family Days

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 November 12 will be “Animals in Winter,” and the December 10 program will be about “Snow Days.” Call (208) 493-2530 for more information.

Nativity Exhibit

The third annual Boise South Five Mile Nativity Exhibit will take place Friday and Saturday, November 18-19, from noon to 8 p.m. both days. The more than 100 nativities from countries around the world will be on display at 2650 South Five Mile Road. This is a free, family-friendly event. For more information, contact event co-organizer Debra Bourne at dbourne2@yahoo.com.

Canyon County Christmas Show

This year’s Canyon County Christmas Show will be held November 18-20 at Ford Idaho Center, 16114 N. Idaho Center Blvd. in Nampa. There will plenty of booths to drop by, as well as visits from Santa. Go to fordidahocenter.com for more details.

Winter Wonderland

The City of Caldwell’s annual Indian Creek display of bright lights and decorations known as Winter Wonderland has set its opening weekend for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 18-20, from 6 to 9 p.m. each night. The display will be on view until January 9 and is completely free. Go to https:// www.indiancreekplaza.com/winter-wonderlandweekend.

WaterShed Weekend

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, November 19, will be “Dinovember.” Call (208) 608-7300 for more information.

“The Hip Hop Nutcracker”

A holiday mash-up for the whole family, “The Hip Hop Nutcracker,” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 22, at the Morrison Center in Boise. For a unique family and holiday experience, go to morrisoncenter.com for more information or to purchase tickets.

Festival of Trees

The 2022 Saint Alphonsus Festival of Trees will be held November 22-28 at the Boise Centre. For more information, go to https://www.saintalphonsus.org/ foundation/events/festival-of-trees/.

D E C E M B E R

Boise Christmas Show

The Boise Christmas Show has been an annual event since 1971. This year’s show will be held December 1-4 at Expo Idaho off Glenwood in Garden City. Go to expoidaho.com for more details.

Winterlights Parade

The City of Meridian will host its 2022 Winterlights Parade beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, December 2, in Meridian’s historic downtown. Go to http://www.christmasinmeridian.org/parade.html.

of Events

Boise Philharmonic: Holiday Pops

Celebrate the holiday season with festive music at 1 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 3, at the Morrison Center, as the Boise Philharmonic presents Holiday Pops. For a unique family and Christmas experience, go to morrisoncenter.com for more information or to purchase tickets.

“The Secret Garden”

A classic of children’s literature, “The Secret Garden,” will be presented in an imaginative musical style at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, December 8, at Nampa Civic Center. For tickets or more information about the family-friendly presentation, go to nampaciviccenter.com.

Jurassic Quest

The dinosaur adventure Jurassic Quest will visit Ford Idaho Center December 9-11. For tickets or more information, go to fordidahocenter.com.

Ballet Idaho’s “The Nutcracker”

Ballet Idaho will again present “The Nutcracker,” with both professional and student performers,

Beginning November,

December 9-18 at the Morrison Center. There will be matinee and evening performances. Experience the time-tested Christmas classic as a family. For tickets or more information, go to morrisoncenter.com.

Santa’s Workshop

A Santa’s Workshop for children ages 3-12 will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, December 10, at Harward Rec Center in Nampa. Cost is $5 for members or $6 for non-members. For more information, go to nampaparksandrecreation.org or call (208) 468-5777.

Drive-Thru Food Drive

Meridian’s Interfaith Community Leaders are holding their fifth annual no-contact Drive-Thru Food Drive. The group is expanding its outreach to provide food, toys, and blankets to the Meridian Food Bank, Star Food Pantry, Toys for Tots, and Blanket the World Charity. This year’s event is set for 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, December 11, at the Vertical View Climbing Gym parking lot, 1334 E. Bird Dog Drive in Meridian (behind the Maverik station at

Locust Grove and Overland roads). The Drive-Thru Food Drive will accept non-perishable food items; new, unwrapped toys to support the Marines and local firefighters’ collection efforts; new purchased or handmade blankets that will be donated to Blanket the World Charity for the benefit of refugees and homeless shelter residents; and cash donations in a sealed envelope. Those who donate cash may note their choice of charity on their envelope. For more information, email meridianfriendsoffaith@gmail. com.

Christmas Light Tour

Nampa Parks & Recreation Department will hold its annual Christmas Light Tour Friday and Saturday, December 16 and 17. The tour visits spectacular light displays around Nampa. Boarding starts at 5:45 p.m. at Harward Rec Center, and buses depart at 6 p.m. The bus returns to the center following the tour. Cost is $6 per person. For more information, go to nampaparksandrecreation.org or call (208) 468-5777.

Are your kids empathetic human beings?

By Sandy McDaniel

Along with all the other effects of Covid-19 disconnection seems to be a lack of empathy among children. Having worked with youth for over 60 years, I am certain that a youngster’s primary instinct is to notice and care about what other people are feeling. What has changed? Obvious answers include the fact that parents are not modeling empathy to their children. I always had dinner with my children, and would ask, “How do you think it would feel to (have your house burn down?)”

Sandy McDaniel

Parents often verbally judge other people and situations. I remember my boys making fun of a friend because he was so different at school that day. I asked, “Since he was one way yesterday and really different today, what do you think happened to him last night?” They told me they didn’t know, so I responded, “Then you don’t have a right to judge him.” The truth is, we don’t know what any other human being is dealing with in terms of their life’s journey. Judging lacks the empathy (walking in another person’s shoes) that asks, ”I wonder what happened to him/her?” instead of a judgment.

Probably the greatest influencer for children is the media. Social media is known for being the cesspool of unkindness due to lack of empathy. It breaks my heart to hear that a teenager or other child has committed suicide because a group of non-empathetic peers thought it was okay to verbally abuse them. How many “likes” one gets becomes so important that individuals crash through the boundaries of moral ethics and common sense to post things that get attention.

Children, especially boys, who play endless shoot-to-kill games and watch a lot of violence, become insensitive to another person being hurt. Often, they have no empathetic feelings when someone is harmed or even being killed. Children who watch too much violent media can become angry and violent themselves. The idea of winning becomes such an obsession that rational decisions, like doing homework or sleeping or eating well, are denied.

Social media has become many children’s method of validating or destroying their sense of self-worth. Image is everything! The number of likes one receives, any comments about body, any reference to body shape literally determines some teens’ feelings of value.

It is important to control the use of media with children. Monitor what programs they are watching, what video games

they are playing, and limit the number of hours they are engaged in some form of media. Have random checks of conversations on their phones or computers. Treat the use of phones at home like a library; have a basket where phones go after school and remain until homework is completed. Because media consumption is so addictive, you will not be popular (especially with teens) for holding the line with boundaries and consequences – but you may literally be saving your child’s life.

Speaking for my generation, the elderly, I would ask the “youngins” to be empathetic to how difficult it is to become an elderly person. Not only is health a concern, but there are feelings of isolation and disconnection that happen. Our world is literally different from yours, so our language, interests, songs, and memories are categorically apart from you. No one seems to care about the myriad of stories we can tell from our extensive life experience. Sometimes we tell the same story twice…or maybe even three times. At the risk of hearing it four times, it is both empathetic and kind to ask, “What was school like for you, Grandma/Grandpa?” or “Didn’t you used to ride horses?” I remember my grandson asking, when I took him to dinner one night, “What was it like to spend your summers on Catalina Island?” He didn’t get to talk again that evening! I told him several fun stories about his father at the island. And, I felt both heard and loved because he invested a moment of interest in me.

Ask your children what it would feel like to be the only African-American child in a school, to be taller/shorter than any of the other kids, to have a speech challenge or be autistic, to not be good in school, to not be good at sports, to be different in any way. Empathy means to feel what someone else might be feeling. It means to care about the feelings of other people. It means to stop being self-centered and selfish, and THINK about what you say to or do to interact with other people. It means to be kind or be quiet. It means to be a loving person who makes the world more livable each day. These things are taught best by MODELING them to your children, and by asking them, “What do you think it would feel like to ____?” Empathy begins with you.

For more than 60 years, Sandy McDaniel has been an international speaker and recognized authority on families and children. 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.

“Ask your children what it would feel like to be the only African-American child in a school … to not be good in school, to not be good at sports, to be different in any way.”

their work by December 15, if not sooner, so that everyone can just enjoy the yuletide beauty of all the sparkle in time for Christmas.

Another customer, Jen Nash, a Meridian client for 3 years, said: “I love how simple and easy it is. I don’t have to do anything. It’s really fun to have lights on your house. As a child, I would really wish we could have lights. We would go for a ride and look at lights as a family outing and just dream about how they’d look on our house. Now that I have them on my house, it’s great. It adds to the holiday spirit, and I hope it affects other people the same way.”

Northwest Exterior Services began installing Christmas lights 15 years ago. Ky Ransley owns the company. Said Travis: “Ky does a lot of different things.” He launched the window washing side of the business in April of 2021.

So, if Travis and the other installers spend so much time up on ladders for three or so months – including in adverse weather – how do they feel about stringing lights at their own residences during the holiday season? “My wife likes to have lights on the house,” said Travis, then admitting, “It’s nice to go home with the house lit up for the holidays.”

For more information, go to northwestexteriorservices.com, email northwestexterior@gmail.com, or call (208) 995-1811.

what an orange would look like if I shot it using a blue light. Creepy is the closest thing to which I can compare my result. So I showed it to my wife who said, “Looks like an alien.” And my brain said “hey, what if I added a couple of people around it?” And out came some little people from “the drawer” to play the part of the astonished townsfolk. Wait, what if…and I found a miniature news crew I bought off of Craigslist...after all a creepy colored, roundish-shaped object from space doesn’t show up every day. Wait…how about some cops? Got ‘em in the drawer. Somebody has to handle security and public safety…and HEY, remember that little HAZMAT team you bought “just in case?” And while I was digging in the drawer, I found some guys in suits. Whoa… Some guys from the FBI or CIA investigating the incident? Perfect. By the time I was finished, part of a boring “don’t go outside or you will get sick” day was gone and I had something fun to share. And I got to eat my major prop: the orange.

Get close, ask “what if,” use your imagination and don’t quit trying. You’ll love shooting tabletop photos.

(Examples of the author’s work can be seen online at: www.flickr.com/ photos/fotomundoamerica

COOKING IN QUANTITY

Want food real fast? Try group freezer meals

By Mary Ann Wilcox

Freezer meals are one of the best ways to have “fast foods” available when you don’t want to cook, don’t have time to cook, have family members coming and going with no time to sit down to a family meal, or when hubby needs a hot lunch. One shelf in a 30-cubic-foot freezer will hold sixty 3½-cup containers. This is a two-month supply for a family of four. Just think. With your own “fast foods” you could put the drive-thru’s out of business (or at least out of your family’s business).

I have organized several “Freezer Groups” and have been putting freezer meals away for years. If you are interested in organizing a freezer group, here are the instructions. If you just want to make “freezer meals” for your family, clean out your fridge every week and make new meals from your leftovers. Or double your recipe and serve one and freeze one. You will be surprised how quickly you fill your freezer.

Step #1—Choose Your Group: Four people is a goodsized group. That way, each person only makes 16 containers of food to exchange. It is best to have the same size families

in the group, but it is not imperative. A larger family will use two or more containers per meal, whereas a small family only one.

Step #2—Set Your Meeting Time: Choose the day of the month and the time of the day you want to meet. The meeting time needs to be consistent. The meeting will take less than an hour unless you use this time to visit with your friends as well.

Step #3—Individual Members’ Responsibilities:

• Choose a recipe to prepare for the group. A variety of main ingredients is recommended.

• Fill 16 (4 for each person in your group) 3½-cup Glad (or other) flat containers with the chosen recipe. Each container will feed 3-4 people.

• Label the containers with the entrée name and the date. Freeze if possible before the monthly meeting.

• Prepare a recipe for each person in the group. There should be a basic recipe and an extended recipe.

• The recipe should also include directions for preparing the entrée (i.e., defrost and cook in microwave for 10 minutes, etc.).

• Put the total cost of the entrée on the recipe.

• Put each members’ 4 containers in a plastic grocery bag and label it with their name.

• Check your list to see who will host the group each month. No phone calls will be made.

Step #4—Monthly Meeting Agenda:

• Meet once a month.

• Exchange entrées.

• Choose entrées for the coming month.

• Give feedback on entrées used and your family’s response.

• Settle finances (see Step #5).

Step #5—Financial Worksheet

• Amount spent: each member gives the hostess an accounting of their contribution. The amount spent by all 4 participants is then totaled.

• Average amount spent: divide total by number of members.

• Balance: subtract the amount that each person spent from the average; this is the amount each person owes. The person(s) who paid less than the average puts that amount in the “pot.” Those who paid more than the average, take the overage out of the “pot.”

• Reconcile: if each member brings $10 in $1 bills and change, the reconciliation will be easy.

on cooking in quantities, go to www. maryannscupboards.com.

Mary Ann Wilcox

WHEN IT’S TIME

Tried-and-true potty training tips

By Cara Johnson-Bader

The parenting journey is full of questions, firsts, and sometimes frustrations. Using the potty-training tips below can assist you in avoiding some common frustrations.

As you read the potty-training tips, keep in mind some children are ready to potty train between the ages of 18 and 24 months; however, every child is different, and there is not one right way or one right time to start teaching your little one how to use the toilet.

Potty Training Tips

Here are some tips and things to keep in mind while beginning the potty-training process.

How will I know when my child is ready to start potty training?

• When your child stays dry for at least two hours at a time or after naps.

• If your little one starts copying a parent’s toilet behavior, this is a sign they may be ready to start using the toilet.

• When your child develops the skills that are necessary to start potty training, such as ability to walk, pull pants up and down, and getting on/off the toilet with some assistance.

• When your child is aware that they are going to the bathroom. For example, they might hide to go poop or pee.

• Another sign that your child may be ready to potty train is that they are uncomfortable in a dirty or wet diaper. Even before your child may be ready to start potty training, you can help to prepare them for the process by doing the following:

• Introduce your child to the toilet.

• Determine what kind of toilet you will use to potty train. (A stand-alone toddler-size toilet or a toddler-size seat that can be placed on top of your toilet seat.)

• Make sure you have diapers, Pull-Ups, and underwear for the child, and that the child understands how each one works.

• Use words that express the act of using the toilet such as “pee,” “poop,” and “potty.”

Once you have determined that your child is ready to start potty training, here are some tips to help the process go smoothly:

• Show your child how you sit on the toilet – your child learns by watching you!

• Establish a routine of when to use the potty. For example, have your child sit on the toilet after waking up from a nap with a dry diaper or about 30 minutes to an hour after mealtime or drinking lots of fluids, etc.

• Make sure your child’s wardrobe is adaptable to potty training. Simple clothes are a must at this stage so the child can undress themselves.

• Try to catch your child in the act of going to the bathroom.

Many children give clear signs that they need to use the toilet; for example, their face may turn red or they may grunt.

• Make sure that all caregivers follow the same routine and use the same words for your child while toilet training.

• One thing to avoid while potty training is making the child sit on the toilet against their will. It may take time, but eventually your child will get comfortable with sitting on the toilet. Read child-appropriate books about potty training.

Here are a few of our favorites:

• Once Upon a Potty by Alona Frabkel

• A Potty for Me! by Karent Katz

• Potty Time with Elmo Above all, make sure to praise your little one at all attempts to use the toilet, even if nothing happens. Remember, accidents will happen, and it is important not to rush the potty-training process. If you are having a hard time determining whether to start the potty-training process, let your child be the guide, and don’t let others pressure you into it.

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.

HAVE A CHOICE.

Classical Christian education is a time-tested method that uses scripture as the basis of all Truth, instills the wisdom of history, hones critical thinking and communication skills, and produces a joy of learning for life.

Our three campuses offer a classical Christian education in slightly differing models to fit the needs of families.

• Our North Campus offers PreK-6th (growing to 8th grade over the next two years) with smaller class sizes.

• The Locust Grove Campus in Meridian is our flagship campus and encompasses PreK-12th grades.

• Bridge Campus offers a hybrid model of two days at school and three days at home for PreK12th.

We encourage you to go to our website to learn more, then schedule a tour. We would love to meet you!

CAMPUS

St,

LOCUST GROVE CAMPUS

N. Locust Grove Rd, Meridian

CAMPUS

N Bradley St, Garden City