Teton Family Magazine - Winter 2015/16

winter

15/16 —

Issue # 20

wo r k i n g parents ´ is s u e

locals on the rocks Happy hour with a twist

extreme dads

Four local dads balance extreme careers with family life

commuter cuisine

Make-ahead meals for a family on the fly

Recreation over hibernation.

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winter

15/16 Issue # 20

Departments Contents

20 — FEATURES 28 32 — — raising ‘digital natives’ in a world set on cruise control How much is too much?

Technology, kids, and policy—what every parent should consider.

By Tibby Plasse 2

Teton Family ¤ Winter 2015/16

extreme dads Four local dads balance extreme careers with the intricacies of family life.

By Christian Santelices On the Cover: Holiday cocktails made with local spirits Photograph by Paulette Phlipot

4

Note From the Editor

8

Mountain Style locals on the rocks Happy hour cocktails with a local twist

10

a commuter accessories guide Holiday gifts for mountain commuters

14

Mamasphere (hardly) leaning back An essay: One mom contemplates her professional title

17

Ask the Expert the frugal family’s guide to abundance Tweak your mindset and invest in yourself

20

Conscientious Cook commuter cuisine Make-ahead meals for a family on the fly

24

Cabin Fever home sweet home office A view into the home offices of local freelancers

32 —

Photography by (top) Paulette Phlipot and (bottom) Andy Tankersley

—

Welcome to

A note from the Editor time duty calls and then, upon my return, trying to relearn the family routine. Check out how the freelancers in our story, “Home Sweet Home Office,” on page 24 carve out nooks of some type in order to simply get their work done. Local Samantha Danahy Ludwig even works out of her husband’s closet! And happily, I suppose. And then there’s our contributor, Emily Nichols, who commutes sixty-five miles each way every day and still literally puts bread on the table (page 20). Talk about resourceful …

Respectful. Responsible. Ready. Nearly every parent with elementary school-aged children is familiar with the three R’s. And they should be.

This is important stuff here, folks! But every time I hear mention of this code, I can’t help but think that another important R-word is missing: resourceful.

I hear friends curse the Common Core, and I continuously fret over classroom size, but deep down I know that these school-aged “obstacles” teach kids to shift shapes in order to excel and, frankly, survive. I take inventory of my mountaintown peers, noticing how we’ve all shifted our shapes in an effort to sustain ourselves. For instance, how many of us have changed careers or worked several jobs all at once just to make a living here?

So in this, our working parents’ issue of Teton Family, I was reminded again how resourceful we are to be able to pull it all together on a daily basis. I can’t even imagine being one of the traveling “adventure dads” on page 32—or one of the equally adventurous moms they leave behind—and prepping for work by packing up my life each

In this edition, we honor all of our working peers who wake up each morning and just get ’er done. To that end, we strive to make your life easier with an inspiring take on a cocktail party (page 8) and some accessories to “comfify” your mountain commute (page 10). And while at times we kick ourselves for skipping a dance recital in lieu of work or spinning through the drive-through because we’re too tired to cook, remember that in all this busyness, we are teaching a very important lesson to our kids—one they can’t find in a textbook.

Contributing Writers

Jeannette Boner is a freelance writer whose life is a constant series of adjustments. She doesn’t believe in the work-life balance theory and would never trade in her personal chaos for anything other than a daydream.

4

Teton Family ¤ Winter 2015/16

Tibby Plasse doesn’t do Instagram. Her husband doesn’t have a cellphone. There’s no television in the house. Their cows do have a Facebook page, though, called Paradise Springs Farm. In between potty training and farming, Tibby is also the marketing director for TravelStorysGPS.

Emily Nichols is the mother of two adventurous daughters, Ida Mae, six, and Hazel Ann, four. She loves to photograph, write about people, families, and the Teton Valley community.

Cate Stillman, of Tetonia, Idaho, guides hundreds of people through wellness breakthroughs. If you liked her financial abundance article, check out her weekly podcasts at yogahealer.com/podcasting. Or pick up her free Yogidetox recipe book at yogidetox.com.

Jennifer Dorsey is a longtime Jackson Hole resident who grew up in Connecticut and lived in Chicago and Washington, D.C., before arriving in the Tetons. After talking to people about their home offices for this issue of Teton Family, she’s now inspired to upgrade her own.

Feeling grateful for a life full of friends and family, Andrea Swedberg enjoys the outdoors on bike, skis, and hockey skates. If she’s not in the kitchen baking to her heart’s content, she’s playing with her daughter and friends in the water, on the dirt, or in the snow.

Editor photograph by Paulette Phlipot

Christian Santelices is a loving father and husband.

He’s also an internationally certified mountain guide and co-chief guide for Exum Mountain Guides. When he’s not traveling extensively around the world, he works for Snow King, building a “superboss” adventure park in the trees. (written by daughter Mariela)

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tetonfamilymagazine.com Publisher Kevin Olson Editor Christina Shepherd McGuire christina@tetonfamilymagazine.com Art Director Kathryn Holloway Copy Editor Pamela Periconi Contributing Photographers / Illustrators Ryan Jones Paulette Phlipot Stacey Walker Oldham Advertising Sales Jeannette Boner, jet@tetonmediaworks.com Sara Adams, sara@tetonmediaworks.com

Lydia Redzich

Ad Production Sarah Grengg

Amy Yatsuk

Director of Business Development: Amy Golightly Distribution: Kyra Griffin, Hank Smith Pat Brodnik, Jeff Young

17 —

Teton Family is published three times a year and distributed at more than seventy-five locations for free throughout the Tetons. To request copies, call (307) 732-5903. Visit tetonfamilymagazine.com for additional content and insightful blogs. © 2015 Teton Media Works, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this magazine’s original contents, whether in whole or part, requires written permission from the publisher.

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Teton Family ¤ Winter 2015/16

Photo: Jakub Krechowicz - Shutterstock.com

Victor, Idaho • 208.787.0445

Locals on the Rocks

By Andrea Swedberg // Photographs by Paulette Phlipot

P

arty planning 101: have a good sense of humor! Everything after that involves just a little forethought. The holidays are a busy time—added to the fact that you work full-time and have a family to raise. So sometimes planning an après-work gathering is just too much. Or is it?

With a few locally inspired libations up your winter coat sleeves (and some great friends to boot), you’ll be on your way to “[clink] Skol.” tf

ale sangaree

GlÖgg

Makes one 4-ounce mug

Makes six cocktails in 4-ounce mugs

Not to be confused with sangria, Ale Sangaree is the amazing great-grandfather of craft beer cocktails. Dating back to 1774, this smooth brut was traditionally served as a “flip” (boiled on the spot with a hot iron poker).

Hailing from Scandinavia, Glögg is by far my favorite holiday-inspired cocktail! It brings the whole package together: family, friends, cheer, and a fortified warm-me-up.

—

—

—

2

3

for the drink:

tablespoons simple syrup (see recipe on facing page, omitting ginger syrup) Splash of hot water ounces Grand Teton Brewing Co. Black Cauldron Imperial Stout, room temp Dash nutmeg

1. Divide the simple syrup into each mug. Pour in hot water.

2. Fill with stout.

3. Sprinkle nutmeg on top.

(Recipe adapted from bonappetit.com) 8

Teton Family ¤ Winter 2015/16

—

1 1/2 12-24

6

1

1 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

for the glÖgg:

bottle red wine cup sugar blanched whole almonds tablespoons raisins ounce Grand Teton Vodka (infused or straight) teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In a saucepan, heat the wine. Do not boil.

Add sugar and heat until dissolved.

Remove from heat. Add vanilla.

In the bottom of each mug, add 2 almonds, 3 raisins, and vodka.

Ladle Glögg into each mug.

old man winter —

Makes one cocktail, served in an Old-Fashioned glass

—

You’ve got a fire crackling, and it’s loftily snowing outside. All you need now are friends and ice to make the night complete! While this drink may be cold, the addition of Wyoming Whiskey and ginger provides the ammo to heat you up.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

for the simple syrup:

1 cup water 1 cup sugar 1 8 oz. bottle ginger syrup (I like Ginger People brand.)

Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan.

Heat over medium until sugar is dissolved.

Increase heat to medium-high and reduce until the bubbles pop on surface.

Remove from heat.

Once cool, add ginger syrup to taste.

for the drink:

4 ounces Wyoming Whiskey Bourbon

2

3

2

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

ounces simple syrup ounces fresh orange juice splashes orange bitters Ice (spheres optional) Crystalized ginger, chopped Cinnamon sticks Peel of 1 orange, cut into 1-inch pieces

In a shaker, add 2 ounces whiskey, syrup, orange juice, and orange bitters.

Fill shaker with ice and shake several times.

Add ice spheres to cocktail glass (if using).

Pour cocktail through a strainer into glass.

Garnish with crystalized ginger, 1 cinnamon stick, and a twist of peel.

A Commuter Accessories Guide (for to and fro)

By Christina Shepherd McGuire

T

he daily grind means something different to everyone, especially mountain people. Some folks hump their cars over the pass every morning in the locally coined “Spud 500,” while others are lucky enough to pedal to work, snow or shine. Some commuters ride the bus or even don a pair of skis for their morning schuss to work. But whatever the mode of transport, the commuter on your holiday gift list is bound to appreciate a comfier ride, a hotter beverage, or easier access to his or her devices (no texting while driving, please). tf

Stormy Kromer Caps Batten down the hatches with Stormy Kromer Caps for both men and women. Rock them high when the sun is shining or pull down the earband for added cold protection. Made in the USA. Sold at High Country Outfitters.

Women’s Petal Pusher $44.99; Men’s Benchwarmer $49.99

Osprey Pixel Port Backpack This urban-style daypack boasts superb organizational skills with unique flap access to your tablet. Stay connected in any kind of weather. Sold at Teton Mountaineering and Yostmark. $120

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Give’r Gloves Perfect for visiting tourists who want a piece of the “mountain uniform” to take home. This glove of one hundred uses, complete with your branded initials, won’t disappoint. Sold at garagegrowngear.com, MADE, and Burgess Custom. $35

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Urgent Care

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For acute illnesses, minor wounds, and the treatment of bone, joint, and other injuries

Liquid Hardware’s Sidewinder Insulated Bottle Highway 89 and High Liquid Hardware’s Sidewinder bottle doubles as both a water bottle and a thermos, keeping your hot drinks hot and your cold ones cold. And their magnetic technology prevents a runaway lid that could easily roll under your gas pedal. Created in Victor, Idaho, and sold at Teton Mountaineering, Wilson Backcountry Sports, and Barrels & Bins. $29.95

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Teton Family ¤ Winter 2015/16

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45NRTH Cobrafist Bar Mitts Bar mitts take the place of bulky gloves for the die-hard winter bike commuter. With a water-resistant shell, PrimaLoft insulation, and a techie attachment system, Cobrafist mitts give new meaning to “hard-core.” Sold at Hoback Sports and Habitat. $130

Cleverhood Street Capes A trendsetting commuter accessory!

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Winter 2015/16 ¤ Teton Family

13

Delivering More!

By Jeannette Boner // Illustration by Stacey Walker Oldham

A

couple of things have changed in my life over the course of the last eighteen or so months. They were big events—lifedefining, actually. The largest and most welcome change was the birth of our daughter, Adeline. Yeah, yeah, it should go without saying that her arrival was spiritual, emotional, and the coolest thing I’ve done in my entire life. Period.

I was ready, for the most part, to have my life upended and rearranged. And it was. But what I wasn’t prepared for was the subsequent labeling that started happening, even before I labeled my own self a “mother.”

I wasn’t prepared for the redefinition of my sense of self. In fact, I bristled a bit when I was first dubbed an AMA (woman of “advanced maternal age”). It’s a real description that sets you apart from the rest of the under-thirty-five birthing world; insurances even treat you differently. But age is in the mind of the beholder (or something to that effect). I was still climbing mountains and drinking good beer. How was I an AMA? And then there was that other change. I lost my job, my office family, the weekly routine, and I stopped operating in the “real world” of adults, ideas, opinions, and strategic plans. I was at home now, an AMA without a professional rudder and with a kid to anchor me there.

Well, the cool thing about the fading field of print journalism is that you can basically do your job from anywhere, as long as you have a phone and keyboard. So I shifted gears. But the rest of the world still needed a label.

What do you do?

It’s a common question, often asked thoughtlessly as openers at parties or events. It’s a question that can lead to connections, stories, mutual acquaintances, and even an offer to buy the next round. But this question became decidedly more difficult to answer.

I am a woman of advanced maternal age, I thought, but quickly recoiled, as not many understand that I actually find that label funny.

I’m a writer, a journalist, I change up to five dirty diapers a day, I work while the kid sleeps, I make a great cup of coffee in the morning. Did I mention I’m a writer?

Where do you write?

I work from home.

Oh, so you’re at home?

Yes, but I’m working on this great piece …

With the kid? So you decided to stay at home and raise the kid?

That’s great.

Yes, but ... yes. (I sounded defeated at first.)

For many months, this was how the conversation went. I wasn’t being asked to offer additional information about my career or my efforts to put ideas into words or to tell stories. It was decided for me. I was at home.

But for years before, I wasn’t at home. Instead, I woke up in the morning, drank really good coffee, and headed to work. I produced real, tangible words that people read, had opinions about, and responded to. I had a staff.

So now I was an AMA who was at home. Labeled. Boxed.

Moving on.

Thankfully, I’m not alone in this foxhole. And thankfully, I have

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Winter 2015/16 ¤ Teton Family

15

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Teton Family ¤ Winter 2015/16

other mom types who can talk on the phone while making their kids pizza, who get up early enough to have a cup of coffee with me, and who steal away a few hours to allow me to feel, well, more like myself.

I called a friend the other day to ask her a question about schools and education. She asked, “Why are you calling me about this?”

“Because you’re a teacher, and you know a thing or two about these things,” I said.

And my friend, who is at home with three children, all of whom are still in diapers, replied, “Thank you so much for saying that. I wondered if people still remembered that I am an educator.”

What I have learned in this relatively new life position is that the idea of motherhood contains many subtle layers as we progress through its various seasons. I have friends who are currently in the trenches with me, duking it out every day with babies under the age of two. Then there are mothers who are starting the climb out: their kids can, for the most part, dress themselves, ask for help, and tell them where it hurts. School is now on the horizon, and the next season—one that’s less about diapers and day care and more about bookbags and after-school sports—is starting to unfold. And the layers continue …

So while the world wants, almost needs, to stick a label on my life, I am beginning to acknowledge that I am in a season of it that didn’t necessarily transition the way I thought it would, but is unique to me and my family. Finding comfort in this new skin has taken some time—more than I anticipated, but I’m careful to not allow the label to stick.

Now, when someone asks, What do you do?

I say, Where would you like me to start? tf

The Frugal Family’s

Guide to Abundance

By Cate Stillman

W

Photo: Jakub Krechowicz - Shutterstock.com

arren Buffett’s No. 1 piece of investment advice is to invest in yourself. In fact, Buffett once told Good Morning America, “Investing in yourself is the best thing you can do—anything that improves your own talents.”

So you’re reading this because you: 1) Want to save more money, or 2) Want to spend less. I don’t focus on either. My financial advice is simple (and mimics Buffett’s)—if you want financial abundance, invest in yourself in ways specific to earning more. I do this every year, and every year my income grows by about 35 percent. I don’t focus on being frugal; I focus on exchanging more value in the marketplace.

Yet many of my friends in the Tetons are masters of frugality.

Let me tell you about Susie and Jacob. Susie grows most of the food for the family. She even dries her own greens for powder supplements and spices for soup mixes. She buys what food she doesn’t grow in bulk: twenty-five-pound bags of rice, beans, and oats directly from the wholesaler, along with cases of butter, cream cheese, and peanut butter. Her husband, Jacob, stocks the deep freezer with elk once a year.

The couple designed and built their own small, energyefficient house with careful planning and included an apartment above the garage to offset the mortgage. They now rent the

apartment on Airbnb to cover most of the mortgage. They buy clothes at the thrift store and strategically shop online discount sales for athletic gear.

Instead of going to the gym, Susie and Jacob use free weights (purchased at the thrift store) and online workout channels like XHIT Daily, Fitness Blender and BodyRock.

They have no landline and use cellphones without data plans.

Each month, they automatically allocate 15 percent of their earnings for retirement funds and investment planning. Seven percent is withdrawn via Fidelity’s auto-deduct tool and split into both a conservative Roth IRA and a more aggressive mutual fund. And the other 8 percent is used to fund Jacob’s small online business, which is now earning a strong return after twelve months.

The couple divert an additional 8 percent of their income after taxes into their family life-learner fund. This is money they set aside for investing in new skills that will help them make or save money, according to what they want to learn at the time.

For example, years ago they took a yoga-lifestyle course. During the course they discovered they had habits that would sabotage their health later in life. They cut back on drinking beer after work and drinking coffee in the morning. They noticed this made it easier to save money, as coffee and beer over time cost a

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lot more than water or tea.

As a result of the course, Susie and Jacob began starting their days with meditation and exercise, which has proven to lower their medical bills. In the past they had suffered from an array of allergies, sinus issues, depression, colds, flus, and sick days—all of which evaporated with their new habits.

More recently, they used their life-learner fund to take an online course from David Neagle called The Mindset for Maximum Prosperity. They invested six hundred dollars in the course, which they took together, applied the teachings, and have opened another income stream in Jacob’s business as a result.

Susie plans their weekly menus and streamlines everyday food preparation into a few efficient tasks. As a result, they eat great food daily at home instead of grabbing expensive on-the-go convenience food. They frequently have friends over for meals and enjoy a vibrant social life.

Susie and Jacob don’t plan on sending their kids to college.

Instead, they are teaching their two teenage sons how to be resourceful and useful in the new economy, which includes developing relationships and skills around the boys’ interests and using free online education. Both sons are apprenticing with local craftspeople and saving money for the learning adventures they will have after graduating from high school. Each family member self-identifies as a life learner.

Now, once upon a time, Susie and Jacob had a mountain of debt.

They lived in a bigger house, they drove new cars, and they had data plans. They frequently invested their retirement savings into convenience foods and their free time into the newest series on Netflix. And each of them was carrying an extra fifteen pounds.

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Teton Family ¤ Winter 2015/16

invest in yourself —

What I’ve found through coaching thousands of people on both health

•

Find people who have mastered what you want to become.

and wealth building is that in order to change, you need to change. To

Search for a podcast on the topic. Subscribe to a blog. Soon

change your money situation, you need to become the next best version

you’ll connect with other people who have the same goals.

of yourself. Are you ready to do that?

•

If so, start here: •

Get serious about dropping outdated habits that are contrary to the person you want to become.

Identify the person you want to become next. What are the

•

Stop hanging out with people who have your outdated habits.

financial and body-care habits of this person? Work toward

•

Have a zero-tolerance policy for your own b.s. and keep returning

adopting these practices.

to step one.

They were struggling financially, emotionally, relationally, and physically. A friend died in a ski accident, and they had a wakeup call. They decided to grab the steering wheel of their destiny instead of just going with the flow.

The first action the pair took was to open an account on Mint.com to track their money. They took a course with Dave Ramsey on getting out of debt. Next, they put their inefficient house on the market and found a smaller, cheaper lot.

The reason I tell you about this family is that in the telling, certain triggers or ideas may have arisen. What were they? Where is your resistance to spending less or investing more in yourself?

Was it the beer or the coffee? Was it the better body care, including the meditation? Or was it the cutting back on cellphone services?

Now I’m a realist, and I get it that this alternative lifestyle is not for everyone. But think about what came up for you. Maybe you realized you’d rather earn more than spend less. Or maybe you gained some appropriate ideas that could help you advance yourself. My strategy is to earn more by being proactive about my offerings and then to spend less on that which has a poor return on investment for me financially, physically, mentally, or relationally.

Take to heart Buffett’s advice and “invest in yourself.” Then use my resources above to make it happen. Just like my hypothetical characters (who are based on my family and friends), you, too, can design the life and financial situation you desire. The tools and resources have never been so easy and inexpensive to access. Take advantage and design the life of your dreams. tf

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Commuter Cuisine Feeding a Family on the Fly …

By Emily Nichols // Photographs by Paulette Phlipot

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D

riving through the rolling, snow-lined hills of Highway 33, I begin each morning with thoughts of my sleepy family readying themselves for another day of work and school. Have the girls packed their reading charts and gym shoes? Were the snow boots put out to dry by the fire last night? I drive through the crisp, dark dawn thinking about my family and my workday.

My sixty-five-mile commute “out below” has been an adjustment for our family. I started working in Idaho Falls a year and a half ago and swiftly learned that in order to cut out some of the stress and chaos, we needed a plan—a plan for healthy and easy meals.

Having prepped and cooked meals readily available would reduce the after-work juggling for my husband, Todd, and it would also benefit me: by preparing meals ahead of time with my family, I would feel more connected even though I was an hour away.

So on weekends, we work as a team to ready meals for the week ahead, keeping in mind any particularly crazy days that will impact our schedule. We discuss what meals can be used as leftovers, for lunches, or repurposed later in the week. For example, a roast in the slow cooker can be used for lunch sandwiches or a sizzling stir-

fry served over rice. Using leftovers is a great way to reduce wasted food and cut down on the planning and prep later in the week.

Working together as a family also teaches our girls the importance of teamwork and thoughtful eating. Learning about kitchen tool safety is a bonus, too.

Keep in mind: Sometimes weeks fall apart, we get busy, we are tired, and we forget to plan. Don’t fret, there’s always frozen pizza!

In our case, you’ll see me spinning through the drive-through on the way home. There is no shame in the occasional convenience meal.

On the next few pages are some of our easy and delicious go-to meals.

Breakfast Breakfast can be a stressful time when combined with the tasks of checking schoolwork, selecting winter clothes and show-and-tell items, and coaxing a sleepy four- and six-year-old to brush their hair and put on matching socks. And since I’m usually on the road before my family wakes, having a yummy breakfast option is one less worry.

easy-peasy egg and sausage “muffins” —

Makes 12 muffins

—

These “muffins” are full of protein and easy to reheat. Pop them in the toaster oven or pack along for a midmorning work breakfast.

1/2

8 1/2 1/2

1 1/2 1/2

pound breakfast sausage (or substitute ham or bacon) large eggs medium white onion cup fresh spinach red, orange, or yellow pepper cup cheddar cheese cup feta cheese Salt and pepper to taste

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Brown and drain the meat.

Beat eggs in a bowl.

Chop onion, spinach, and peppers.

Shred and crumble cheese.

Mix eggs, veggies, cheese, and meat together in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

7. Pour ingredients into a lightly greased muffin pan (2/3rds full). Make sure to evenly distribute the meat, veggies, and cheese as you fill the muffin pans.

8. Bake for 30 minutes. Use a toothpick to test doneness.

9. Serve warm. Can be refrigerated and frozen for later use. * Note: we often double or quadruple this recipe and freeze individual muffins.

Winter 2015/16 ¤ Teton Family

21

Share.

Dinner There are so many options for easy, healthy dinners. But in the winter months, my family leans toward warm comfort food. A slow cooker helps create a delicious, hot, and table-ready supper. And remember, slow cookers aren’t just used for main courses—they can also be used to warm sides like potatoes and squash. tf

Ideas. Memories.

Special Moments.

orange-cranberry chicken —

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Serves 4

—

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped One 14-ounce can whole cranberry sauce (I also like to make my own)

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

1 cup orange juice

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1. Chop onion and garlic.

2. Place all ingredients into slow cooker.

3. Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours until chicken is thoroughly cooked. * Note: in a separate slow cooker (or on the stove) cook brown rice or quinoa to serve with the chicken. And don’t forget a fresh veggie!

22

Teton Family ¤ Winter 2015/16

EAT WELL

PLAY HARD

slow-cooker spaghetti squash and meatballs —

Serves 4

1 1/3 1/2 2-3

2

1 1/4 1/2 1/2 1/2

— For the turkey meatballs:

pound ground turkey pound ground pork sausage white onion, finely chopped cloves garlic, finely chopped large eggs cup breadcrumbs cup fresh parsley, finely chopped cup Parmesan cheese tablespoon salt tablespoon dried basil Pinch of red pepper flakes

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. 2. Mix all ingredients together. (Make sure to allow your kids to mix with their hands. “It’s important to feel your food,” said my great-grandma, Margaret.)

3. Roll into small balls and place on a cookie sheet.

4. Bake for 15 minutes. (Eliminate this step if you plan to cook them all day in the crockpot. Or bake them in the oven and freeze for later use.)

1 1 1 1/2 1/2 1/4 1/4 20 2

For the squash:

medium spaghetti squash can crushed tomatoes small can tomato sauce teaspoon salt teaspoon garlic powder teaspoon pepper teaspoon dried oregano turkey meatballs tablespoons butter or olive oil

1. Cut spaghetti squash in half crosswise. Place in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker with cut side down.

2. Combine tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, garlic powder, pepper, and oregano.

Puree in a food processor or blender. Pour into bottom of slow cooker.

3. Place meatballs over tomatoes and around spaghetti squash. Cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.

4. Remove squash from slow cooker (take care, it’s hot). Scoop out seeds and discard. Scoop flesh into a colander and let drain to reduce moisture.

5. Serve squash topped with tomato sauce and meatballs.

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24

Teton Family 造 Winter 2015/16

Home Sweet Home Office

By Jennifer Dorsey // Photographs by Ryan Jones

F

or author Tina Welling, it’s where household chores fade from mind and fictional characters come to life. In graphic designer Katherine Tomkinson’s case, it’s a place to create posters, web pages, books, and more as her two little boys play nearby. And for Ashley Wilkerson Moore, it’s a nighttime retreat where she can edit her photos while her eighteen-month-old toddler slumbers upstairs.

Brothers Parker, four and a half, and Chase, three, romp on the sofa while mother Katherine Tomkinson works in their Jackson home.

Winter 2015/16 ¤ Teton Family

25

“It” is the home office, a species of interior design that comes in infinite configurations and sizes—though for real estate reasons, the Teton variety is often small. No matter the dimensions, homebased businesspeople and creative types find a way to make their spaces work.

A Homeside Study “It’s a room I can find refuge in as well as be productive,” Welling says of her office area. “It’s a good room for daydreaming.” Welling’s room is actually outside of the home she shares with her husband, John Buhler, in Hidden Ranch. In what was once the ticket office for the National Elk Refuge sleigh rides, she has completed three novels, a writing book, and is now deep into a young adult environmental mystery. “It came with a woodstove and some cowboy counters, and I pretty much left everything as is,” Welling explains.

What she did add was a good-size desk that belonged to her father, a futon, lots of Buddhas “to invite calmness,” and rocks, bones, and other natural objects she finds inspiring. Welling also has her toys, from snowshoes and cross-country skis to a fly rod and knitting supplies. “Surround yourself with things that remind you of your best self,” is her suggestion for people who make their living at home.

It all works perfectly. Welling can lay pages on the counters and “see how they’re feeling when all spread out.” She can stretch out on the futon or gaze out one of the three windows. Perhaps best of all is that she doesn’t have to worry about dusting and tidying. “It’s a room that I never feel like I have to organize or clean or make ready for company,” Welling says.

A Common-Space Nook Tomkinson doesn’t have that luxury. In her home, graphic design central is a desk built into a nook in the living room. “The mainfloor space allows me to keep a close eye on my boys,” she explains, 26

Teton Family ¤ Winter 2015/16

“but it definitely makes it Novelist Tina Welling surrounds herself with inspiring objects at her homeside harder to concentrate and office, which was the ticket office for take work calls when they are the National Elk Refuge sleigh rides. running around and playing.”

Fortunately, Parker, who is four and a half, and Chase, three, understand that business is business. “The boys know that mommy’s workspace is offlimits,” Tomkinson says. So although there is a cabinet of toys directly next to her desk, she claims her boys are generally pretty respectful of her space.

Tomkinson would like a more comfortable chair, seeing as she often spends fourteen hours a day at her desk, but she’s content. Her husband, Tim, of Tim Tomkinson Illustration works downstairs.

“I do love it because it’s my space and no one else’s,” she says of her own nook. “I do miss the creative process of being around other designers and bouncing ideas off of each other, but I also have Tim to do that with. … And I can email my designer friends and get feedback from them. I know they will be brutally honest.”

A Dungeonesque Retreat Moore works in the guest bedroom in the basement of the townhome where she lives with her husband, Trent, and their son, Jackson. It’s far from enticing—she jokingly calls the space her “dungeon”—but it does the job. Moore has a large desk that nicely accommodates an iMac, a Canon printer, more than a dozen hard drives, and “a big cup of coffee.” The guest bed is nifty, with a storage area under the mattress where she can stash lighting equipment, camera gear, and backdrops.

Between weddings, family portraits, kid portraits, and business shoots, Moore works with about forty thousand images a year and spends forty to fifty hours a week at her desk. She hasn’t childproofed the office for the mere fact that when she’s with Jackson she wants that time to be all about him. So that means she

home office in a nutshell: —

You don’t need to tell Samantha Danahy Ludwig, owner of the

professional organizing and relocation service In Place LLC, what it’s like to work in a small space. She knows.

“My office is also my husband’s closet,” Ludwig says.

Here are some of her tips for keeping things under control: • Purge. Get rid of what you don’t use, then figure out where to put the things you need.

• Those storage baskets in the Pottery Barn catalog may be cute, but

organize their stuff, too.

• Keep your office clean or at least in a state where it can be cleaned up in less than fifteen minutes.

• Organize files—whether paper or computer—so you can quickly find what you need. Separate “fluid” files, the ones you open frequently, from “stagnant” files, which hold business licenses, operational documents, etc. And move files you don’t need to storage.

• Do you drag your heels about starting work? Maybe your desk is too

might not suit your needs. Don’t buy organizing materials until you

small and you feel buried by all your stuff. Get as big a desk as your

have a plan.

space and needs will accommodate, and then make everything else

• Create boundaries between your office and areas that are for your spouse and children, even if it means simply allocating a corner of the kitchen table. This can be an opportunity to teach your kids how to

gets to her desk at night.

“If he’s sleeping I’ll come down and edit,” she says. “Luckily, he’s a really good sleeper.”

Moore’s advice to people who want to prettify their office is to “have wall art that you actually like.” She has taken some of her favorite wedding images and blown them up into gallery-size canvases. “There’s also a 1968 Singer sewing machine that hangs

fit around it.

• If you lack space for a permanent office, create a mobile workstation that you can carry to the kitchen table or somewhere else.

out on the desk next to me,” she adds. “It says, ‘Hey, remember those things you were going to make for Jackson before he was born?’ ” Sometimes computer work brings on a case of cabin fever that can only be cured by a bike ride or walk. “When I get stir crazy I need to go outside,” Moore says. “My goal is to celebrate the fact that I live in Jackson Hole.” tf

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Photo: Solis Images - Shutterstock.com

T

echnology is limitless, so infinite we’re unconscious of it. Our connectedness is a near phenomenon, and our accessibility has changed the personality of our culture. We follow our idols online, liking their daily photos. We can order anything in the world and have it delivered to our doorstep. If we don’t know an answer, we ask Google without ever looking at a book or speaking to another person.

This universe of immediacy is thrilling and terrifying at the same time. The ability to catch an entire series of Downton Abbey or the NFL rundown in one sitting keeps us happy—we’re up all night, not engaging with anyone around us, and anxious to click to the next episode. It’s likely our iPads are on the coffee table or near the dinner plate, with email and fan pages running. This is classic behavior for an autonomous adult. But for a child (“digital natives,” as they are deemed), this behavior is magnified exponentially.

Sadly, the buzzword “technology” is too commonplace for people to take seriously, especially when it comes to parenting. It’s thrown into the laundry basket of items to watch out for like wheat and sugar. And while there’s no right or wrong way to parent (it comes from the gut for most of us), the truth is technology is a beast in our daily lives. It’s replacing academic and physical activities that promote healthy development. And it’s really easy to hand your iPhone to your kids so you can finish a conversation, uninterrupted.

When we learn to pacify ourselves with distraction and stimulation, we lose the capacity to manage frustration and develop life skills. Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair, a clinical psychologist specializing in child development, education, family relationships, and work-family balance, recently presented her studies and her book, The Big Disconnect, to a Jackson audience. Steiner-Adair began the conversation with facts from the epicenter of technology, Silicon Valley. “If you read about the folks in the [technology] industry, their children are most likely at a Waldorf School and don’t have access to iPads. ... The tech industry understands how addictive technology is.”

Not too long ago a New York Times article on how Steve Jobs was a low-tech parent went viral on social media—yes, the founder of iPad culture refused to allow his own children access to the tablet.

So, if the founder of a billion-dollar industry isn’t allowing the video game Minecraft into his children’s lives, should you?

Steiner-Adair believes a written technology policy should be implemented into every household with children. This policy should then be signed and dated by both the parents and the children. “We need to raise children to be law-abiding citizens and to follow the rules,” she says. Steiner-Adair’s policy ultimately comes down to being an engaged parent. Responsible-use guidelines— for computer games, cellphones, computers, and iPads—teach that having access to any device is a privilege, and parents need to remember to enforce that. It’s not the technology’s fault for existing; it’s the job of a parent to bring balanced activity and development to their household.

Let’s face it—this policy is going to look different for every home, just as no one has the same schedule, food allergies, or favorite stuffed animal. Start by examining what’s happening at your dinner table. Are iPhones at the table? Is the TV on while everyone’s sitting down? What are you talking about: each other’s day, work, or video games? Writing down observations makes it impossible to avoid the truth. Beyond the dinner table, consider your time in transit to and from school. Are you listening to your kids recount their day, or are you taking a phone call? An Winter 2015/16 ¤ Teton Family

29

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the Scary facts: • In the U.S., children ages eight to eighteen spend more time in front of a computer, television, or game screen than any other activity except sleeping.

• A five-year-old’s brain absorbs ten times more radiation from iPads, computers, or cellphone screens than an adult’s.

• Children with two or more hours of daily screen time are

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more likely to have increased psychological difficulties, including hyperactivity, emotional problems, and difficulties with peers.

• The safety pamphlet that comes with an iPad recommends users hold it eight inches away from

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an adult body. This distance is far greater than most toddlers’ arm spans.

• People who began using cellphones as teenagers, over a period of less than ten years, are four to five times more likely to develop certain types of cancers.

• The leading form of communication for people under the

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Teton Family ¤ Winter 2015/16

age of twenty is text messaging.

appropriate acceptable-use policy can evolve from answering these questions, taking stock of your family culture, and modifying it if necessary.

Local screenwriter and novelist Jonah Lisa Dyer explains, “We rewrite our tech policy all the time.” Dyer relies on technology for her job, but she and her husband, Stephen, make very deliberate choices when it comes to their kids’ use. There’s no television in the main living area. Their kids have minimal iPad use during the week, and then on the weekend they’re allowed a significant amount of time to enjoy games like Minecraft.

Steiner-Adair notes that kids should be allowed time to make progress in computer games in order to gain from the experience.

She says that playing online can be a constructive experience, especially if the child plays with other children. And she suggests being a “hummingbird parent,” a term coined by Grass Stain Guru blogger Michele Whitaker. Hummingbird parents zoom in periodically to take account of what’s happening and then flutter away, letting their kids be their independent selves. Steiner-Adair says to zoom in when they’re playing video games so you know how your children play. Are they are playing online in a group? How are they talking to each other, and what are they talking about? If it’s not constructive, be the parent that changes the game. If it’s a discussion on how to help each other get to the next level, flutter away. Hummingbird parenting helps you develop trust in your children and also gives them a chance to function on their own.

Dyer has experimented with her family’s tech-use policy by

Photo: Robert S - Shutterstock.com

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having her children earn their time, and she’s even created a set amount of time that can be taken away, too. Now she says her tech policy is “part managing and part what’s best for them. …

I personally don’t want to be the screen police.” Dyer’s family uses the TimeLock App, which shuts the device off when the timer is up. And as much as she promotes a more natural playground for her children, Dyer also sees technology working its way into their playtime. Her kids act out video game characters in their outdoor mud kitchen. Be it Harry Potter or Star Wars, they write their own dialogue for their imagined version. “It’s popular culture,” Dyer says. “They do what we did.”

Jackson Hole-based regenerative medicine specialist Dr. Rathna Raju doesn’t need a policy. Her house is relatively low-tech. Her family only owns a television because it came with the house.

Technology isn’t reinforced or rejected; it’s used when needed.

Computer time for her ten-year-old daughter, Mira, consists of supplemental learning videos and exercises from the Khan Academy.

This online academy partners with institutions like NASA, The Museum of Modern Art, The California Academy of Sciences, and MIT to bring students who are anywhere from the age of nine to eighty-nine years old a variety of different learning experiences.

Raju explains that Khan offers a culture that her daughter just cannot get enough of. “The whole point is to think,” Raju says.

As a family, Raju, her husband, Jonathan, and Mira spend time outside as much as possible and pass their evenings playing board games. Mira attends Wilson Elementary and says most of the kids in her class have an iPod or iPad. But just because Mira doesn’t have technology access in her back pocket doesn’t mean she’s missing it.

At night, she opts to read or help with dinner instead.

thoughtful practices: • Limit technology use for both children and teens.

• Use common sense. If your family has irresponsible habits, dial it back.

• Create and enforce a family technology policy.

• Use the iPad in “airplane mode,” especially with children.

• Never have children use the iPad on their laps. Distance cuts down on radiation exposure.

• For best practices, don’t give cellphones or tablets to infants or toddlers.

No one dictates your parenting style when it comes to technology, but there’s no harm in nudging you to think a little. Authentic play is critical for kids and denying it in lieu of instant satisfaction has long-term effects on digital natives. The Waldorf Research Institute reports on elementary-age children not knowing how to use scissors because the basic art has been replaced with iPad entertainment. The American Pediatric Association recommends that children two and younger should not have any type of screen time. Beware of Wi-Fi, bandwidths, electromagnetic radiation, and the list continues …

It’s hard work. It’s daily. But parenting is the one shot you’ve got.

Perhaps by moving all family technology into the “privilege” category, you’ll become more responsible yourself. Check your emails and return phone calls before you pick up your kids from school. Hopefully a little disconnect helps you plug in to what matters more. tf

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Extreme Dads On the Precipice of Balance

By Christian Santelices

Photo: Andy Tankersley Mark Fisher ascends Shishapangma, an 800-meter peak in Tibet.

Zahan Billimoria braves 20-below temps while climbing the Grand for TGR’s Higher.

T

Alyosha Billimoria, nine, just below the summit of the Grand

rekking through the jungles of Myanmar; dangling from a cable below a helicopter; guiding professional skiers down the Grand Teton; exploring slot canyons with U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen—these are just a few of the predicaments a group of Teton dads has faced. What do they think about in these situations? Do they second-guess their decisions? Do their kids pop into their heads?

I know what happens to me, but I wanted to get the lowdown from others.

Adventure jobs—like mountain guiding, technical rescue, and adventure filmmaking—are relatively new professions in the United States. Only during the last few decades have mountain

34

Teton Family ¤ Winter 2015/16

guides and adventure photographers been able to make a full-time living. On most days, working in the adventure industry is not like a job at all. We get to travel and do what we love on a daily basis.

But for dads, the rewards definitely come with trade-offs, and there are only a handful with the skills and dedication to raise a family alongside their art.

The Crux

I am a full-time mountain guide, avalanche awareness instructor, and leadership development trainer. My year’s work involves things like trekking, kayaking, and mountaineering in Patagonia, ski mountaineering in the Italian Alps, leadership training for the U.S.

Photos: Zahan Billimoria

Gemma Billimoria, six, and Zahan summit Bath Rock at the City of Rocks.

Sunrise coffee hour on the Grandstand during a three-day traverse

Survival tips for traveling parents —

Jackson Hole Classical Academy

(Disclaimer: all experiences may differ.)

Wisdom begins in wonder.

• Twenty-four hours before and after a trip kids come unglued.

-Socrates

They deal with the stress of you leaving by treating you like dirt.

Handle it with patience and compassion.

• Work hard to relearn family routines. When you return, you are intruding on their daily schedules. Spend some extra time getting back into their rhythm. Don’t be another kid for your spouse.

• Use Skype or FaceTime. This can be tricky, especially where Wi-Fi is poor. Be sure your connection is solid before you Skype, or simply resort to a phone call instead.

• Don’t call too much. Sometimes phone calls makes your kids miss you more, causing a harder time for your spouse. How much is too much? Once a week is a good reference point.

• Single-Parent Syndrome. One of the worst parts of calling home is hearing about your spouse’s single-parent challenges. Listen attentively, commiserate, and get your butt home.

• Devote the last and first twenty-four hours before and after a trip to your family. Get your packing and last-minute details dialed early so you can enjoy quality family time. When you return, leave your bags in the car (except for the presents) and dive back

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into the family.

Truth, Naval Academy in southern Utah, and education development in Ethiopia. In 2013, I was away from home for a total of six months.

At one point my son, Nico, then four years old, asked my wife, “Does Dad live here anymore?” I love my job and my family, but sometimes I find it tough to combine the two in a way where everyone’s fulfilled.

Mark Fisher, owner of Fisher Creative, and his partner, Eric Daft, produce eye-popping cinematic creations from adventures around the globe. Their current masterpiece, Myanmar: Bridges to Change, chronicles their 2013 expedition to Gamlang Razi—the disputed highest peak in Southeast Asia—led by Teton Valley local Andy Tyson, who died in a plane crash in April. “The biggest challenge is balancing the fact that I love what I do with being a dad and family guy,” Fisher says. Balance for him involves finding stimulating work that also pays the bills. And since the local competition is fierce, Fisher must sometimes follow the storms (and the powder) to Alaska or even further.

Zahan Billimoria, a head guide for Exum Mountain Guides and Teton Gravity Research, excels at leading professional skiers and adventure-seekers in high-consequence terrain in the Tetons.

Billimoria says he’s very selective about the professional time he spends in the mountains, especially during the summer. “I can’t imagine the scenario of regretting the [amount of] time I spend with my kids,” Billimoria says.

Thankfully for Fisher, Billimoria, and me, through many years

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35

Reward Trumps Risk

Calculating a job opportunity often involves the following: 1) Who will I be guiding or working with? Is it someone I enjoy spending time with, who can further my career? Is it someone I trust? 2) How much money will I make? Is it just enough to pay

the bills, or will this gig allow me more flextime with my family?

3) Is it a mind-blowing location? Will I use my technical skills?

4) What’s the risk factor? How difficult will risk be to manage?

Risk is defined as the potential of losing something of value (such as physical health, social status, emotional well-being, or financial wealth). And daily risk is something that we all deal with.

For most people, the riskiest part of their job is driving to and from work. In adventure-industry professions, we make decisions

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Photos: Andy Tankersley and Kristi Fisher

of dedicated cultivation, we are finally at a point where we can pick and choose our work.

Diverse Cultures

Photo: Kristi Fisher

One Community

based on an understanding of Opposite page, left: Mark Fisher on assignment in Katmandu the dichotomy between risk and reward.

Opposite page, right: Mark and his son, “There’s a gap between what Owen, hit the road in Bagan, Myanmar. is known about the experience we wish to have versus the one Above: Mark and Owen soak it up in we will actually have,” says Maui, Hawaii.

Billimoria when talking about calculating risk. “That gap is called adventure. That gap is unknowable and what brings us to the mountains.” The best and most calculated mountain practitioners are able to reap the rewards of the mountains in the process of the endeavor, knowing that success is not always measured in summits.

Renny Jackson, former lead climbing ranger for the Jenny Lake Rangers in Grand Teton National Park and the author of A Climber’s Guide to the Teton Range, was awarded a Medal of Valor for his rescue work over his thirty-year career. For Jackson—whose job involved picking up the pieces of other people’s adventures gone wrong—witnessing the aftermath takes its toll. “You try not to bring it home to your family. It’s intrusive to what you value in your life and to what you hold dear,” he says.

Jane, Jackson’s daughter, knew her parents’ address books were full of “ghosts” of friends they had collectively lost to the mountains, but she didn’t fully understand the risks of her dad’s job until she became a climber herself. Now, she says, “I worry about my

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While outwardly these men are defined by their careers, they reap their greatest satisfaction from being fathers. One of the most fulfilling moments for Jackson was seeing his daughter’s “switch flip” when she discovered her passion for climbing. “It happened on Denali,” Jackson says. “I invited Jane to go on a park service patrol, and we were hanging out at the 14,000-foot camp with a bunch of my friends. … She saw what unique, passionate, special people they were.” And that was all it took.

Jane describes it differently: “I was going through a rough time and had taken time off from college to figure things out. On Denali, I had success every day—skiing uphill to the next camp and then eventually reaching the summit.” She says the feeling of those daily successes contributed to her desire to climb full-time.

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dad all the time.” (As I was Above: Renny and Jane Jackson scale the Middle Teton in 1999. interviewing Jane, Jackson was embarking on an expedition to Opposite page: The father-daughter attempt an unclimbed peak in pair kicks back at the top of Castleton the Himalayas.)

Tower in 2013.

A big part of Fisher’s risk assessment involves his family’s experiences while he’s gone. “Almost every time I leave, there’s a mishap,” he says. While away on past assignments, his son had surgery, his daughter was hospitalized with RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and three friends died in a plane crash. “When [bad] things happen while you’re away, you’re helpless. What can you do?” he asks.

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She now works part-time for Exum Mountain Guides and as a climbing steward in Yosemite National Park.

Lessons from the mountains run through the experiences of all adventure dads. But the one that sticks the most is the importance of working hard and finding your life’s passion. Fisher explains, “I want my kids to have an appreciation for someone who’s willing to take a risk and follow their dreams. It’s an important life lesson.”

Billimoria says that showing your kids the value of “showing up for other people” teaches that we all need to be willing to work hard for others. He also instills the importance of “being 100 percent present.” And Jackson adds, “If you can experience that switch [when they find their passion], that’s as good as it gets.” tf

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Vis-à-vis Recess

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By Christina Shepherd McGuire

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Melting ice cream’s no fun Without the romance of a warm cup of cocoa.

Blossoming roses aren’t as pretty Without the shriveled-up hip and the thorn.

Strapless dresses don’t say “freedom” Without mourning a waning tan beneath your parka.

And a textbook powder turn just won’t thrill Without the taste of salty sweat from a mid-day ride.

Simply proves that …

Even in the darkness of winter, Summer’s invincible nature can’t be shaken.

Photo: Paulette Phlipot

Mandatory

Ready for more? win ter

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Issue # 19

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F O O D Isll sue Go Loc

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Issue # 20

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wor king parents´ issue

issue

locals on the rocks Happy hour with a twist

locals ons the rock r Happy hou with a twist

extreme dads

s balance Four local dad ily life ers with fam

Organic chicken Bus

wor kin g parent s´

extreme dads

Four local dads balance extreme careers with family life

An artful hom

e on the farm

commuter cuisine

Make-ahead meals for a family on the fly

eating meAt

commuter cuisine

Is it healthy

meals for a Make-ahead fly family on the

and ethical?

Beyond ra

men A college surv ival manual for cooking quic k, hearty mea ls

extreme care

Check out our blog at

tetonfamilymagazine.com FIND seasonal recipes valuable tips local resources

Multi-week programs designed to foster the love for winter sports, improve skills, independence, and balance. It’s also a great way to make new friends on the mountain.

Bobcats 3 1/2 to 5

Big Cats 6 to 12

1/3, 1/10, 1/17, 1/24 2/7, 2/14, 2/21, 2/28 3/13, 3/20, 4/3, 4/10

Groups are broken down by age and level to make learning fun and safe. It’s your turn to explore the Kids Fun Zone and beyond!