Check out our April newsletter!
APRIL 2020
THE
COMMUNITY CONSCIENCE PICKING A SCHOOL THAT FITS YOUR YOUNG ADULT
My college roommate, Kevin Donovan, called Dillon, Montana, home. Kevin’s mother, Dottie, was the superintendent of public schools in Dillon, and Kevin’s father, Butch, was the driver’s education teacher and wrestling and football coach for Beaverhead High School. Dottie Donovan may be the only Democrat to have won public office in the history of Beaverhead County, Montana. I have always been fond of Dillon and Beaverhead County but never had it on my own radar when I was choosing a school. However, I am very glad that Andrew was able to make his way 110 miles to this school. UMW has a unique education program called the “block system.” It is the only public university in the United States to offer this program, and UMW calls it Experience One. The block system allows students to focus on a single course at a time for 18 school days. Students attend the course for three hours every day and then, after a four-day weekend, move on to the next course. This process allows students to focus all of their attention on one particular subject. Students at UMW do not have to decide which subject to study on any given night or worry about having three term papers due at the same time. In short, no finals week or “hell week” happens at UMW. You squeeze the oranges one at a time! While this program is not for everyone, we have been absolutely thrilled with Andrew’s ability to transition into university life. While it can seem like a living hell when you are
Raising kids can be a challenging endeavor. When Heather and I got married in 2013, she agreed to take on not only a husband but also two boys, Andrew, who was 12, and Chandler, who was 11. The boys are now 18 and 19 years old and face growing up in a world very different than the one Heather and I knew when we were teenagers. While we are far from perfect parents, we do our best. Our newsletter chronicles some of our successes and some of our less than stellar moments. We hope you can learn from some of our failures and find some entertainment in the moments we share. The Block System at UMW If you have raised children, you know they grow up faster than you ever imagined. The stretch from riding their bicycle to driving a car seems like it takes 12 weeks and not 12 years. Now, Andrew has left the nest and is making his own way in the world. A pretty average student in high school, Andrew found that his favorite place to be was the weight room or the athletic field. Like many of us, Andrew was a little anxious about juggling multiple different college level classes at the same time, and he wanted to continue pursuing his passion for athletics. In the process of weighing where he wanted to go to college, Andrew came across a real treasure in the Treasure State, the University of Montana Western (UMW), located in Dillon, Montana.
stuck in a subject that gives you fits, at least you know the light at the end of the tunnel is no more than a couple of weeks away. As an aside, I would really like to thank the professors at UMW for their willingness to teach in this manner. It is absolutely exhausting teaching a class three hours a day for five days a week. Those three hours are only a small fraction of the time these professors dedicate to their profession. Each and every single student I have met appreciates this program. I suspect the biggest barrier to its implementation on a larger scale may be that it does ask a lot of professors. While not perfect, this program has worked well for Andrew. Thinking outside the box has worked for him and may be something you want to consider as your children decide which road to take after high school. Andrew is very happy to be attending the University of Montana Western. Go Dawgs!
- Lucas Foust
406-587-3720 • 1
THE AGE OF STRESS Helping Your Child Overcome Anxiety
It’s hard to imagine kids as anything but carefree, happy, and eager to explore the world around them. However, children experience stress just like adults do, which can severely impact their typically cheerful dispositions. Since April is National Stress Awareness Month, now is an opportune time to familiarize yourself with tools and information that can help you alleviate your child’s stress. What are their stressors? Any number of everyday factors can lead to stress, and stress can plague anyone who feels overwhelmed. Toddlers and young children going to day care or school for the first time may experience separation anxiety due to being apart from their parents. Older kids and teenagers may feel mounting social and academic pressure. Even something as simple as overhearing loved ones arguing or seeing a sad news report can add to a child’s stress levels. How do I know if my child is stressed? When a kid is stressed, they will exhibit odd behavior and even undergo physical changes. Depending on your child’s age, watch for mood swings, changes in sleep patterns, headaches, trouble focusing, or withdrawal
from the people around them. According to KidsHealth.org, younger childrenmay also pick up habits like twirling their hair or sucking their thumb, while older kids may start to bully others, lie, or rebel. Can I help reduce their stress? According to KidsHealth.org, good nutrition, proper rest, and healthy attention are great ways to help kids manage their stress. Set time aside each day to talk and spend time with your children; talking about worries will reduce or relieve anxieties. If you know about an upcoming stressful situation, like a school exam or a health checkup, prepare your child by studying with them or talking to them about what to expect.
Don’t stop here. For more tools and information regarding stress reduction in children, visit KidsHealth.org or contact your doctor.
ENCOURAGING YOUR LITTLE GIRL
Tips for Raising Strong, Confident Women
Encourage bravery and a growth mindset. Even children can feel pressured to perform to high standards yet stay within their comfort zone. They might think, “I’m not strong enough to climb this tree.” But whether it’s climbing trees or building things with others, small feelings of bravery can grow larger as they grow older. Self-empowerment will be a crucial skill in their lives, so encourage a mindset focused on growth through the process of learning. Teach them how the brain grows and adapts rapidly whenever we encounter failure and that failure and mistakes are a part of life. Once they understand that failure isn’t permanent, they’ll be inspired to take risks and solve their problems. Trust your daughter while teaching grit. Psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth studies successful people in a wide variety of fields, from business to the military, and has found
that the quality most successful people share is grit. The ability to stay engaged with tough tasks for a long period of time is a skill that takes a long time to build, but it’s not impossible for your girl to begin developing grit right now. Duckworth believes the growth mindset can start young girls on a path to embracing failure and moving forward from it. However, a lack of trust in your daughter can suffocate her growth. Despite all the adult-directed activities we give our kids, we need to step back and let them make some of their own decisions. We can give them encouragement and help along the way, but for the most part, we need to trust they can solve problems on their own. When you put faith and trust in your little girl to handle her most difficult problems, she’ll learn to do the same for herself.
In a time when it’s so easy to let technology and school run your child’s life, what’s your role as a parent or guardian? We often hear motivational quotes talking about the importance of risk-taking and resilience, but it can be tough for little girls to learn from just YouTube videos and school alone. Here’s how you can encourage your daughter to spark her own confidence during her toughest moments.
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When Should You Teach Your Child to Read?
AND HOW SHOULD YOU DO IT?
If your child is between 3–5 years old, you’ve probably noticed that they’re becoming a lot more talkative. By the time children are 4, they can usually speak in 5–8-word sentences. That makes this age range the perfect time to get your child interested in reading. However, this can raise a lot of questions. For starters, the question of how to get your child interested in reading is almost more important than when you do it. You may wonder how much time you should spend reading with them, how intensive reading time should be, and if you should make everything involving words and letters into a reading lesson. While the answers to these questions will vary from child to child, there’s one goal that every parent should strive for when teaching their child to read: Above all, help them enjoy it. When your child starts kindergarten, learning to read will be a part of the curriculum. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to teach them to read earlier, though. If your child loves to read, it can make their learning experience much more enjoyable. There are plenty of ways to help your child enjoy reading from an early age. One is to simply read to them and make storytime fun. If the pig goes oink or the mailman has a funny, nasally voice, bring those
features to life. You can also have your kids help you with daily tasks that require reading, like making a to-do list or shopping at the grocery store. When they’re helping you and having fun, it won’t feel like learning at all! Finally, the best way to make reading enjoyable for your children is to enjoy it yourself. Your kids watch what you do, and if they see you enjoying a good book, they’ll want to read even more. Reading opens up the world to them, and with your help, nothing will dull their love of learning.
Take a Break!
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com EASY DEVILED EGGS
While the kids hunt for Easter eggs in the yard, whip up this easy deviled egg recipe for a hearty snack that’s sure to satisfy any craving.
INGREDIENTS
• •
1/2 tsp groundmustard Salt, paprika, garlic powder, and pepper, to taste 12 large eggs, hard-boiled Fresh parsley, minced, and paprika for garnish
• • • • •
1/2 cupmayonnaise
2 tbspmilk
1 tsp dried parsley flakes
• •
1/2 tsp dill weed
1/2 tsp fresh chives, minced
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, milk, parsley flakes, dill, chives, mustard, salt, paprika, garlic powder, and pepper. Mix well and set aside. 2. Cut eggs lengthwise and remove yolks carefully to preserve egg whites. 3. In a small bowl, mash yolks. 4. Mix mashed yolks with mayonnaise mixture. 5. Spoon or pipe the mixture back into the egg whites. 6. Garnish with fresh parsley and paprika. Refrigerate before serving.
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406-587-3720 • 3
Foust Law Office
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
www.lucasfoustlaw.com 406-587-3720 Fax: 406-879-4400
3390 South 30th Avenue Bozeman, MT 59718
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Picking a School That Fits Your Young Adult PAGE 1 Helping Your Child Manage Stress PAGE 2 Tips for Raising Strong, Confident Women PAGE 2 Fostering a Love of Reading in Your Child PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Easy Deviled Eggs PAGE 3 Keep America Beautiful PAGE 4 Have you ever walked through a park and seen a plastic bottle or wrapper lying on the ground? If so, did you pick it up and properly dispose of it? You might not have realized it, but in that moment, you took a small step toward keeping your community — and, by extension, America — beautiful! April is Keep America Beautiful Month, and folks who celebrate aim to help each community in every state stay clean and green. Created by the nonprofit organization Keep America Beautiful, this holiday offers a perfect opportunity to roll up your sleeves and work to better the place you live in. Here are three ways to show your appreciation for a green America this month. Volunteer for the Great American Cleanup. This event is one of America’s largest community improvement programs, with hundreds of thousands of people
SOLUTION
DO YOUR PART TO KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL And Maintain Green Living Spaces for Everyone
participating each year. In 2019, over 550,000 volunteers participated in the GAC to bring natural beauty back into their communities. 2020 marks this event’s 22nd year, and you can be a part of it this month! Volunteer your time with a local Keep America Beautiful affiliate or another community improvement program close to home. Do your part to clean up your parks and spread awareness today. Start plogging. If you’re passionate about staying active and cleaning up your neighborhood, then this is the perfect activity for you! Plogging combines jogging and picking up litter, which takes care of your health and keeps your community clean. Anybody can do it: Just throw on your running shoes, grab a bag, head out the door, and pick up any stray bits of trash you see on your morning jog or evening walk.
Improve recycling through education. An important goal during Keep America Beautiful Month is to spread awareness about recycling. There are various ways to educate those around you about recycling and encourage them to do their part. At work, for example, you can volunteer to lead a recycling initiative by printing off guides and fostering discussions on why recycling is so essential. At home, you can make a commitment with your family to fulfill the three R’s of recycling: reduce, reuse, recycle. To discover more ways to participate in Keep America Beautiful month, visit their website at KAB.org today!
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