JULY 2019 THE
COMMUNITY CONSCIENCE
Raising kids can be a challenging endeavor. When Heather and I married in 2013, she agreed to take on not only a husband but also two boys: Andrew, 12, and Chandler, 11. The boys are now 17 and 18 years old and face growing up in a world very different from the one Heather and I knew when we were teenagers. We are far from perfect parents, but 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. KIDS AND FRIENDS
PICKING YOUR FRIENDS
to do with encouraging their friendships with positive people. Over 20 years later, I tend to believe she was right. The question is, how is this done? A recent study published in the“Journal of Social and Personal Relationships”shows that time is the primary factor in the development of friendships. In the study, 112 freshmen at a university were surveyed. The freshmen were asked about people they had met since starting school two weeks earlier. They followed up with the participants four and seven weeks later to see how their relationships developed. Based on this information, the study found the following:
has developed a close group of friends, about six young men, who are referred to at Bozeman High School as“The Boys.”They were all brought together through the football program, and a few of them are going to continue playing in college. Over the past four years, their common experience has made them very close. They refer to their group as a brotherhood. Our son Chandler has also developed a very tightknit social group. Chandler’s group consists of 8–10 boys and girls. What has been fascinating is watching how the inclusion of girls into Chandler’s group of friends has changed the dynamic of the group compared to“The Boys.”The group with both boys and girls has a very different set of interests than “The Boys.”As parents, we are absolutely thrilled that these two groups have been very positive influences on our children. Judge McCarter was probably right. Our kids need to be surrounded by positive people, and it takes a lot of time to develop friendships with these positive influences.
My best friend growing up in Columbia Falls, Montana, was a foreign exchange student fromArgentina named Dante Fratta. Dante showed up inmy town of about 5,000 people in Northwestern Montana after only being in an English-speaking country for six months. Dante Fratta’s“inferno”involved this youngman being thrown into the fire of Columbia Falls High School with a very limited English vocabulary. My father was a United States Border Patrol Agent. His job required that he speak Spanish, and he may well have been the only person in Columbia Falls in 1987 who was fluent in Spanish. About six weeks into the school year, Dante made his way to our home and was able to speak to someone other than the Spanish teacher in his native tongue for the first time in six weeks. It was like watching my puppy eat dinner. Dante devoured the conversation. It was a very interesting way to begin what would become a lifelong friendship. Judge Dorothy McCarter once gave me advice on parenting about five years before my first son was born. She explained that the No. 1 factor in keeping her kids out of trouble had
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It takes 50 hours of time together to move from acquaintance to casual friend.
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It takes 90 hours to go from casual friend to friend.
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It takes 200 hours before someone is considered a close friend.
As we watch our boys develop friendships, I wonder which connections will develop into lifelong friendships. Our son Andrew
- Lucas Foust
406-587-3720 • 1
Hiking With Your Kids Watch Their World Expand With Every Step
Hiking has many benefits as a family activity, such as mental health improvement, strengthening your relationships, and experiencing new sights and discoveries together. It’s also great exercise, and you get plenty of quality time, fresh air, and sunshine. Here are three guidelines to help you and your kids have fun on your next hike.
holder to let your kids catch smaller insects, such as grasshoppers or pill bugs, and give them a close-up look.
ENCOURAGE THEIR CURIOSITY
KEEP SAFETY IN MIND
One of the best ways to have your children learn about the world is letting them explore it. Being there for your children and encouraging them to ask questions about flowers, bugs, or animals you see on the trail will help them expand their vocabulary and learn how things work. When they learn they can explore independently and ask about the world around them, they’re gaining the confidence to teach themselves.
While you’re out on the trail, it’s essential to make sure that both you and your family are safe. Wear breathable, noncotton material and sturdy shoes that don’t expose your toes. It’s important to dress according to the weather. For example, if the day is sunny, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and apply plenty of sunscreen on any exposed skin. Bring your kids’ favorite snacks and water bottles for everyone to stay hydrated. It’s crucial that you also bring a fully stocked first-aid kit in case someone is injured on the hike. Starting with one of your local hiking trails can be a rewarding way to spend the day with your kids. You can watch their excitement as they expand their world with new discoveries.
BRING ALONG SOME TOOLS OF DISCOVERY
Getting your children to engage in nature while you’re out hiking can be as simple as bringing a magnifying glass along with you. Let your kids look at leaves, rocks, insects, or anything else you might come across on the trail. You can also bring binoculars to help them look at a bird that might be perched a little too high up. Another option is a bug
unfamiliar with a body of water, don’t jump or dive in without knowing how deep it is. If you cannot confirm what is under the surface (and the spot is not a known diving location), don’t risk it. It may be okay to swim or wade, but jumping is out of the question. Along these same lines, be VERY careful around bodies of slow-moving or standing water. These can house dangerous microbes and other contaminants that can make you ill and potentially be deadly. WATCH FOR RIP CURRENTS. These can occur at any beach without warning. They pull swimmers away from shore and are strong enough that even excellent swimmers struggle to get through them. In fact, rip currents are behind nearly 80% of beach rescues. Keep an eye on the foam at the surface of the water. If it seems to suddenly pull away from the beach, there’s a good chance a rip current is lurking beneath. If you find yourself in a rip current, it’s crucial to remain calm and avoid expending energy swimming directly back to shore. Instead, try swimming parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current. SUMMER SWIMMING SAFETY 3 Tips for Swimming in Open Water
There’s nothing like taking a dip in a nearby pond, lake, or even the ocean. For many, it’s a summertime tradition. However, swimming in open bodies of water brings certain safety risks, as these environments are not nearly as controlled as public, club, or backyard pools. Everyone should follow these tips to have a fun and safe time cooling off under the summer sun. NEVER SWIM ALONE. When you swim in virtually any body of water, having someone there to keep an eye on you can be a lifesaver: the more people, the better. Stick to bodies of water with a professional lifeguard on duty when possible, though that’s not always an option. When swimming in open bodies of water, have a “designated spotter” to keep an eye on the swimmers. This way, you’re prepared if anything bad happens. It’s also a great idea to keep flotation devices nearby, such as life jackets, life rings, foam boards, etc.
KNOWWHAT YOU’RE GETTING INTO. Sometimes, it’s next to impossible to see what’s under the surface of the water. If you are
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Gone to the Dogs How Can a Thief Sue the Family He Robbed?
Have you heard the story of Terrence Dickson? Even if you don’t know the name, you might have heard his strange tale. Dickson was a burglar in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. One day, after breaking into a house and helping himself to some valuables, Dickson decided to leave through the garage. After discovering the automatic garage door was stuck closed, Dickson turned around and was horrified to realize he’d locked himself inside.
justice system quite like injustice being served. When Dickson’s story first gained notoriety in 2001, thanks to an email circulated by the now-defunct Stella Awards newsletter, which highlighted “outrageous lawsuits,” people were rightfully enraged. There was just one problem: Terrence Dickson never existed. In 2002, a reporter from Pennsylvania contacted the Bucks County prothonotary’s office, where all records for civil cases in the county are kept. He discovered there was no record of any cases involving such a burglar. It’s worth noting the original email where this story first appeared ended with a call for tort reform from a made-up law firm in Ohio. Likely, this hoax was an attempt to manipulate the public perception of the justice system. Despite being debunked 17 years ago, this tall tale still makes the rounds and often appears on lists of “outrageous lawsuits,”many of which are featured on the websites of legitimate law firms! There are plenty of wacky legal cases, but when a story is too ridiculous, there’s a good chance a few important details are being left out or the readers are being lied to. Don’t believe everything you read online!
To make matters worse, the family he was stealing from had just left for an extended vacation, so Dickson lived off of soda and dried dog food for eight days. When the family returned and found the unlucky burglar, a lawsuit was filed — by Dickson! He sued for mental anguish, and the
jury awarded him $500,000.
There’s nothing that shakes our faith in the
Take a Break!
JUICY LUCY SLIDERS
Inspired by Bon Appétit Magazine
INGREDIENTS
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2 lbs. ground chuck beef, 20% lean 8 slices melting cheese (like American, Swiss, Muenster, or cheddar)
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16 small potato rolls, toasted Salt and pepper, to taste
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Your favorite burger accompaniments
DIRECTIONS
1. Divide beef into 16 evenly sized balls. 2. Rip cheese into roughly equal pieces, creating 16 equal portions. 3. Using your index finger, create a small indentation in each ball. 4. Fill indention with cheese and pinch meat around to seal. Then gently form balls into 3/4-inch-thick patties. Season patties. 5. Meanwhile, heat a cast-iron skillet to medium-high. 6. Lightly coat skillet with oil and cook patties in batches. Brown one side undisturbed, about 3 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until desired doneness, about 3 minutes for medium. 7. Serve on toasted potato rolls with your favorite accompaniments.
SOLUTION ON PAGE 4
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
As the scorching summer sun beats down, it’s hard to remember that just six months ago you were shivering through the winter, whether that meant a chilly 50 F or bitter subzero temperatures. But if cooler temps sound like paradise, and a dip in the pool is no longer keeping you cool, it might be time to take a vacation somewhere chilly. Check out these three destinations to avoid the summer heat. ALASKA No place says chilly quite like Alaska. Trips to Alaska can be expensive during this time of year, but when you step into that crisp air with a cool mountainous view, you’ll understand why it’s a popular summer voyage. Travelers can choose to fly or take a cruise ship, and many cities feature tourism- packed excursions. A few notable locations include Anchorage, the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, and Denali National Park and Preserve. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Positive Friendships Are Crucial PAGE 1 Hiking With Your Kids PAGE2 3Things Everyone Needs to Know Before Swimming in OpenWater PAGE 2 Did You Hear About the Dog Food Burglar? PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Juicy Lucy Sliders PAGE 3 Avoid the Summer Heat Somewhere Cool PAGE 4
SOLUTION
CHILL OUT Relax in These Cool Destinations This Summer
ICELAND Just as its name suggests, Iceland can be the perfect destination for travelers yearning to get away from the unbearable summer heat. With temperatures rarely exceeding 60 F — the average high for the country — packing is easy for this relaxing vacation. Take a relaxing dip in one of the country’s many hot springs or enjoy tremendous views of the fjords. Even better, you can tour the country at any time because it’s sunny almost 24 hours a day. What could be better than a midnight hike around the fourth happiest country in the world?
NORWAY Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean you have to give up your skiing hobby! Venture off to Norway and experience some of their most popular summer ski resorts. After a day or two shredding the slopes, experience the popular Norwegian Opera and Ballet in Oslo or choose between numerous outdoor and indoor exhibitions. Best of all, you won’t even break a sweat, as the average temperature in Norway’s hottest month barely hits 70 F. Bordering Sweden and northern Finland, Norway can even be the beginning to a cool European tour this summer.
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