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Make changes in meal planning and diet when medications can't be changed. 4. Family Stress: The challenges of a child with special needs can affect th...

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September 2015 | mtparent.com

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september 2015 special needs + much more Special Needs Passionate Parenting: 10 Living a Life of Therapy, Love and Support Meeting Your Child’s Needs at School It Takes a Special Someone Staying Fit: Challenges and Solutions for Kids With Special Needs Dietary Changes Autism and Allergies: Uncovering the Connection The Family Business: Cottonwood Day School Joining Forces to Support Parents Making the Right Connections in Your Child’s Brain How Chiropractic Care Can Help On the Couch With Dr. Kelsch: ABC’s for Special Services in School Our Kid Is Special: Advocating for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in School Embracing Strengths Sola Reaches Out and Gives Back Teach Sleep 101: Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sleep

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Health and Exercise Fall Into Yellowstone Corner on Health: Traumatic Brain Injury What It Takes: The Challenge of Helping Emotionally Disturbed Children Heal ACE Summit: Changing the Conversation About Trauma

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Columns MOMoirs Is It Possible to Work From Home? New Design, New Services at smartaboutcollege.org Enhancing Social Skills Through Music Parenting Single Simple Science Experiments: Convection (aka “Hot Stuff Rises”) Movie Lover’s Movie Review New Contest: Photo Candy

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PHOTO ASHLEY DAWN PHOTOGRAPHY



COVER PHOTO ASHLEY DAWN PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO E. KELLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

editor’s

voice

WRITTEN BY LEIGH RIPLEY

My grandmother used to tell me that kids with special needs are God’s children. She’s right, and we are all blessed to know them. It was a swimming party held at Eagle Mount and the entire second-grade class was invited, including the teacher. Parents moved mountains, and pretty much the entire second grade class, including the teacher, was there.

One of my 9-year-old daughter’s best friends has special needs. His name is Tyler and he is the most amazing, beautiful, happy and loving kid. Tyler has autism, apraxia of speech and other issues.

I wish I could tell you about the look on Tyler’s face when he walked into the party, but I can’t. I was locked in my car crying. Crying for how caring all of these kids were. Crying because Tyler may need more than the average child, but that doesn’t get in the way of him being a child.

His mother graciously agreed to share Tyler’s story with us this month (see page 10), so I won’t go into it too much here. What I want to talk about is his ninth birthday party. Tyler may have special needs, but just like any other kid, he wants to have friends and play. Sadie (my 9-year-old) has been Tyler’s friend since the first day of school. She genuinely cares about him, watches out for his well-being (even accused his aide of not being nice enough once), plays with him and is always positioned next to him during school concerts because she can gently bring his over-excitement back to “appropriate concert behavior.” She told me once that Tyler didn’t like to run, so when all of the other kids were running around, she held his hand and they walked together. He enjoys running now and Sadie says that playing chase with Tyler is one of her favorite things about him. They’re friends. So when we were invited to Tyler’s surprise birthday party, we made sure to attend.

I collected myself (it took a while) and returned to pick Sadie up from the party. The kids were all still in the party room, huddled around a table with Tyler at the head, opening presents. That look I can tell you about. He looked like a proud and happy 9-year-old boy who just had the time of his life with a lot of friends. As the lump in my throat grew and the water works began welling up in my eyes, I told Sadie we had to go (so that I wouldn’t embarrass either of us). Tyler ran up to her with a giant smile and wide-open arms and asked, “Can I give you a hug, Sadie?” Yup, I cried while they hugged it out for a bit. My grandmother used to tell me that kids with special needs are God’s children. She’s right, and we are all blessed to know them. mp

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8 september 2015 | mtparent.com

Special needs

PHOTO ASHLEY DAWN PHOTOGRAPHY | LEFT TO RIGHT MICHALE, HANNAH & MCKENNAH

Meet Michale, Hannah & McKennah!

Audrey Higley and her husband, Chad, have two daughters, Hannah and McKennah. They are a loving family that enjoys doing many things together. At a young age, their oldest daughter McKennah, was diagnosed with mild intellectual developmental disorder (IDD) and sensory integration disorder. Because of her diagnoses, she often needs special one-on-one attention. McKennah and her family are involved in programs at Eagle Mount and Family Outreach that have helped them greatly over the years. Audrey saw all the attention that McKennah was getting and didn’t want Hannah to feel left out, so in May of 2013 (based on a referral from Family Outreach), Audrey enrolled Hannah into the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Bozeman. In August of 2013, Hannah was matched with her Big Sister, Michale. They have formed an unbreakable, sisterly bond; Michale is now a part of the Higley family. She gives Hannah special one-on-one time and has been a true big sister figure (by braiding her hair, picking out clothes, going shopping, etc.), a role that McKennah isn’t able to fulfill. Hannah and Michale enjoy going to the movies, bike riding, sledding in the winter, swimming, going to the library and out for ice cream. Audrey feels that she can now give McKennah the attention she needs without worrying like Hannah is being left out. :: september ACTIVITY & EVENT CALENDARS + BLOG + MORE @ MTPARENT.COM ::

Big Brothers Big Sisters

is a community-based program that helps children and families from all different backgrounds. Michale has helped Hannah in many ways and has forever changed her life. Think your child could benefit from having a Big in their life? Call us at 587-1216 today and start something BIG! mp

september 2015 | mtparent.com

9

Passionate Parenting Living a Life of

Therapy, Love and Support ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY LACY BROWNE

 

We’ve been fighting for our sons from the day we became parents, but no one knew that we would be fighting a daily fight that will never be won.  My husband, Clint, and I were young and excited to start our family; we even did genetic testing to ensure that we would have a healthy baby. Little did we know that, just a few years later, we would get news that would change our lives forever.    We were so elated when our first son, Tyler, was born. He scored great on the Apgar scale and started hitting milestones right on schedule.    But when Tyler was around 18-months-old, we really started worrying that something was “off.” By the time he was 2-years-old, we were on a quest to find out what we could do to help our beautiful son. We were told that he wasn’t autistic because he was too affectionate and had good eye contact. We had his hearing tested, did a brain stem response test and saw doctors all over the northwest. While we were on this journey, one specialist at a children’s hospital told us there was a 50-50 chance that Tyler would ever talk – that was a particularly low moment. It was heartbreaking to hear such negativity and we simply told the doctor, “Our son has things he wants to say and we will help him find a way to express them.”     When Tyler was almost 3, he was finally diagnosed: autism, apraxia of speech, paradoxical collapsation of the larynx, among other issues. I

10 september 2015 | mtparent.com

was seven months pregnant with our second son, Riley, (who is also on the spectrum) when we got the news.   We went through many specialists at Seattle Children’s Hospital, getting great direction and advice on what to do next. Staying realistic but optimistic, we pushed forward. The diagnosis was heartbreaking, but by this time it was so good to finally have answers and a plan of action.   Life was a struggle, but we kept pushing through with behavioral, occupational and speech therapy. We lived therapy – and still do. Since we knew our second child was going to be a boy and we already had one child on the spectrum, our odds of having another were that much greater. We knew what we needed to do: Start therapy from birth to give Riley the strongest chance to succeed, regardless of needs. This also kept life consistent for Tyler, so he wouldn’t feel so different.   Since starting therapy, not a day has gone by that we don’t use those tactics. It’s just always changing; you have to evolve and be ready to embrace change so that you can help your kids be the most successful and happiest they can be. Driving Tyler to the ER in the middle of the night because he couldn’t breathe has shown us that if we stay calm and positive, he can too.    Are there times when we get depressed and feel bad for the boys, and ourselves? Yes. But more

often than not, we just think about how we can make their lives as enjoyable as possible. Now that they are older (Tyler is 9 and Riley is 6), we are faced with issues like sports they can’t play and birthday parties they’re not invited to. It’s one of the hardest things to deal with as a parent and it just keeps getting harder. Day-to-day activities like brushing teeth, getting dressed and a “simple” trip to the grocery store can all feel impossible, but we continue to try to make them a learning experience…hoping that someday they can do these things on their own. On a positive note, we cherish the smallest of moments that others may take for granted. For example, when Tyler was 4, he said “mommy” for the first time and I burst into tears of joy; knowing that our perseverance and belief in our son overcame what some doctors said would never happen. His ability to communicate and interact with others has blossomed and every day he impresses us with his determination and patience. He said “I love you,” for the first time (unprompted) when he was 8. There are still many days when I just melt when he says those words. They mean so much – knowing that he feels what unconditional love is really all about and has the ability to express that with words along with showing us…it’s just amazing.   It took more than a year to get Tyler’s diagnosis (Riley was diagnosed at 18-months)

Photo by Whitney Kamman

and every day is a struggle, old or new. But they choose to trust us to be the best parents we can be and we can’t let them down. There are days we feel as though we’ve failed...with a special needs kiddo or not, I’m sure we all feel that. It’s how we recover from those times that help our kids see the type of people we are. We may be two for two with autism, but it’s amazing how much each of them has grown. Our sons have their own set of skills, their own priorities and their own passions. It’s how we embrace those that make us the best parents we can be for them.   Tyler is a genuinely affectionate, loving, happy, forgiving, playful boy with a passion for music, specific toys and pretending. He loves his iPad, swimming, family, Disneyland and a couple of really close friends. Tyler is positive, determined, resilient and hardworking and will light up the room with his smile. Riley possesses many of these great attributes as well, but is also very energetic, detail oriented, an inventor and demands to know how and why things work the way they do. No one child is the same; special needs or not.    Bad days feel impossible, but the good days are what you live for. Just remember that, as a parent, you may need to speak for your children when they can’t; you’re their best advocate and they need your love and support to have the best quality of life. We are lucky to have a wonderful support system within the community, such as school staff, therapists, doctors, friends and family, and we are so thankful.

D.R.E.A.M. Buddy Walk in Bozeman

Location: Gallatin County Regional Park • The Dinosaur Playground

Saturday October 3rd, 2015 Registration at 10 AM • Walk at 11 AM

Join us to Celebrate and Promote the Inclusion of People with Down syndrome in our Community! www.dream-mt.org for more information or to register online.

Our wish is for less judgment and more compassion in our day-to-day lives. Of course we really wish that autism didn’t ever exist, as we wish many terrible things didn’t exist...but maybe love and compassion are the next best thing.  mp Lacy Browne and her husband Clint live in Bozeman with their two boys, Tyler and Riley.

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Meeting Your

Child’s Needs at School

WRITTEN BY CHARLOTTE DIXON

School has started and, for some parents, so has the worrying. Parents of children who have unusual needs might be particularly worried about how to get these needs met in school. To be clear, every child has unique needs. Good schools and good teachers will know that about your child and will generally meet most needs of most children. That’s the plan, anyway: recognize each child as the individual he or she is and help them to feel like they belong and are safe at school so they can take risks, learn and be themselves. However, our system doesn’t always meet the needs of every student, whether they are physical (allergies, illness, disabilities), emotional (stress outside of school, anxiety, friendships) or academic (children who fall above or below the average learning rate or style). So where should a parent turn?

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Start first with your child’s teacher. It is helpful to know how to best communicate with the teacher—do they prefer e-mail, phone, an in-person meeting? (It is a universal frustration for teachers when parents come into their classrooms to chat when school is starting, or when kids are being dismissed. Trust me on this one; they do not have the ability to give their full attention at that time.) Certainly your student’s teacher will want to problem solve and should know how and where to steer you if they don’t. If, for whatever reason, this avenue doesn’t do the trick, the next step should be to contact your school counselor.

The School Counselor

Counselors are there to meet the needs of students by facilitating between teachers, parents and students. They are often in a unique position to see how the school works as a whole and can have some insight into what steps need to be taken to meet the needs of each student. Counselors are also able and obligated to keep family information confidential, so if you would like to investigate how to help your child, but are not sure you want the concern to be known to the school, the counselor is a good resource. Most schools have systems in place to meet even the most specific needs. To name just a few of the hundreds of options: a child with a medical condition might need a health plan, struggling readers might get help from the reading intervention specialist and kids with behavioral challenges might benefit from various incentive programs. Every school is different, and each system is a bit different, but the school counselor and teacher should be able to steer you in the right direction. Also, don’t forget to take a look at your school’s website; there is almost certainly more going on in that building than most parents realize, and you will want to take advantage of all the systems and programs you can.

The School Administrator

Often parents are hesitant to go to the school administrator for help (perhaps some of us remember being sent to them for “help” when we were kids and still feel uncomfortable, or is that just me?). But this is a shame, because administrators are in the helping field for a reason – they want to help. Furthermore, they have the distinct advantage of having lots of power, so it’s wise to seek their assistance if you think it’s warranted.

PHOTO JENNIEVEN COLE PHOTOGRAPHY

OPTIONS

Family Therapists

Family therapists are sometimes very helpful, especially if the concern happens outside of school as well (referrals can come from doctors, school counselors, friends or spiritual leaders). I am often asked about the difference between a school counselor and a therapist, and I think the distinction is an important one. Generally, a school counselor’s role is to help the student succeed in school. For the most part, this means problem-solving ways to get the student back to class and succeed there as much as possible. Therapists (which may include social workers, LCPC’s and psychologists) will likely work on broader goals of functioning (depression, anxiety, healing from trauma, life transitions or behavioral challenges) and are able to work in conjunction with the family. Often therapists and school counselors work together – perhaps the therapist gives input on how the student might need support at school, or is available to let the school know that the family is aware of, and working on, their struggles. In exchange, it is often helpful for the therapist to have input from the school counselor about what behavior is seen at school, especially in regards to peers and social interactions. School counselors are sometimes asked to “do therapy” with students, but generally this is not advised. Therapy can open up a can of worms, so to speak, and if a child is exposed to vulnerable feelings or new emotions and then sent back to class, it holds the potential for that child to learn that neither school nor therapy is safe. It is best to have children, especially younger ones, doing the heavy emotional work with caregivers who can make space and support them through the entire episode and keep school a safe haven for learning and growing. Sometimes schools are the place where a child doesn’t have to “deal with” the issues happening in the world outside it. mp Charlotte Dixon, LCPC has been specializing in child and family therapy and in school counseling in Bozeman since 1997.

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13

It Takes a

Special Someone WRITTEN BY VALERIE ERWIN AND MEGAN CUMMINGS | PHOTOS BY ASHLEY DAWN PHOTOGRAPHY

Every child should have an adult other than his or her parents to rely on, talk to and spend oneon-one time with. In fact, according to Cradle to Career benchmarks to success, a child should have a connection with a caring adult beyond his or her parents by seventh grade. Benchmarks may look different for each child, but research has shown that children who have an attachment to a non-parental adult build additional confidence and self-esteem, which sets them up for success. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ (BBBS) mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally-supported one-onone relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. Adversity can mean something quite different to each person. Adversity can take the form of bullying for one child and the loss of a parent for another. One child may have a sibling with special needs, and another might have special needs himself. Adversity is a broad term, but children with special needs and their siblings inherently face unique challenges. BBBS is here to support children, regardless of the adversity they face. Staff work closely with families and adult volunteers (“Bigs”) to understand every child’s needs, while keeping the interests, capabilities and comfort level of the Bigs in mind. Our top priorities are safety, the happiness of everyone involved and the successful outcome of each match. 14 september 2015 | mtparent.com

When discussing whether our program is the right fit for a child (“Little”), we are clear about what parents, Littles and Bigs can expect. Finding the right Big Sister or Brother for any child can take time; for a child with special needs, it sometimes takes a little longer. While our staff is dedicated to finding a match for every Big and every Little, we always consider safety and the potential success of a match. Our staff is also very clear with parents if a child’s needs extend beyond what we can ask a Big to commit to. In those cases, we work with parents to find a community program that better serves their child. In the end, our goal is to see all children find success in life, whether we have a direct role in that or not. We work tirelessly to find the right Big for each Little. With care and diligence in every match we make, we meet specific standards for success. We hold ourselves accountable for successful outcomes of the Littles in our program. To do this, we use something called the Youth Outcome Survey (YOS), which helps us measure outcomes in three key areas:

»» Higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships

»» Educational success »» Avoidance of risky behaviors

Our 2014 YOS results showed the following, compared to baseline statistics taken when youth entered our program:

»» A 46 percent increase in positive friendships and relationships with peers

»» A 46 percent increase in aspirations to further education (i.e., increased likelihood they will graduate high school)

Thank you for your supp or t of our ne w barn!

»» A 30 percent increase in aversion to risky

behaviors such as hitting, breaking school rules and being absent from school

Children want to feel special, have one-on-one time with others and have their voices heard. Families play an irreplaceable role in fulfilling these needs. The addition of another person just for them—their “special person” —provides friendship and support to increase confidence. Through BBBS, kids with Bigs have someone who focuses solely on them; they have someone to whom they can express feelings, ideas and dreams. Children with special needs (depending on the severity of those needs) and their siblings can be terrific candidates for our program. A child with special needs often receives necessary and specific attention from doctors or therapists. Siblings of children with special needs, in particular, may combat internal feelings of jealousy, guilt or confusion regarding their sibling’s condition. Volunteer Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Big Couples and even Big Families are a natural fit for kids who could use some extra “me” time: going for a walk, making crafts, riding bikes, making pizza or writing a story together.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Gallatin County »» 406-587-1216 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Helena »» 406-442-7479 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Butte »» 406-782-9644 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Park County »» 406-222-1930 mp Valerie Erwin is the Marketing and Outreach Coordinator for BBBSGC and Megan Cummings is the VP of Programs for BBBSGC.

1572 Cobb Hill Road | Bozeman, MT 59718 www.middlecreekmontessori.org | 587-3817

STEAMlab A brand-new high tech learning environment where kids of all ages explore:

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BBBS has agencies in multiple locations throughout the state of Montana. Each agency serves a specific area and has its own practices regarding child enrollment. This piece was written by, and statistics are from, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Gallatin County. Our viewpoint does not necessarily reflect that of the other agencies in Montana. Contact your local BBBS agency to find out more.

Come meet our new goats, Allie, Aster, Emmie and our friendly chickens!

Children’s Museum of Bozeman 202 South Willson Avenue | 406.522.9087 | www.cmbozeman.org

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september 2015 | mtparent.com

15

Staying Fit: Challenges and Solutions for Kids

3. The Medication Wall: Many of the

medications that help regulate mood, prevent seizures or treat sleep problems for kids with special needs have a side effect of weight gain.

with Special Needs

»» Talk to your primary care or specialty doctor.

WRITTEN BY PAULA COLEMAN

Sometimes there are alternative therapies with fewer side effects.

»» Sometimes the positive effects of weight loss and exercise decrease the need for medications.

Families of children with special needs face many hurdles; helping a child stay fit and eat healthy is one of them. The Centers for Disease Control recently reported that kids with special needs are 38 percent more likely to be obese. Obesity in children increases risk for diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, hypertension and orthopedic problems. Obesity in kids with special needs makes movement harder, can add stigma to children already stigmatized and can make it harder for caregivers to provide care. Let’s look at some of the common challenges for kids with special needs and how to handle them:

1. Food Battles: Kids with special

needs may have trouble self-regulating hunger, and some also have significant texture or taste sensitivity. When faced with trying to pick their battles, many families end up giving in a little in the kitchen.

2. Individual Physical Limitations: Whether they have Down Syndrome, ASD, Spina Bifida or something else, each child may have real or perceived limitations about their physical abilities based on their special need.

»» Try a distraction. Have a fun activity

»» Try many different sports

»» Have mostly healthy options in the

»» Just play hard as a family.

planned after a meal to distract from seconds or thirds. pantry. Don’t keep sodas or “snack foods” in the house.

»» Serving control. Only have one serving of the main course prepared for everyone, with extra veggies or fruits for seconds.

»» Talk to a nutritionist. A referred

consult from your primary care provider will be covered by insurance.

»» Talk to a pediatric occupational

therapist. They can make a huge difference in helping kids with texture issues or other sensitivity issues. (Also covered by most insurance).

»» A family affair. Make sure the whole family is eating healthy foods and portions, so no one feels picked on.

»» Participation. Include your child in

buying and preparing your meals (and even in growing food, if you have that option).

16 september 2015 | mtparent.com

and activities to find the ones that fit your child.

»» Consider Special Olympics.

»» Find role models. »» Team up with your

primary care provider or physical therapist to determine any real risks and to assist in any needed adaptive devices/ equipment.

»» Advocate for a child who wants to be involved in team or school sports.

»» Educate coaches,

teachers and other caregivers about your child’s true risks and potential so they are not fearful of letting them participate.

»» Make changes in meal planning and diet when medications can’t be changed.

4. Family Stress: The challenges of a child

with special needs can affect the whole family (in many good ways) but can often increase the level of stress. Some of us deal with stress in negative ways, such as using food as a reward, watching TV/ screens to relax or putting kids in front of the TV when they are too much to handle.

»» Learn new ways to cope with stress: yoga,

meditation, journaling, prayer, exercise, stretching and pedicures are some good ones.

»» Consider family counseling to work on strategies for discipline/family management.

»» Avoid screen time; it is one of the biggest risks for obesity.

5. Genetics: Your child’s individual diagnosis may have a specifically high risk for obesity.

»» Talk to your health care provider about these risks and recommended screening tests.

Maintaining a healthy weight for life can be challenging for all of us, but especially for many kids with special needs. Staying at a healthy weight increases longevity and quality of life. So, try some of these recommendations with your family. For more help, talk to a nutritionist, a pediatric physical or occupational therapist or your child’s primary care provider. For even more help, check out these resources:

»» U-fit: www.health.utah.edu/outreach/UFIT »» Special Olympics: www.specialolympics.org/ healthy-athletes

»» Best Buddies: www.bestbuddies.org »» Let’s Move: www.letsmove.gov

mp

Paula Coleman, C-PNP, MSN is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Livingston HealthCare. She takes a family-oriented approach, informing and working with parents so they can make the right decision for their child. Paula also has three vibrant and active daughters.

The Benefits of

Dietary Changes WRITTEN BY BRONWYN BACON

  Let’s face it, what we eat can greatly affect how we feel, how we act and so much more. Our children are no exception to this rule, especially when they have special needs. Though it can be daunting to change a child’s diet, the rewards can be quite significant. For this reason I have put together my top five approaches to dietary changes and children.  

1. Feed your child a whole foods diet: A whole foods diet is made

up of foods that have not been processed or refined. This means a diet made up of fruit, vegetables, meats and whole grains; a more natural diet that is free from additives, colorings, artificial favors, bleached flour, refined sugars and packaged foods.

2. Avoid artificial coloring: Artificial colors are chemicals added to

color foods and many have been linked to hyperactivity, headaches, ADHD, sleep disturbances, bed-wetting and anxiety. Specific examples to be avoided included red No. 40, blue No. 1 and yellow No. 5.

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3. Avoid foods your child Can’t Tolerate:

Children with health concerns often have foods they do not tolerate or are allergic to. Some common problem foods include dairy, gluten, eggs, corn, soy, nuts, nightshades and sugar. Identifying these foods and removing them from the diet can be extremely instrumental in decreasing a child’s symptoms. It can be difficult to determine these on your own and a physician can be very helpful in navigating this.

4. Keep a food journal: It can be overwhelming to know what foods

or additives are causing a problem for your child. A food journal helps you to keep track of the foods your child is eating and different behaviors your child exhibits. Then try removing suspicious foods and see if their behavior changes. A food journal can help you track and pinpoint specific foods that are influencing your child’s behavior.

5. Consider a specialized diet: There are many diets that have been

developed to address specific health concerns. These can be very helpful for children with special needs. Some examples of these diets include the GAPs diet, Specific Carbohydrate Diet and the FOBMAP diet. Consult with your physician to determine which diet might work for your child.

  Though all behavioral issues and conditions are not caused by food, making some of the above changes can be very helpful. Feeling overwhelmed? Call us at Spring Integrative Health; we can help you and your child make some of the changes that can make a healthier life for you both. mp Dr. Bronwyn Bacon is an associate physician at Spring Integrative Health. She practices general and family medicine, with a special interest in pediatrics, teens and young adults. Dr. Bacon loves to hike, ski, garden and cook with family and friends.

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17

underdiagnosed and possibly undertreated in part due to difficulty in communication skills and sensory overstimulation. The usual symptoms of allergies (runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing) are uncomfortable but also frequently associated with fatigue, stress and sleep deprivation, all common concerns with ASD. These, in turn, may exacerbate behavioral issues. It is well known that there is a higher risk of allergies in a child when parents themselves have allergies.

Autism and Allergies: Uncovering the Connection WRITTEN BY MICHAEL ZACHARISEN, MD AND ERIN MCLAUGHLIN-SUTTERER

I’m frequently asked if allergies cause or contribute to autism symptoms. To assist me in this article, I recruited a co-author, Erin McLaughlin-Sutterer, a mental health therapist in Anchorage, Alaska who specializes in working with autistic children and their families.

What is Autism?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a range of complex neurodevelopmental disorders typically diagnosed in early childhood that includes autism, Asperger’s syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder. ASD is associated with varying degrees of difficulty in communication and social skills, repetitive behaviors, attention, differences in motor skills and learning disabilities. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the number of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder has increased over the last decade to one in 68 children. At this time, while there are many research studies and theories on autism, there is no definite understanding of the cause or a cure.

Stomach symptoms and food allergies: Many children with autism have been observed to have stomach symptoms when their behavior deteriorates. Parents of autistic children who have stomach symptoms often report improvement in some behaviors along with

resolution of stomach symptoms following a diet change such as going dairy free or gluten free. In a U.S. National Health Survey, respiratory, food and skin allergies were reported by parents more often for children with autism – with food allergies 4.5 times more likely in autistic kids. It’s proposed that the stomach discomfort leads to stress with a disruption of the gut-blood-brain barrier, resulting in the behavior changes. Food allergies affect one in every 13 children and food intolerances occur even more often. While a food allergy is easy to assess using a skin test or blood test for IgE (the allergic antibody), both false positive and false negative tests can occur. The use of IgE blood tests for food allergies is controversial and unproven. In addition, the testing can be stressful to the patient. Nonallergic food intolerance reactions are challenging to diagnose regardless of autism status. Scientific studies on children with autism generally include small numbers of participants and are not controlled for variables. This makes it difficult to make strong conclusions. But elimination diets under the supervision of your doctor may uncover food triggers.

Environmental allergies:

Allergies are common, affecting up to 30 percent (and rising) of children. Autistic kids are not exempt from allergies but may be

Can a mother’s allergies affect her children?

A study in California evaluated 407 children with autism compared to more than 2,000 other children (in the control group) and found that mothers with psoriasis, asthma and allergies during pregnancy were twice as likely to have children with ASD. This observation leads to additional questions on the cause of autism. In medical school, I was taught that “common diseases occur commonly” and regardless of autism status, food and environmental allergies and food intolerance should be considered if symptoms are fitting. It is also important not to attribute symptoms to “allergy” when other features point to a different trigger, in an effort to avoid unnecessary allergy testing and evaluations. Treatment of children with autism is best accomplished through a comprehensive, integrative program with therapists (mental health, physical and occupational, speech-language), pediatricians and specialists in childhood development and neurology. In time, the frustration and powerlessness experienced by families with autism will be replaced with confidence and trust as we care for this most special group. mp Michael Zacharisen, MD is a board-certified allergist/immunologist and pediatrician. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of allergy, asthma, chronic cough and recurrent infections. His practice, Family Allergy & Asthma Care of Montana, is located at 4265 Fallon Street, Suite 3A in Bozeman, and is open to patients of all ages.

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heLp your ChiLd

SuCCeed in SChooL.

The Family Business

Cottonwood Day

School

SChooL yeAr SeSSion beginS AuguSt 31.

WRITTEN BY AMY WOOD AND MEREDITH SCULLY

Cottonwood Day School is a new academic institution located in the heart of Gallatin County. The school was founded by Meredith Scully, a Bozeman mom of three, with a background in special education and social work. As the parent of a child with a learning disability, she felt that other parents like her deserve more educational options for their children. Familiar with such schools, Scully decided to create an educational program in the community that teaches to the specific needs of students with language disabilities. 

“When you watch your child struggle,” Scully explains, “you want to do whatever you can to make it better. I knew that I couldn’t be the only parent in the community having this experience, and I wanted to do something about it.” According to a local student advocate, this school is the first of its kind in the state of Montana. Children with language-based learning challenges are often extraordinarily bright. It can be difficult for them to demonstrate their intelligence or engage in instruction because of the barriers these learning challenges present in a traditional classroom. In order to promote engagement and spark learning, these students must be presented with content in varying ways. Albert Einstein, a self-declared dyslexic, famously said, “Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” The program at Cottonwood Day School is special and unique because it recognizes the importance of engagement and alternative multi-sensory instructional practices. “Having taught for many years in a co-teaching inclusive classroom, I know what works and what doesn’t,” Scully said. “I believe that the best environment for all students is one that is nurturing, engaging and stimulating. A child needs to feel safe and be able to trust you. A comprehensive team approach where all service providers – teachers, speech/language therapists and occupational

therapists – work collaboratively to create a plan that addresses the unique needs of each student throughout the school day is critical to student success.” The foundation of the curriculum at Cottonwood Day School is a specialized early language and literacy intervention program based on the Orton-Gillingham approach. Orton-Gillingham is an intensive program, which is designed to be integrated into the curriculum and is the foundation of the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education. The Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE) was established to enhance the Orton-Gillingham approach to learning and provide educators of all capacities to “effectively intervene at the at-risk level and develop this population of students into successful readers, writers and spellers.” Students who learn with this specialized approach can learn the skills to be successful in their academic career. Scully developed the program’s curriculum through careful research of the latest neuroeducational approaches. Not only does Cottonwood Day School provide a specialized curriculum, it also provides assessment of current performance and areas of deficit, individualized academic plans to meet the unique needs of each student, multi-sensory framework within each content area, a small teacher/student ratio and the incorporation of new technology within the classroom. This program is appropriate for a variety of learning disabilities, including dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia. The program at Cottonwood Day School will focus on students who are in the first through third grades, and will act as an intensive intervention in a newly renovated intimate academic setting. It will also be providing an after-school program beginning in September. mp For questions or information on this program please contact Amy Wood, Assistant Head of School wood@cottonwooddayachool. org, 406-586-3409 or visit www.cottonwooddayschool.org.

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19

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EAGLE MOUNT

Joining Forces

to Support Parents New collaboration brings together SEPTA, MSU and Eagle Mount Bozeman

Last fall, the Bozeman area Special Education PTA (SEPTA) received multiple requests from parents who felt that they – and others – could benefit from a support group. At the same time, Eagle Mount was exploring how to provide stronger support for parents and families of participants. And when Eagle Mount’s executive director, Mary Peterson, reached out to MSU’s Human Development Clinic (HDC) for advice, she found that HDC had a wealth of resources that could help both Eagle Mount and SEPTA. The three groups came together and developed a plan. SEPTA would convene a monthly support group that would meet at Eagle Mount. Parents would set the topics for these sessions, and SEPTA would provide child care. HDC faculty and interns would help plan and deliver group activities, and make sure that parents knew about all the help they could get through the clinic. Eagle Mount, for its part, would raise funds to provide dinners for parents and children at the meetings, and would learn from parents about how therapeutic recreation can promote healthy family functioning. Since this spring, the group has met monthly, with attendance ranging from 20 to more than 30. Topics have included stress reduction, coping skills, siblings, social security, laughter yoga and more. Meetings are open, and all are welcome. 20 september 2015 | mtparent.com

The only limiting factor is the maximum number of children who can be accommodated on-site. About the Bozeman Special Education PTA: SEPTA was formed seven years ago out of the desire for many parents of children with special needs in our area to network, educate themselves and develop good working partnerships with the schools. SEPTA has been quite successful in meeting those goals and, over the years, we have developed a close relationship with the Bozeman School District and also served parents in the surrounding districts, private schools and homeschoolers. Children with special needs usually have many people and agencies involved in their lives, from therapists to school staff. Navigating the complicated paths to appropriate services for your child can be daunting. The need for emotional support and understanding is also critical because parenting a child with special needs can be a roller coaster. There is often a grieving process for parents of a newly-diagnosed child and, even long after the initial realization that your child is different in some way, there are many ups and downs. Each huge milestone that your child misses can be disappointing, but when your child achieves something that they have worked extremely hard for, there are amazing highs. We have heard for years that no one

except another parent of a child with special needs can really get things at the same level and provide the same understanding. These fundamental needs led us to this partnership to create a support group where parents can come to find exactly that. The road of a special needs parent isn’t always an easy one, but it is one that is made so much better by the company and support of peers who often become like extended family. About MSU’s Human Development Clinic: HDC is a part of Montana State University’s Department of Health and Human Development. The mission of the HDC is to provide quality, lowcost mental health services to children and adults of the Gallatin Valley and the surrounding communities. The HDC also serves as a training facility through which graduate student interns in the mental health and marriage and family graduate counseling programs obtain clinical counseling experience. HDC interns are supervised by licensed mental health professionals who also serve as faculty in the graduate counseling program at MSU. Because community outreach and advocacy are cornerstones of the HDC’s mission, we are thrilled to collaborate with Eagle Mount and SEPTA to provide psychoeducation and emotional support to parents of special needs children. The HDC interns assisted in assessing identified parent group needs, and have tailored structured psychoeducation group sessions

to both provide relevant information and create an open space for sharing, connection and support. The HDC is also a resource to provide additional counseling services to parents, guardians, families and siblings of special needs children.

hours off and a gift certificate for dinner “on the house.” Family Fun Days with ziplining, rafting and skiing are planned throughout the Designed for and by parents of year. A new Parents’ Handbook and children with special needs. more opportunities for siblings to Meets the third Wednesday of take part in Eagle Mount programs each month from 5:30-8 p.m. are also in the works. Next year, Peterson hopes to offer more Eagle Mount support for Dads and siblings. 6901 Goldenstein Ln. About Eagle Mount “Our big dream would be to launch Bozeman: Child care and structured a series of family camps,” says For Eagle Mount Bozeman, the activities provided. Dinner Peterson. “We know from our provided for parents and kids. Parent Support Group provides own Big Sky Kids oncology camps Space is limited, so please a wonderful opportunity to sign up in advance! how incredibly effective a camp listen to parents, to understand experience can be in fostering Contact Alyson Ball for more info: their struggles and to consider healthy family functioning. It might [email protected] how Eagle Mount’s mission take a couple of years to get there, of therapeutic recreation can but we are so excited and grateful to make a unique contribution to have the opportunity to work together.” the life of a family. “I love listening and learning

SEPTA Parent Support Group

from these courageous parents,” says executive director Mary Peterson. “These conversations have helped us to see ways we can help that we would not have thought of before, and thanks to an anonymous donor, we have been able to begin to address the needs we see.”

»» SEPTA: Alyson Ball, SEPTA President, Parent,

For instance, Eagle Mount has begun offering a Family Night Out, where parents are invited to drop off all the kids at Eagle Mount for a fun evening of games and activities. Parents get four

»» Eagle Mount: Mary Peterson, Eagle Mount

For more information contact: [email protected]

»» HDC: Katey T. Franklin, PhD, LCPC, NCC,

HDC Director, kathryn.franklin1@montana. edu Executive Director, [email protected] mp

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21

Making the Right Connections

in Your Child’s Brain WRITTEN BY MICHAEL KOSTER, MS

from the creators of the nova café

A lot of the learning challenges that children deal with – including attention deficit disorders, dyslexia, apraxia, autism spectrum and even global developmental delays – have a component of incomplete or incorrect neural connections and pathways in the brain. There are probably many reasons why these incomplete connections occur and many of the symptoms can be devastating for the child and for the parent. The most frustrating part is that many of the children who suffer from these challenges work extremely hard, probably much harder than their peers, until they finally give up or develop some type of coping strategy. There is hope for these children from the frontiers of Neuroplasticity. With a little help from the right type of stimulus, the brain can re-wire itself. Dr. Norman Doidge has written two books documenting these discoveries, “The Brain That Changes Itself” and “The Brain’s Way of Healing.” Although nutrition and nutritional supplements are an important part of helping the brain develop and heal, for the most part, prescription drugs are not a part of most of these treatments. So what is the correct stimulus to help the brain re-wire itself? In chapter 8 of “The Brain’s Way of Healing,” Doidge talks about the Tomatis Method and how sound and music that has been modified in a specific way can help form new neural pathways in the brain from the subcortical level up. This method can have a dramatic effect on attention, academic performance, memory, sensory processing, speech, motor coordination and emotional regulation. The Tomatis method was originally developed by Dr. Alfred Tomatis in the 1950’s in France. The method is widely used throughout Europe, and is finally being “discovered” by neuroscientists in the United States.

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Music activates many areas of the brain simultaneously, including areas for language, timing, spatial reasoning and emotion. Because the music that is being used with the Tomatis Method has been modified in a specific way that is somewhat unpredictable, the brain does not habituate to it, therefore the higher frontal cortex is constantly engaged in processing. From neuroscience, the adage “neurons that fire together wire together” comes into play and new neural pathways are formed. Almost miraculously, the child starts having more self-control and self-regulation, and the world around him begins to make sense. The music has also been filtered in such a way that the method starts fine-tuning the auditory processing pathways. Many children with learning challenges hear too much and cannot discriminate properly what is the important information they are trying to process. The Tomatis Method helps the child listen correctly, which allows learning to be more effective and easier. mp Michael Koster is an Applied Psychologist and together with his wife Mayela, who is a Montessori Teacher, they have formed Renaissance Integrated Brain Solutions to bring the Tomatis Method and other cutting edge techniques including Cellfield and Interactive Metronome to Bozeman. For more information go to integratedbrainsolutions.com.

22 september 2015 | mtparent.com

How Chiropractic Care

Can Help WRITTEN BY DR. ALI SCHWEITZER

We’ve all heard the terms: “on the spectrum,” “hyperactive,” “developmental delays” and so on. Children who have these labels attached to them sometimes have to work extra hard to overcome, not only these terms, but also daily tasks that might come easily to others. Nutrition and diets are typically altered, medications may be prescribed along with both physical and mental exercises, but often chiropractic care is overlooked. Chiropractic adjustments have a profound effect on the nervous system, which can help children with various special needs. A better term than the ones above is Sensory Processing Disorder. This broad term encompasses all developmental delays, including kids with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and ADHD. Sensory processing disorders also represent those who are fidgety, anxious, have trouble reading, are dyslexic or even have paralysis in extremities. The truth is that we learn through our senses. What we see, what we hear, what we touch and what we experience through perception of movement from our joints and muscles are our foundation for learning. The brains and bodies of children with sensory processing disorders are not working together to process sensory stimulation correctly and they have a harder time with daily living activities. This can then lead to overstimulation of the flight or fight response and result in a child who can’t sit still, doesn’t seem to listen, has a hard time reading and may not seem very coordinated. So how can chiropractic help? Adjusting the spine can help re-connect the brain and the body so they are on the same page when it comes to processing sensory stimulation. This re-connection helps decrease the flight or fight response, calms the child and makes it easier to complete activities that may have been harder to complete before. Incorporating chiropractic care into your child’s life, along with a proper diet and some neurosensory exercises, can help re-connect the brain, body and other neural pathways. This can help increase their ability to concentrate, turn a 10-step process into a five-step process, increase coordination and much more. It’s the small changes that make a big difference in the life of any child with special needs. So if you have a child or know someone who has a child with special needs, suggest chiropractic and let them experience a mind and body re-connect. mp Dr. Ali Schweitzer of Active Family Chiropractic & Rehab has special training in working with children with sensory processing disorders and special needs. She has seen first hand how adding chiropractic care into their lives makes drastic changes and never tires of seeing these changes.

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23

Eventually the child does all the homework, but seeing different sheets minimizes the homework in the child’s mind.

On the Couch With Dr. Kelsch: Session 23

ABC’s for Special Services in School WRITTEN BY DONNA KELSCH

There is an alphabet soup of ABC’s for special services in the school system. As a school psychologist for many years, I became fluent with shortened words, such as IDEA, FAPE, LRE, FBA, BIP, RTI and PRN. But parents don’t always know what these acronyms mean or how to access special services. Schools are designed to meet the needs of all students. Every student is different and each has different needs. The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) was created in 1975 and later revised in 2004. This act entitles all children to a free, appropriate public education (FAPE). Along with the legislation, performance rules were set so that schools could receive federal monies to provide these services. Each state interprets the rules slightly differently, however, and therefore different districts often end up with different standards. Usually, the first step in getting a child special services is for school personnel or a parent to identify that the child is having difficulty in school. The school’s primary goal is to educate students in the least restrictive environment (LRE), meaning, in the general education classroom with a teacher. LRE is necessary for the child to receive FAPE. So the LRE might be the general classroom, but it might be pullout services or a self-contained or hospital setting. The challenge is for school personnel and parents to not make a snap decision, but rather consider the unique needs of the child and continually monitor progress in light of the LRE that is appropriate for that student. 24 september 2015 | mtparent.com

When a difficulty is identified, the school will likely perform a pre-referral intervention to clarify it before they embark on standardized testing and evaluation. The school is permitted to perform pre-referral interventions without parental consent since they are part of standard educational practices (such as informal assessments and grouping for ability in the general education classroom). Parents are informed through curriculum nights, newsletters and progress reports — but formal consent is not required.  When school personnel identify a child’s needs and determine if the problem is a learning or behavior issue, the Response to Intervention (RTI) model is used. This involves parent meetings, so parental consent is implied in the process. An intervention plan may be based on an academic assessment or a functional behavioral assessment (FBA) for behavioral difficulties. The school will usually, in an attempt to comply with the LRE, implement a plan to alter the classroom (or the manner in which the education is being delivered) to assist the child in overcoming their difficulty. Academic interventions often entail reviewing a child’s work history and previous assessments to create a plan. An example of an academic intervention is addressing the problem of a child being overwhelmed with 20 multiplication homework problems. The intervention may lead to the teacher providing the child with five multiplication problems on four different colored sheets instead of one sheet with 20 problems.

If a behavioral intervention is needed to address a behavioral concern, then a special education teacher (SPED teacher), school psychologist (PSYCH) or trained behavioral specialist identifies one or two behaviors that are most interfering with the child’s learning. They chart the child’s behavior and indicate how often the behavior occurs, what the circumstances of the behavior are and how it compares to their peers’ and teacher’s behavior at the time of the incident. These results are tallied and a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) is created. This intervention plan includes changes to the classroom, as well as rewards and consequences specifically tailored to the child. An example might be to sit the child in the front row of the class if other students sitting in front of them are a distraction. If the academic or behavioral interventions are successful, the child will be able to continue to participate in the general education classroom with the intervention in place. If an intervention is not successful, the school will continue working with the child and most likely would move toward standardized testing. If at any point along the way the parents think that standardized testing is necessary to identify the cause of the educational problem, then the parents should put in writing their request for an initial assessment or evaluation (EVAL). (Ideas for parent letters can be found at www. parentcenterhub.org/repository/evaluation-2/.) If a parent puts into writing that they want an EVAL of their child, the school must respond to the letter within 15 days. To review, the school would likely complete an intervention plan prior to initiating standardized testing. This process and others that involve change in a child’s educational placement will be discussed in the October edition of Montana Parent. Special services in school look like alphabet soup, so parents with children struggling may need to re-learn their ABC’s. mp Dr. Donna Kelsch is a licensed professional counselor with Tri Therapy. Tri Therapy provides counseling and assessments for teens, couples and families. Call 406-404-1009 for an appointment or contact her via web at tritherapymt.com or email [email protected]. Dr. Donna lives in Bozeman with her husband and three children.

Our Kid Is Special

Advocating for deaf and hard of hearing children in school WRITTEN BY ELEANOR BARKER

Our kid is special. He’s a terrific student, a gifted actor, a talented rock climber, a passionate video gamer – and he’s hard of hearing. We make a huge effort to focus on him as a “whole child” and treat him just like one of the pack, but the harsh reality of shepherding him through the school system means that we spend a lot of time discussing and managing his particular needs. For me, being my child’s staunch advocate is my number one task as a parent. For him, my focused attention can make him feel a little bit like he’s living in a fishbowl. Over the course of many years – as both our son’s hearing and the schools’ academic expectations have changed – we’ve developed a list as long as your arm of all the tools teachers need to have in place to support our son’s learning. These accommodations include daily use of FM amplification, captioned media, access to lecture notes, real-time transcription of classroom discussions, extra time on tests and exemption from certain physical activities like swimming. It’s a tall order – especially if you’ve got a classroom of kids to manage – yet many teachers have gone above and beyond to give him what he needs. And for the one or two who haven’t gotten with the program, we’ve relied on school administrators to bring them on board, with pretty good results. Though we can breathe a small sigh of relief for having successfully navigated the path from kindergarten through eighth grade, we now stand on the brink of high school, and I feel for the kid. At a time when he’d really like to go with the flow and occupy a neutral space, he has to step right up and take an increasingly active role in his own success. In the world of high school, he’ll be expected to take the lead – teaching his teachers how to help him access information and educating a whole new crop of kids to his communication needs. I think he’s ready. But am I? Thankfully, we’ve got a great team to lean on. Right from the start, our family has relied on a whole slew of committed professionals – many of them right here in Bozeman – who have helped us understand the system, assert our rights, access current technologies and craft up-to-the-minute solutions.

And by educating ourselves to our son’s specific requirements, sharing this information with those around him, and including our son in that process, we’ve done just about all we can do. The rest will be up to him. A few resources for parents of kids with hearing issues:

»» Montana School for the Deaf and Blind. This

state-run program is based in Great Falls, but employs advocates in every county in Montana who are available to assist kids and parents in securing services. Our Bozeman advocate has joined us for IEP meetings, helping us develop the accommodations our son relies on for equal access. Visit msdb.org for more info.

»» Seattle Children’s Hospital. We’ve had a great

experience with the team of doctors, surgeons and audiologists at Seattle Children’s Hospital – and we love having an excuse for annual family trips to this beautiful city. The hospital has a financial aid program, too; this can take the sting out of equipment purchases, which are rarely covered by health insurance. (Be sure to ask about financial aid options wherever you receive care.)

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»» Special Education Parent-Teacher Association. SEPTA welcomes parents of kids with a wide range of needs, and can be a great way to network with folks who share similar concerns. Well worth joining! Visit www.BSD7.org for more info.

»» Described and Captioned Media Program. The DCMP is a free lending library of captioned educational videos. We’ve used this service to engineer replacements for the “vintage” VHS tapes that many teachers still rely on. And though Google and YouTube offer captioning on lots of online video resources, they’re really only good for a laugh. mp

Eleanor Barker is the Executive Director of the Children’s Museum of Bozeman. She’s happy to share her experiences with other parents of deaf or hard-of-hearing kids, and can be reached at [email protected].

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Embracing Strengths WRITTEN BY KELLY FEDGE DUBOSE

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My 13-year-old son ran to greet me as I arrived at the Placid Lake campground. “Hurry mom!” he exclaimed, “I have to show you something amazing before the sun goes down!” We jumped into kayaks and paddled until we reached a small bridge where Hans surprised me with a scene I will hold dear to my heart as long as I live. As we approached the bridge, he instructed, “OK mom, close your eyes, take two paddles forward and then open your eyes.” I did and when I opened them, we were in the middle of the most fabulous lily pad garden I have ever seen. Each flower was similar yet uniquely its own. It was the magic of nature and we were smack in the middle of its handiwork. I took a deep breath, looked long and hard at the flowers, even longer at my son and listened intently to the water lapping the shore. I intentionally marked the moment and felt a wave of gratitude to live in Montana where nature is our teacher and different is desired. I have come to my work of strength mapping after years of experience working with children and families as an advocate in the educational world for those with learning differences. After spending too much time looking at “deficits,” I am here today to shout from the treetops: “Your child has gifts and talents to share with the world!” It is up to you to take the time to observe and get to know your child’s strengths early and well. Stop focusing on the perceived weaknesses and start focusing intently on your child’s strengths. Neurodiversity is a real thing. There is no mystery why some kids gravitate towards art while others like spelling bees or figuring out how things work. Our brains form differently from birth, which is what makes us us.

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Instead of trying to “fix” and change people into being “normal” or what society thinks it needs to run a country, maybe, just maybe, we could be noticing our child’s uniqueness from an early age and doing everything in our power to support and encourage their individuality. Steve Jobs did not become and remain who he was by being someone else’s puppet. He didn’t conform to the status quo, and – lucky for us – we ended up with Apple and Pixar. We all start out being ourselves. We treasure it in our children and say things like, “Isn’t it cute that he wears his Batman cape everywhere?” It’s endearing and delightful until it’s time to be serious and get to work on being like everyone else. In my opinion, this thought process is tragic and ironic. There should never be a

specific timeline for changing into someone or something else. We must do our best to remain authentic and advocate for our children so we all can share our talents with a world that needs our genius. Our world is an ever-changing landscape that requires us to transition quickly; and this is easiest when we focus on our natural strengths. Strengths are simple to identify. Make a point of paying attention to what naturally attracts your children. What do they spend their time doing when they have the choice? Where is it calm for them? Where does time vanish? Look for places your children are in a natural flow. Those are the key areas to develop and expand, because nine out of 10 times they are his or her natural strengths. There are many free and useful websites that can help you determine your child’s natural strengths. Take a look at a few of these sites to help you sort through your child’s strengths:

1. www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/ questioners/brief-strength-test

2. Multiple Intelligence Survey for Kids: www. LauraCandler. Com/free/misurvey

3. Headstrong Nation 4. www.16personalities.com/free-personalitytest

Compare those results to what you already know at an intuitive level and you are on your way to advocating for your own child. All kids, special needs or not, are wired with gifts and talents based on strengths. Neurodiversity is what makes us all unique. Fitting in is rewarded and differences are challenged only during a very limited time of our lives (usually while in the school setting). We, as our child’s best advocates, are doing our children a disservice by supporting this mentality. Once out in the marketplace, their joy and success in life will depend on their ability to bring something different to the table. I encourage you to always start with your child’s strengths and forget about signing up for every enrichment program out there. Get outside and paddle into lily pad gardens. Encourage uniqueness by knowing your child’s strengths. Your child will thank you and the world will be a better place, one authentic child at a time. mp Kelly Fedge DuBose is the mother of two teenage sons, a youth advocate, social entrepreneur and native Montanan. You can reach her at [email protected].

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOLA

Sola reaches out and gives back WRITTEN BY ELEONORE SNOW

Since 1974, local nonprofit Reach has been helping adults with developmental disabilities by providing them with services and finding them a place in the community. With a vocational Work Center, six full-service residential facilities, and a growing fleet of 18 vehicles, Reach offers services such as group homes, transitional and supported living, work services and a supported employment program. “When I first came to Reach, I couldn’t be out in the community without staff,” 27-yearold Sam Arnaud says. “And now I can go all over town by myself. I know Reach is a really good place for people like me. They help a lot.” Arnaud has Stickler Syndrome – a genetic disorder that can cause serious vision, hearing and joint problems and is also known as hereditary progressive arthro-ophthalmopathy – and has been using services provided by Reach for eight years. With their help, she found her first real job working at Bozeman’s Sola Café, where she has worked for the last four years alongside owner Tiffany Lach and manager Stacey Wenthe.

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“Stacey and I believe that providing a development-oriented, supportive work environment is part of our responsibility as citizens in our diverse world,” Lach explains. “We strive to engage people where they are and give them tools to grow. For the most part, this has been very successful for everyone involved. At times, it is a challenge to balance these ideals with Sola’s demanding environment and take the time to properly train. We work on this continually: managing training, growth and expectations of our values and service to our customers.” Arnaud loves her job and works hard cleaning tables, serving food and doing dishes. “I feel like I actually belong here,” she says. And while she hopes to work the registers someday, Sam also has plans to move closer to her sister (who also has Stickler Syndrome and lives in a group home in Great Falls) in the next few years. “They are really going to miss me when I leave this place,” she says with a knowing smile. And it’s true, they will. “Sam has been the shining star of our relationship with Reach,” Lach says. “She has grown so much in the past four plus years with Sola! She has her own routine, knows our regular customers, jokes with our staff and plays a very important role on our softball team. Sam is part of our Sola family. We love her!” When she hears what Tiffany said about her, Arnaud laughs and shows off the humongous bruise that she got during the last softball game. Sitting on the Sola Café patio, she tells me about her Reach job coach, who checks in with her monthly and her trainer who helps her go grocery shopping. Although she relies on some of these services, Arnaud lives independently and balances her own checkbook. “I’ve grown up a lot,” she says. “I’ve had bumps in the road, but they’re starting to smooth out.” mp Like most working single moms, Eleonore Snow runs full speed at all times and sometimes goes to the store to buy milk for her kids and comes home with only wine for herself. You can judge her, it’s OK.

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Teach Sleep 101:

Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sleep

WRITTEN BY DIANA JULIAN

As a sleep consultant, I have worked with many children who fall under the “high-needs” category. According to Dr. Sears, a renowned parenting expert, the term “high-needs baby” underscores the idea that these babies simply need more: more touch, more understanding, more sensitivity, more attachment parenting. Working with children on the autism spectrum was purely professional for me until my son received a diagnosis. Having a child with autism can make everyday things harder and more stressful. When you throw in a sleep-deprived mother and child, it can seem almost impossible. Fortunately there are things that parents can do to help their children sleep better, which in turn helps the whole family sleep better. When dealing with a child with autism, there are differences surrounding the issues of sleep that need to be taken into consideration. Here are some of the tips and suggestions that I have found helpful in my home and with my clients.

Skip the Toddler Bed

When transitioning out of a crib, go straight to a regular bed and skip the toddler bed. The toddler bed resembles the crib too much and proves to be confusing for the child. If the child likes confined spaces, you can add a bed rail to the side of the bed to help them feel safer.

28 september 2015 | mtparent.com

Take Some Time to Rock

Usually when I create a sleep plan, I don’t include rocking within the bedtime routine. However, I have found that with a toddler on the spectrum, rocking during the bedtime routine can be beneficial. I suggest rocking for about five minutes, starting out rapidly but then slowing it down to help relax the child.

Use Essential Oils

I find that using a diffuser with some preselected essential oils helps my son settle during the bedtime routine and rest soundly once he falls asleep. It also helps start the day out with positive behavior.

Reschedule Bath Time

Reward Following of the Rules

Creating a “sleep rules” chart that rewards your kiddo when they meet their goal can provide an incentive to sleep in their bed the whole night. The chart should include the bedtime routine process clearly showing the steps required of that child. I always encourage having a family meeting when the chart is first established to make sure the child knows what is expected of them. Make sure the expectations are reasonable and obtainable, or the chart will just end up causing more frustration at bedtime. It is important to stand firm once the chart is implemented, stick to only giving one warning.

A bath can be too stimulating for autistic children, so I recommend taking it out of the bedtime routine. If you feel like your child can handle a bath before bed, I suggest playing calming music while they are in there.

Sleep Training Clock

Sensory Sensitivity

Sleep is an important aspect for the healthy development of any child, but with a child on the autism spectrum, healthy sleep habits can be especially critical to their overall health and behavior. mp

Many times kids on the spectrum are sensorysensitive, so it is important to make their bedding and pajamas as comfortable as possible. If your child tends to overheat at night, make sure you are dressing them in cotton pajamas, and that their sheets are cotton as well. If the child likes to feel soft things, I would suggest fleece material.

A sleep training clock is a great tool to help the child understand when it is OK for them to get up and leave their room. There are many options out there; I personally found that the Kid’Sleep Classic, which can be found on Amazon, works best for my son.

Diana Julian is a Certified Child Sleep Consultant. For your free 15-minute consultation call 406-431-7240, email Info@bigskylullaby. com or visit BigSkyLullaby.com.

Fall Into

Yellowstone ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY WENDIE CARR

With kids back at school and slipping into their indoor routines, this is a great time of year to get outside in nature together as a family. It’s also a great time to visit Yellowstone National Park—crowds are low and temperatures are cool. Mammoth Hot Springs is an easy daytrip from the Bozeman area, and fall is the perfect season to explore this area in the park’s northwest corner. Though elk are a common sight in Mammoth year-round, during the annual elk rut (mating season) large numbers gather in mixed herds— lots of females and calves, with large bulls nearby. From mid-September to mid-October, visit the Mammoth area for an opportunity to hear the majestic bugle of a bull elk or to witness bulls engage in battle for cows. During the rut, bulls are easily agitated and should always be viewed from a safe distance. Follow direction from National Park Service rangers and volunteers, and be sure to maintain a minimum distance of 25 yards from elk to keep your family safe while viewing this incredible show. Stop by the recently renovated and reopened Albright Visitor Center and view the new exhibits focused on Yellowstone’s history and wildlife, including interactive, large-screen

orientation exhibits. Kids will enjoy seeing the array of animals on display, including bears, as well as an area set aside for touching and learning about the variety of antlers and horns sported by the park’s animals. From the visitor center, it’s a short walk to the Mammoth Terraces. Kids of all ages will enjoy exploring the boardwalks surrounding one of the world’s best-protected examples of travertinedepositing hot springs. Because hot water and hot gases combine to continually build and alter the terraces, these thermal features are a living laboratory where changes occur on a daily basis. Just inside the North Entrance gate, the Rescue Creek Trail is great for even the youngest hikers to stretch their legs. The trail crosses a footbridge over the Gardner River before a short climb leads you to sagebrush flats and open meadows for almost 2 miles before it ascends for the next 3 miles. Hike as little or as much as you’d like—the trail goes on for 8 miles (to the Blacktail Creek Trailhead on the Mammoth-Tower Road), but even if you just walk a mile, you’ll be afforded sweeping views of Electric Peak, Sepulcher Mountain and Mount Everts. Bighorn sheep, pronghorn and elk are often spotted in the sagebrush surrounding the trail.

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For a longer hike, Beaver Ponds’ rolling 5 miles travels through stands of aspen and Douglas fir, as well as open meadows and sagebrush and past ponds that have been damned by beavers. Begin at the Mammoth Terraces, next to Liberty Cap, and climb 350 feet alongside Clematis Creek in the first three-quarter mile. End on the Old Gardiner Road, behind the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel (it’s approximately a quarter-mile walk through the parking lot back to the start at Liberty Cap). This moderate hike is a great one for families with children of varying ages, and is also easily doable while carrying younger ones in a hiking backpack. With summer crowds departing and cooler temperatures arriving, now is the perfect time to enjoy the Boiling River. From the parking area, it’s approximately a half-mile walk to where you can soak in warm water fed by runoff from hydrothermal features along the Gardner River. Use the pit toilet in the parking area to change, and take in beautiful views of Mt. Everts while you soak. (Rocks can be slippery when you’re getting in and out of the water; river shoes are advised, especially for children.) Want to turn a daytrip into an overnighter?

Fall camping in the park is a great way to spend time outdoors as a family. The Mammoth Hot Springs Campground is the only park campground open year-round, with 85 sites available on a first come, first served basis ($20 nightly fee). The campground is close to hiking and fishing, and elk and bison occasionally pass through the campground or are seen nearby. Indian Creek Campground (open until 9/14), located between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris, is a more off-the-beaten-path option. This generator-free campground is nestled near the base of the Gallatin mountain range and is one of the smaller campgrounds in Yellowstone. Its 70 sites are also available first come, first served ($15 nightly fee), and nearby Gardner’s Hole provides great wildlife watching opportunities as well. mp Wendie Carr is the marketing manager for the Yellowstone Association and lives in Gardiner with her husband and daughter. The nonprofit Yellowstone Association is Yellowstone National Park’s official educational partner, offering a variety of fun family and youth programs throughout the year. Visit YellowstoneAssociation.org for more information.

september 2015 | mtparent.com

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Traumatic Brain Injury WRITTEN BY MARIE MITCHELL PNP, FNP

David was hit in the head with a baseball and knocked out for a few minutes. He underwent a detailed exam in the emergency room and was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) but was back playing baseball after two weeks.

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Abby was diagnosed with a concussion after she was hit in the head by another soccer player’s knee. She did not pass out but was dazed for a few minutes. Fortunately, her coach knew enough not to let her return to play. She was not medically allowed to return to play for several weeks and she continues to have symptoms of the concussion even a year later.

What is Traumatic Brain Injury?

Some, but not all, injuries to the head result in an injury to the underlying brain (TBI). The severity of the TBI is based on a number of factors, which include previous injuries, how the injury occurred, the area of the brain affected, if there are injuries to other parts of the body and whether there is bleeding, bruising, swelling or fractures.

What are the symptoms of TBI?

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Symptoms may be vague and/or include headache and feeling dazed or disoriented. Vision may be blurry and vomiting may occur. Sometimes there may be loss of consciousness or the person may remain disoriented, unable to communicate normally. Three percent of TBIs are fatal and 19 percent require hospitalization. For the severest TBI, there may be a return to normal; but for others, there may be permanent damage.

What is the treatment for concussions?

Healing from any head trauma takes time along with physical, mental and emotional rest. This specifically means no sports, gym class or weight lifting, progressing in activities as symptoms resolve. Your brain also needs to heal by limiting the amount of thinking you do. This may mean taking time off from work or school, putting aside special projects, classes or tests until you are better and then returning to regular schedules on a limited, progressive basis. Emotional rest is also important: being in an environment that is calm and comforting and avoiding areas of conflict.

Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS)

Although some people who have had a TBI get better within a few days or weeks like David, others continue to have concussion symptoms, like Abby. What happens in PCS is not fully understood, although theories suggest structural and biochemical changes as well as psychological factors impact recovery. Persistent symptoms can include the same symptoms as when initially injured: headaches, trouble sleeping, inability to focus or concentrate, fatigue, dizziness, sensitivity or light and/or noise and irritability. Note: You do not need to have lost consciousness to have PCS. It is estimated that 30-80 percent of those who have suffered a mild or moderate injury to the brain will have post-concussion syndrome symptoms. The severity of the injury does not predict who will get PCS, although it is thought that the history of, and number of concussions, may play a role.

Concussions are TBIs

Accommodations for your symptoms

Who is at risk for TBI?

Any traumatic brain injury should be taken seriously. Make sure you follow through with any recommendations and take steps to reduce your risk of another TBI. For information and resources specific to concussions, access www. cdc.gov/headsup. mp

The mildest form of TBI is a concussion. Even though there may not be loss of consciousness, when the head has been traumatized, so has the brain. Sometimes the brain is rocked back and forth against the inside of the skull, affecting nerve conduction even without bruising, bleeding or swelling on brain imaging (such as CT scans or MRIs). The “second impact syndrome” is a potentially fatal head injury that can occur when there has been brain trauma and the brain has not rested enough before another head injury occurs. Often the second injury may not be as serious as the initial one. In emergency rooms across the country, TBIs are seen in the very young, the very old and those in the 15- to 24-year-old age group. The TBIs are often the result of falls, blunt trauma and motor vehicle accidents.

Because symptoms vary from one individual to another, accommodations for symptoms are individualized. There may need to be a change in the type, amount or frequency of a particular job. Students may benefit from a lightened academic schedule or having rest periods. Your health care provider or specialized concussion clinic can provide medical reasons for accommodations.

Marie Mitchell is nationally certified as both a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner and sees patients of all ages at her family practice, Four Corners Health Care. She is accepting new patients. Call 406-556-8300 or visit www.4chealthcare.com.

What it Takes:

The Challenge of Helping

Emotionally Disturbed Children Heal WRITTEN BY MEEGAN BRYCE, MSW, INTERMOUNTAIN RESIDENTIAL DIRECTOR

We’ve all experienced moments of keen awareness that there are certain jobs we could just never do. For me there are many, such as hospice worker, accountant, politician – just to name a few. When I tell people about our work at Intermountain, they occasionally say, “I don’t know how you do it.” In truth, I’m sometimes not sure how we do it either. Those of us in this field do not possess any superhuman qualities, but it does take a very strong, determined and loving person to help children with significant emotional challenges and very deep pain. Though there isn’t a magic formula, here are some essential aspects of what it takes to have a heart for working with emotionally distressed children.

Compassion: Countless children in our society

face challenges that are out of their control. Many experience mental illness, bullying, abuse or neglect. We all have immense compassion when we hear stories of kids dealing with heartwrenching adversity. Unfortunately, it can be hard to feel compassion when these same kids are out of control. It’s not always easy, but approaching these children with an unconditional positive regard in the right moments will help them heal. They need to experience enough acceptance and love from others in order to find motivation to change.

Balance of Structure and Fun: Though we

hear it often, it’s hard to believe that children actually crave structure and boundaries. Kids seem to complain about most boundaries they encounter, but healthy and reasonable boundaries – along with predictable and consistent routines – create an environment in which children feel safe. Kids who struggle with emotional regulation particularly need this. When their external world is structured, they can focus on how to deal with their internal world in an adaptive way. As much as children need good boundaries, they also need to play. Children of all ages are more engaged in relationships and learning when fun is a major component of their experience. This doesn’t mean just providing opportunities for kids to have fun, but rather that we engage in the fun with them. We need to get on their level and really play with children, engage in their fantasyland and add fun to many of our expectations of them. Some kids struggle to allow for fun opportunities, but we have to continue to provide it; play is a child’s right. When life has been tense and challenging, sometimes play will be the very thing that changes the negative dynamics.

Knowledge of child development: Many

of us have had some sort of education on child development, but let’s be honest, this doesn’t mean that we always remember or use this knowledge when interacting with kids. We resort to our logic and try to talk kids into seeing things the way we do. As much as this is natural for adults, it is ineffective with children, especially those with emotional challenges. It is important to know milestones of child development and interact with kids in a way that meets them at their level of functioning. Sometimes we unknowingly create difficult situations by expecting that a child can understand concepts beyond their developmental ability or behave in ways that they are not yet capable of.

Self-Reflection: Children with special

emotional needs can help us learn a great deal about ourselves. These kids face challenges that create difficult dynamics for those closest to them, and we can quickly get caught up in a very unhealthy pattern of interacting. In order to do this work and do it well, it’s essential that we explore and evaluate ourselves. We have to know when we have fallen into the unhealthy dynamics and how to get out of them without blaming and/ or becoming resentful of the child. This requires a lot of humility as well as awareness of our strengths and acceptance of our weaknesses.

Personal Support System: It really does take a village. As I said before, it takes a strong person to be able to tolerate the pain and despair experienced by children, but even the strongest people need support from others to manage the stress, and persevere when it feels too hard. We have to know when to “turn it off” and focus on taking care of ourselves so that we can come back day after day to continue to provide healing opportunities for these precious children. Though it may seem simple in many ways, working with distressed kids comes down to sound clinical practice and a big heart. Those of us in this field hope that as we work towards health for our kids, families and communities, our society’s priorities will shift and perhaps there will be less pain for our little ones in the future. mp Meegan Bryce, MSW, is the Residential Director at Intermountain, overseeing the direct care and administrative staff of Intermountain’s oldest program, intensive residential treatment. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Carroll College and began her career at Intermountain as a direct care counselor in the cottages in 2004, becoming a cottage supervisor before attaining her MSW from the University of Montana. She returned to Intermountain as a therapist and was promoted to her current position in 2012. 

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ACE Summit:

Changing the Conversation

About Trauma

WRITTEN BY CATHY HUNTLEY, CHILDWISE COMMUNICATIONS AND PROJECT MANAGER

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study examines the health and social effects of ACEs over the lifespan, demonstrating that childhood adversity appears to determine the likelihood of the 10 most common causes of adult death in the United States. In 2013 and 2014, ChildWise Institute presented two critically important summits across Montana based on the ACE Study. This is changing how systems of care respond to health problems in a more comprehensive manner. Communities across the nation are becoming ACE informed to promote better physical and mental health among children and adults. On October 1 and 2, 2015, ChildWise Institute will present a powerful summit titled “Adversity is not Destiny, Overcoming ACEs through Actions.” The summit’s goal is to accelerate awareness and knowledge of the ACE Study into practical strategies and actions to mitigate toxic stress manifested in children through abuse, neglect and household dysfunction. Award-winning writer, director and producer James Redford will speak during the two-day summit. Redford recently released Paper Tigers, a documentary following four teens attending Lincoln High School in Walla, Walla, WA. Principal Jim Sporleder asked the question, “What happened to you?” instead of, “What’s wrong with you?” By implementing trauma-informed practices and resilience techniques, Lincoln High School saw an 85 percent decline in suspensions and a 40 percent decline in expulsions and an increase in graduation rate five-fold. Paper Tigers captures the pain, the danger, the beauty and the hopes of struggling teens and the teachers armed with new science and fresh approaches that are changing their lives for the better. ChildWise will screen Paper Tigers during the two-day summit. “Adversity is Not Destiny” will be held at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena, October 1-2 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days. To register visit childwise.org or email cathy@ childwise.org. mp september 2015 | mtparent.com

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MOMoirs WRITTEN BY SARA GROVES

I came home from work the other day to find four of Peter’s stuffed animals sitting around a pot of bear stew. Lately, even the sight of one of my boys’ toenails can make me weep with nostalgia, so I got a little teary-eyed at Peter’s gentle thoughtfulness at setting his animals up with a hearty lunch. But it also made me wonder: Sheesh, when did I become such a weep-o-lina? My entire family, a bunch of immigrants who eked out an existence in their new country thanks to hard work and steely resolve, didn’t exactly value tenderness as a personality trait. In fact, whenever something happened – whether I fell off my bike at age 6 or got laid off from a job in my 20s – my family’s advice was always the same: “Be tough” and, “Stay strong.” They’d be pretty disappointed in me these days. Because there’s just something about the start of a new school year that makes me boohoo about the silliest things. Every morning, for instance, when I drop both of the boys off at their schools, I get a little misty-eyed as they walk away from me and meld into the mass of other kids. And every morning I think back to two pictures I have of my eldest son, Mike, on his first day of kindergarten. In the first, he is walking down our street wearing what might be the world’s most enormous backpack; it hangs down to the back of his knees and is so large he could crawl inside of it. In the second photo, he is sitting alone at his kindergarten table, a nervous tight smile across his face, ready for whatever the coming year is going to bring. Mike just looks so very little in both of those pictures. And I guess what strikes me every single morning, seven years later, as I send them out into the world without me is this: They don’t need me like they used to. When your children are babies, toddlers or preschoolers, their helplessness and utter dependence on you can be so overwhelming. I remember trying to leave the house with both boys in the winter. They’d be stuffed into snow pants, winter coats, boots, hats, scarves and mittens while I was slathered in sweat from the sheer exertion of getting them ready. No coat for me, thank you! I’ll be fine out here in my bra and undies! And yet… This summer when I dropped Mike off at camp for a week and he looked at me and stoically said, “I’m ready for you to leave now,” my heart kind of broke into a million little pieces.

32 september 2015 | mtparent.com

Because I’m ready for them not to need me so much. But I’m also not ready. And it makes me think back to when each of them was born. I didn’t weep in the first few minutes after they made their appearance as many mothers do when they first hold their babies. In fact, both of the boys were born so quickly that, in the photos taken immediately after their birth, I look completely dazed and confused, like “What the . . . ?” But I do remember the first night with them like it happened yesterday. Their smell. The little noises they made as they snuffled into my neck. The downy-like fuzziness of their hair (that would soon fall out and not grow back for the next three years). And in the quiet of my hospital room, after everyone else had gone home, I held their little bodies and just marveled and delighted in them — these little people for whom I was wholly responsible. And I was struck at just how tiny and helpless they were. They both cried all night, and I swear that Peter pooped 37 times (an omen of what was to come) but I was just in awe of them and of all their little perfect human parts. I must have wept for hours those first few nights of their lives as I held and marveled at them. They amazed me. And they still do. Mike astounds me with his kindness, his quiet observations of people and their situations and how concerned he gets about a kid struggling in the cafeteria or people on the other side of the world affected by a natural disaster. Mike’s compassion for everything –

fish he catches and lets go with gentle words of encouragement to just keep swimming and not look back; people who lose their jobs and their homes — sometimes startles me with its beauty. And it makes me weep. Or when Peter, who had delayed speech and didn’t talk until he was almost three, nearly puts me to sleep with one of his grand stories that rivals War and Peace in its verbosity, I have to stop and realize how hard he has worked to communicate with people. And I am the one left speechless. Peter’s tenacity in everything — learning to talk, practically running at 11 months just to keep up with his brother — sometimes astonishes me. And it makes me weep. And for those of you who think I’m getting a little too precious here, I assure you there are just as many moments when I think to myself, “Wipe your own butts, you parasites.” But my boys — and your children — aren’t they just the most amazing, phenomenal creatures? Don’t they just take your breath away? mp Sara Groves lives in Helena where she is mom to Mike and Peter. She coordinates the early literacy program, Ready 2 Read, at the Montana State Library and also works as a freelance writer. 

Is It

Possible to Work from Home? WRITTEN BY JESSICA DEHN

I am not sure exactly what I thought motherhood would be like before I got pregnant. I knew I wanted a baby to the point of obsession. That was good since we needed fertility treatments to get pregnant with each of our boys. That experience in itself requires sustained obsession. Giving myself shots, timed sex, many trips to the doctor’s office each month. And, just like getting pregnant wasn’t what I thought it would be…motherhood has had its own set of surprises. I had never – ever – considered that I would be a stay-at-home mom. I planned to go back to work as soon as possible after giving birth . . . until I got pregnant. As my belly grew, I continued to work as hard as ever but knew somewhere in the back of my mind that this motherhood thing might be more than I expected. I was lucky enough to have a boss who posed the question, “What would you like to do after the baby is born?” Adding, “Any ideas you have are open for discussion.” Mind you, he had just led me running through an airport after nearly missing our flight home from a huge sales event in L.A. I am sure the memory of my bouncing belly galloping after him in high heels gave me a bit more courage to ask for ANYTHING. I announced that I planned to work from home full time. I planned to have the baby with me when I did come to the office. Then I held my breath…at least figuratively. I worked for a company at which I was the only woman. I held a leadership position and met daily with the owner. I worked 10-plus hours most days. From this to working from home – with the exception of our weekly staff meeting – was a big step. I know now that motherhood can be fun, fulfilling and balanced. I don’t have to give up my dreams (career or otherwise); I can have a social life and I can be the mom my boys need. I can be there for them in mind, body and spirit without losing myself. I can continue to have an intimate relationship with my husband, and with my friends. I may not feel like I am walking on a sunbeam in every moment but I can fall into bed knowing I was successful, today.

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Just like pregnancy, this didn’t happen overnight. I used to tell everyone who would listen: Working from home was the best way I knew to feel guilty ALL of the time. If I was working, I felt like I should be playing with my son; if I was playing, I felt compelled to get back to work. Being present in the moment was never on the table, until it was. To get there, I learned to apply the skills I knew best – my professional work skills – to grow as a parent. I would, literally, schedule time with my son. Each morning I wrote my to-do list in orange. At the top? Eye-to-eye time. This was the time I spent with my son. No computer. No cell phone. No Bluetooth buzzing in my ear. Eye-to-eye. Some days I was able to get lost in this time. Some days it was all too fleeting. Every day it was on the list. That is what gave me freedom. Freedom to be the best mom I could be. Not a perfect mom. Freedom to be the best employee I could be. Not a perfect employee. Freedom to breathe and enjoy this crazy ride called parenthood. mp Jessica Dehn, founder of Launch, is a sales trainer, speaker and coach. She resides in the Gallatin Valley with her husband and two young sons. Visit www.launchingyounow.com or email [email protected].

:: september ACTIVITY & EVENT CALENDARS + BLOG + MORE @ MTPARENT.COM ::

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33

New Design,

New Services at

SmartAboutCollege.org

Montana students and families visiting Student Assistance Foundation’s (SAF) redesigned SmartAboutCollege.org website will find some new resources and maybe even see some familiar faces. After almost four years of helping students navigate the road to college on SmartAboutCollege.org, the new website focuses on recognizing Montana students’ “big dreams, big decisions” and how SAF can help. The new, mobile-friendly website — launched at the end of August — informs visitors about SAF’s programs of focus, including community outreach, College Goal Montana (FAFSA completion assistance), Montana Money Magic (financial literacy, matching savings) and services for youth in foster care (“A Step Ahead” Building a Path to Success Summit, and education and training vouchers).

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Register now for AF T ERNOON, SUMMER & FALL CLASSES. 34 september 2015 | mtparent.com

In addition, as part of the website’s section dedicated to scholarship searches and applications, SAF is proud to bring Montanans free access to the Scholly app. The app, which was featured on a past episode of Shark Tank, uses an adaptive matching engine to link students with scholarships for which they qualify in seconds. To obtain a free Scholly access code, students should call 877-COLG4ME and request one from the outreach manager in their area. As visitors view the SmartAboutCollege.org website, they will probably be greeted by some familiar faces. In order to emphasize its commitment to Montanans, SAF used photographs of Montana students, parents and education professionals to illustrate its website. Photographer Eliza Wiley, of Helena, traveled to high schools across the state from Geyser to Columbia Falls, capturing the expressions of frustration and jubilation shared by students as they embark on their education journey. “We’re really pleased with how the website has turned out,” said Kelly Cresswell, SAF’s vice president of Foundation Activities. “This redesign has allowed us to focus on our important programs and shine a light on the people we’re here to help — students, parents and educators.” mp

When Disaster Strikes, Call...

PHOTO BY KATE BRYAN (MUSIC KATE)

Enhancing Social Skills through Music WRITTEN BY KATE BRYAN (MUSIC KATE)

Success in life as an adult requires “social intelligence” and the ability to function in a variety of group settings. The lessons and learning that lead to that kind of success start early in life. Children learn social skills from their parents, with siblings and especially in settings where they are interacting with other unrelated children (play dates, preschool, kids’ events, etc.). Parents with a single or home-schooled child often approach me about music classes, wanting their child to engage in music, but also interested in giving them a chance to develop socially. In other instances, parents who initially came to music class because it sounded like fun tell me they had no idea how much their child would develop socially in class. But what exactly are we talking about when we say “social skills” and how does this manifest with kids in a group music setting? Here are a few specific examples and observations I’ve made about how group music-making enhances and nurtures a child’s social development. Making Friends: Connections quickly develop between children as they make music together, and music provides a ready path to friendship. This is especially true for a more reserved or shy child, who can engage in the music making and see that it is safe and fun to connect with others. Inspired by the music, kids will often invite others to dance with them or go sit by them and start making music spontaneously. From there, friendships just blossom.

Patiently Sharing and Taking Turns: When playing instruments, kids learn that they have to share with one another and may have to give up an instrument or musical prop so that someone else can also experience it. In my classes, I often ask kids and parents to contribute ideas that allow us to make up our own songs and/or demonstrate instruments (like a glockenspiel or melodica), giving each child a chance to play the instrument. These situations are perfect for demonstrating the importance of patience while other kids (younger and older) share their ideas. I encourage kids to be respectful while others take their turn experimenting with an instrument.

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Learning to Collaborate: Collaboration, like music making, requires an awareness of your own abilities and needs and how they interact with the abilities and needs of others. Occasionally, I’ll have a child who will sing (or sometimes shout) songs loudly, and overpower others. With some acknowledgement and some guidance, they can learn the importance of listening to other voices and the beauty of blending with others to create a “together song.” If they are older or more advanced children, I’ll often encourage them to be a leader and demonstrate the use of their singing voice or ask them what they heard (to encourage listening and greater awareness of others in the group). If you’re interested in music for your kids that is geared toward enhancing social skills in children, check out “My Turn, Your Turn,” a music CD by singer/songwriter, Cathy Bollinger. mp

Respecting Personal Space: When making “Music Kate” (a.k.a. Kate Bryan) teaches Music Together music in Music Together, kids quickly realize Mixed Age (infants to age 5) and Big Kids (ages 5-7) that they are not the only person in the music classes. She invites you to preview a music class room. During songs involving movement with your kids. Call or text 406-570-2839 or visit www. MusicTogetherBozeman.com and click on “TRY A CLASS” or dancing, children can learn to respect for more info. each other’s personal space and interact in a respectful way (without pushing, pulling or prodding). :: september ACTIVITY & EVENT CALENDARS + BLOG + MORE @ MTPARENT.COM ::

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Parenting Single WRITTEN BY NORA DANIELS

Did you know that the legal term for divorce in Montana is Dissolution of Marriage? Dis.Sol.U.tion. I hadn’t heard this term used in the context of marriage before I moved to this state and it strikes me as kind of medieval, like an alchemic process that Harry Potter and Hermione might learn from Professor Snape in Potions class. Let’s see, class: First, we put the marriage in the cauldron, then we add the dissolution and then . . . POOF! The marriage is thereby dissolved. Just like that. DI S S O L

V

E

D

.

.

.

Forgive my melodrama. It’s just that my marriage of 19 years was finally dissolved last Wednesday after four years of separation; I am now officially divorced. I knew it was coming, of course. As those of you who read this column regularly know, my ex and I are actually very good friends and this whole process has been more than amicable. It took us four years to get divorced not because we couldn’t agree but because my ex wanted to help me out with benefits and a mortgage before we legally split. He did me a kindness by helping me get on my feet and for this I will always be grateful. But still The Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Decree of Dissolution uses harsh words like irretrievably broken and serious marital discord. I mean I understand that the decree can’t exactly describe and explain all the intricate particulars of every single divorce that goes through the court, but I just wish that it could say something like, “These two really loved each other and had every intention of making their marriage work but, in the end, they decided that they would be much better off friends than married . . .” So. Last Wednesday morning at 8:30, my ex-husband called me after appearing in the Eighteenth Judicial District Court, Gallatin County, and told me that it was all over and we were officially, legally divorced. We both cried a little and then I said the only thing I could think to say: “I’m sorry and I love you.” And he repeated those words to me because, really, what else is there to say? I could feel all the intense regret, sadness, disappointment, guilt and love coursing through the phone waves between us. “Nobody ever gets married with the intention of getting divorced,” he said. “It’s not what anybody wants and it’s not what we wanted.” I listened, sobbing with the tears pouring down my face and running into my mouth. For a fleeting second, I wondered if we had made a mistake . . . and then he said, “But this is the right thing for us. We are happier and stronger now.” And I know that he is right, because we know each other in the deepest way two people can know each other and we want the very best for one another, and – as agonizing as divorce is – this is what’s best. mp Nora Daniels lives in Bozeman with her two awesome kids.

ph: 406.209.4084

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36 september 2015 | mtparent.com

Simple Science Experiments:

Convection (AKA “Hot Stuff Rises”)

WRITTEN BY STEVE DAVALA

You’ve heard that heat rises, right? First off, there are materials called fluids, and these are liquids or gases (things that can flow). These fluids can move around by many different means, but there is a special process called convection. In convection, materials become less dense with a change in heat and then they can shift around. You might see this process when a hot air balloon rises. On with the experimenting! Materials:

»» A tall and wide clear glass or clear plastic container »» A small jar (get a jar with a small neck if you can) »» String/thin wire »» Water »» Food coloring Procedure:

1. You might get wet with this experiment: do it in the sink or with towels around. 2. Tie a length of string or wire around the neck of the small jar. 3. Fill the tall plastic/glass container with cold water (leave a couple of inches at the top since you’re going to put something inside.

4. Fill the small jar with hot water (microwave for a minute to heat it up) and a drop or two of food coloring (watch how the food coloring moves).

5. Using the string attached to the small jar, lower it to the bottom of the big plastic container. 6. Watch the interaction of the cold and hot water at eye level. Explanation: Did you see the water erupting out of the top of the small jar? The hot water has a lower density than the cold water and will float, just like when hot air fills up a hot air balloon and floats up. Did you also notice what happened right after all the colored water floated into the big plastic container? Instead of mixing quickly with the rest of the water it stayed separate from the rest. If you wait long enough, the temperature will balance out and then the colors will mix.

Offering Fun & Challenging Group Classes • Private and Group* Pilates Classes on the Equipment for up to 7 People • Rolfing by Appointment

Experiment further: What are some other things you can experiment with? Throw some rice into a pot of boiling water (with parent permission of course). Watch the rice. Does it stay still? Do a little research on deepsea vents and see how convection plays a role there. Also look up convection currents, you’ll find things from atmospheric movement, oceans and even in the crust of the earth. mp

www.reformstudiobozeman.com

Steve Davala is a high school chemistry and physics teacher who likes to write and work with Photoshop. He’s got two kids of his own and subjects them to these science activities as guinea pigs. Follow him on Twitter or email him at [email protected].

3 South Black, Suite A | 406-219-3255 Bozeman, Montana

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*To join group classes one must take five private or semi-private sessions, or have similar pilates experience

Located Below Downtown Food Co-op

september 2015 | mtparent.com

37

2nd S hoe swap

cleats

FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE EARLY LEARNING CAMPS PRESCHOOL SWIM LESSONS DANCE LESSONS CHEER PROGRAM PARENT’S NIGHT OUT EVENINGS PIR DAY & SCHOOL BREAK CAMPS AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS PIR DAY SPECIALITY SPORT CAMPS Programs galore for fun loving kids!

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Got cleats or dance shoes that are too small? Trade them for a size that fits. Cleats or dance shoes may be dropped off at the Y office from September 1st11th from 9am-5pm. Shoes MUST be dropped off prior to event day.

Check out our full line up of fall programs www.gallatinvalleyymca.org or call 994.9622 Financial assistance is available to those demonstrating need

WHAT’S UP DOC?

The Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons A new exhibit at Museum of the Rockies. September 19, 2015 – January 31, 2016

© Warner Bros. Inc.

Join us for a colorful, comical look at this legendary Hollywood animation studio – the rambunctious birthplace of characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and Tweety Bird. Delight in the actual artwork used in these beloved cartoons from the 1930s to the 1960s. The exhibition also explores the elaborate creative process that brought these masterpieces of humor and satire to life. Don’t miss it!

38 september 2015 | mtparent.com

Sponsored by:

To become a member or to donate, visit museumoftherockies.org.

PHOTO ASHLEY DAWN PHOTOGRAPHY

Y

WHAT'S UP?

MONTANA

check here

each month for family events, deals and coupons for more local family info and events follow us on Facebook & our online calendars @ mtparent.com

advertisers & nonprofits may Submit what’s up events to [email protected]

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september 2015 | mtparent.com

39

Y

WHAT'S UP?

MONTANA

playing monopoly with god And Other True Stories

Playing Monopoly THURS , MAY 28 - SUN , MAY 31 · 6PM CASH BAR , 7PM START THE CRYSTAL THEATRE · TICKETS $12 ADVANCE , $15 AT DOOR TICKETS AT WWW.SILKROADCATERING.COM/CRYSTALTHEATRE

DR. CHRISTINE WHITE

With God

KARNA SUNDBY

And Other True Stories

DIANA MICHELLE JULIAN

October 15-17, 2015 In September 2012, at 40-years-old, Melissa Bangs gave birth to her beautiful daughter, Adelaide.  

Women, men, young, old, parents and non-parents have responded profoundly.

A month later, completely hormone depleted and dramatically sleep deprived, Melissa was admitted to a psychiatric facility in Missoula. After nearly a month, she was sent home with a bipolar diagnosis and told not to go off the lithium or she might hurt herself or her baby.

One woman in her late 60s said that, upon hearing this story, she released the shame she had been carrying for 33 years.

“There was a moment that I considered telling no one,” Bangs says. “How would I possibly describe the profound shame, the unbearable loss?” When Bangs arrived home, however, she connected with many other mamas; and one by one, they shared painful postpartum experiences. Many had never told anyone, not even their husbands. They simply endured.  One friend told her that, for many months, she pictured herself hanging from the kitchen rafters. Bangs was the first person she was telling. Bangs decided then and there to share her story in an effort to shatter the silence, lift the shame and get women the help they need. Over the past two years, she has shared her journey with a vast array of audiences. Again and again, people emerge from the woodwork to thank her and ask her to keep telling her story. And so she does.

40 september 2015 | mtparent.com

Another man in his mid-30s (who is not a dad) told Melissa, “I feel more human having heard your story.” On her journey back to wholeness, one of the things Bangs did was read her entire 100-plus-page hospital record. In it, she found a nurse’s note that read, “Patient says she will do comedy on this experience.” Upon reading this, Bangs laughed out loud.   The psych team couldn’t have known that Bangs did comedy, as a student, at the Upright Citizens’ Brigade in New York City and that watching Amy Poehler perform live each week was her “homework.”   They couldn’t have known that transforming this painful experience into a roomful of laughter (and plenty of tears) would prove healing and transformative for so many. After four sold out shows and two packed houses in Missoula ...Melissa is coming to Bozeman’s Verge Theatre, October 15–17! Catch the show in Montana before the West Coast tour in 2016. Tickets are now available at WWW.PLAYINGMONOPOLYWITHGOD.COM mp

MT

After-school & PIR DAY

activity GUIDE

Imagination to Innovation WRITTEN BY LAURIE WHITE

In some ways, all children have special needs. When the school’s core curriculum and special programs don’t necessarily address your child’s needs, parents turn to extracurricular enrichment such as: athletics, science, drama, arts, literature. But what if your child needs to develop interdisciplinary thinking, to foster synthesis of information and to exercise creativity? Creativity and innovation are the foundations of breakthroughs and solutions, and they require the ability to synthesize. Our children, as they forge the future for all of us, will reach the greatest heights of achievement only by reimagining current ways and adopting a state of mind where anything is possible. Destination Imagination (DI) is a program that can provide this. It is “hands-on, minds-on.” DI focuses on integrated learning and collaborative problem-solving and instills students with creative and critical thinking skills. In DI, kids learn how to tap into their own creativity and imagination to solve problems using communication, collaboration and critical decision-making skills. From kindergarten through university, every student can excel and experience tremendous personal development. The DI challenges are created to call on various learning styles, skills and talents, to draw out the best from an array of student populations of all ages. In DI, students become part of a team. Teams of two-to-seven members form in the fall and each team chooses one of seven open-ended challenges. With the guidance of a team manager, the team develops and executes a solution. Team members do all the work; the adult may only facilitate. Teams also learn to solve impromptu instant challenges. The benefits to DI team members are numerous. Participants, even at the kindergarten to second-grade level, learn goal setting and attainment, teamwork, collaboration, conflict management and the appreciation of diversity. They develop self-reliance, time management and organization skills. By using analytical and critical thinking, they turn their vision into results. The bottom line: Destination Imagination prepares 21st century learners for the world ahead of them. Colleges seek students who have stretched themselves beyond their limits and talents with deep passion and achievement in their specific area of interest. They want students who will contribute to a better world. Companies look for innovators who can efficiently and effectively develop and execute. The skills and thinking learned in DI develop the abilities to do that. Whether your child will lead us through tomorrow or support those leaders, DI will prepare them up for the world of today and the world they will encounter. mp

Another PIR Day? Oh, those PIR days . . . they sneak up on us every year and leave parents scrambling for child care or something fun for the kids to do. Just what is a PIR day, you ask? It stands for Pupil Instruction Related days of professional development for educators. Don’t be caught off guard this year. Following are the posted PIR days for Bozeman, Belgrade, Big Sky, Helena and Butte. We’ve also teamed up with local businesses to let you know who’s offering a camp or activity for your kiddos on those PIR days (see the listings on pages 42 and 43). The following information was taken from respective school websites and, of course, is subject to change.

PIR DAYS Area PIR days

Bozeman/Belgrade/Big Sky/Butte/Helena in September 2015

public schools

rural & private schools:

Bozeman Public School District

Anderson School

Monforton School

»» September 28: K-12

»» September 28

»» September 1

Belgrade Public School District

Bozeman Summit School

Mount Ellis

»» No Pir days posted

»» September 28

Butte K-12

Gallatin Gateway

»» No Pir days posted

»» No PIR days posted

Ophir School »» No Pir days posted

»» September 18

Helena K-12 All Mondays are Professional Release Days for Helena School District Staff. School will dismiss every Monday:

»» Elementary – 2:30 »» Middle School – 2:15 »» High School – 2:30

Headwaters Academy

Petra »» No Pir days Posted mp

»» September 28

Heritage Christian »» September 1

For more about the Destination Imagination, visit the global website: www. destinationimagination.org. For information about the Montana DI program and how you can become involved, visit www.mt-di.org or contact state director, Heather Geiger at [email protected] or 406-285-3777.

LaMotte School

For our children to succeed, we cannot teach them everything they need to know. So, we must teach them how to think, take risks, collaborate and do.

»» September 28

»» September 1

Laurie White is a Destination Imagination parent and team manager.

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41

After-school & PIR DAY

activity GUIDE

A MONTHLY FEATURE IN MONTANA PARENT

TO BE INCLUDED NEXT MONTH, SIGN UP AT MTPARENT.COM OR CONTACT [email protected]

See previous page for the September PIR Days

Bozeman Parks & Recreation SCHOOL’S OUT EXPLORE! CAMPS »» 406-582-2910 »» bozeman.net/recreation »» September 28: Sports Sampler 

Bozeman Aerial Arts of Bozeman »» 30A Shawnee Way »» 406-599-4415 »» [email protected] »» aerialartsofbozeman.com »» FB/bozemanaerialdance Aerial Kids’ Class for ages 6-12 on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Five-week session for $60, drop-ins are $14. Kids will be introduced to circus arts through trapeze, silks and aerial hammock. Students will gain flexibility, confidence and get a great workout. No dance or gymnastics experience is necessary. Our new gym has fully padded floors, large dance mirrors and ceilings engineered for optimum aerial safety. Our qualified instructors will guide your child through balances, climbs and swings, and introduce them to the exciting new feeling of flight. All boys and girls are welcome.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Gallatin County »» 15 S. Eighth Ave. »» 406-587-1216 »» bbbs-gc.org Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-on-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

»» October 5: The Great Outdoors  »» October 6: Young Einsteins  No school? Do something cool! Our camps are back by popular demand and the focus is on adventure and fun. Preregistration is required and our camps do fill fast. Waiting lists will be available once camps fill. Note: Some camps include swimming at the Bozeman Swim Center. Open to ages 6-10, from 7:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m.   Cost (per camp, per day) is $35 City of Bozeman residents and $50 nonresidents

Cedar Ridge Equines »» 555 Rocky Rd. »» 530-263-3433 »» [email protected] »» www.cedarridgeequines.com »» At Cedar Ridge Equine, the philosophy

that we promote to all our students is “Dream It, Believe It, Achieve It!” We strive to provide a safe, fun and educational experience for all of our riders and horses. We offer a variety of summer day camps, lessons and clinics for all ages, levels and disciplines of riders from beginner to advanced. Lessons and clinics available year round in our brand new indoor arena! Ask about our new “Mom and Me” lessons, coming this fall!

Children’s Museum of Bozeman

Bozeman Amateur Hockey Association

»» 202 S. Willson Ave.

»» Haynes Pavilion at the Gallatin

»» cmbozeman.org

County Fairgrounds

»» 406-586-5557 »» bozemanhockey.org BAHA offers a Travel Youth League, a Youth House League, an Adult League and public skating. BAHA gives all kids – from those with no experience to the competitive hockey player – an opportunity to play hockey and skate. 42 september 2015 | mtparent.com

»» 406-522-9087 CMB is a powerful community gathering place and a respected educational space where children experience enriching hands-on learning in science, math, literacy and the arts, every day. The museum is home to STEAMlab, a hightech experiential learning environment offering activities in coding, robotics, engineering and 3-D printing for children of all ages and abilities. Visit our website for a complete program listing.

Cottonwood Day School »» 10180 Cottonwood Rd. »» 406-586-3409 »» cottonwooddayschool.org Small group instruction for students with learning disabilities provided by an Orton-Gillingham-certified instructor. Assessment to identify areas of deficit in listening, speaking, reading and writing skills for students aged 6–18, and to assess the role of memory in how students perform is also available. Fall sessions begin in September. Please see our website for more information on our day school and after-school program.

Girls for a Change »» Thrive - 400 E. Babcock St. »» 406-587-3840 »» allthrive.org GFAC inspires girls to create change in themselves, each other and the world around them. With programming for girls in grades 3-12, GFAC empowers young women to embrace their future, be secure in their ability to create and contribute to the world they want.

kidsLINK After-school Program »» Greater Gallatin Valley United Way »» 945 Technology Blvd., Ste. 101F »» 406-587-2194 »» greatergallatinunitedway.org/kidslink The Greater Gallatin United Way kidsLINK Afterschool program was established in 1997 in response to an identified need in our rural communities to keep children safe while their parents finished their workday. Today, kidsLINK Afterschool operates in 29 school-based/linked locations across four counties and serves more than 1,520 children daily. kidsLINK Afterschool is a fun, safe environment that provides rich opportunities for learning, personal growth and building relationships. Programs are available for all children, regardless of their ability to pay.

Main Street Dance Theatre

Music Villa School of Music

YMCA – Gallatin County

»» 406-587-7192

»» 539 E. Main St.

»» 514 S. 23rd

»» [email protected]

»» 406-587-4761

»» 406-994-9622

»» mainstreetdancetheatre.com

»» musicvilla.com

»» gallatinvalleyymca.org

»» Facebook: Main Street Dance Theatre Main Street Dance Theatre is a longstanding tradition in Bozeman. With incredible instructors who focus not only on dance technique but mentoring as well, we’ve built the premiere introduction to dance excellence in the Gallatin Valley. With our new location, we will continue to offer professional instruction in a positive and fresh atmosphere.Consider our Creative Arts Preschool for your children aged 3-6 now with extended hours.

The Music Villa School of Music is the place for Bozeman music lessons. Music Villa offers eight professional lesson rooms on-site, and a stellar staff of well-respected and highly educated instructors. They also host a seasonal talent-show style recital that allows the students to showcase their skills in front of a live audience. Enrollment for the fall season has begun.

The Ridge  Athletic Club

MT

With so many demands on today’s families, parents need all the support they can get. That’s why the YMCA’s programs are much more than just looking after kids. It’s about nurturing their development by providing a safe place to learn foundational skills, develop healthy, trusting relationships and build self-reliance through the YMCA’s values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

Helena

Montana Outdoor Science School

»» 4181 Fallon Ave.

Tree House Learning After School at Helena Athletic Club

»» 406-586-1737

»» 4056 Bridger Canyon Dr.

»» 3340 McHugh Ln.

»» ridgeathletic.com

»» 406-582-0526

»» 406-442-6782

»» facebook.com/Ridge-Kids-

»» hacmt.com

»» outdoorscience.org

at-Ridge-Athletic-Clubs

»» facebook.com/MontanaOutdoorScienceSchool

Get the kids active all year-round at the Ridge. All programs are open to the public; come join the fun.

MOSS gets kids outside with fun, engaging and educational programs! They offer PIR day and inschool programs, and an incredible lineup of summer camps.

Mountain Air Dance »» The Emerson Center for the Arts »» 111 S. Grand Ave. »» 406-595-0909 »» mountainairdance.org Classes this fall for ages 4-7 on Mondays at 4:30 p.m.; ages 8-12 on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. Offered in 6-week sessions beginning in mid-September and November. Cost is $105. Bring your family and try low-flying trapeze, aerial hammock, acro-balancing, juggling and more.

Music Together  »» 2118 S. Third Ave.

(Pilgrim Congregational Church)

»» Kate Bryan (Music Kate): 406-570-2839    »» [email protected]’ »» MusicTogetherBozeman.com  »» Facebook/MusicTogetherBozeman

PIR Kidventures - Fitness and games with a Ridge Kids instructor and a fitness instructor designed for children ages 6-13years on PIR Days.

Sage Learning Center »» 2055 N. 22nd Ave., Suite 4 »» 406-582-9570 »» sagelearningcenter.com One-on-one individualized instruction for children ages 4-18. Reading and spelling, math, processing skills, vocabulary, study and organizational skills. Now enrolling for the fall session.  

Spire Climbing Center

»» 13 Enterprise Blvd. »» 406-586-0706 »» [email protected] »» spireclimbingcenter.com

Program open until 6 p.m., Monday-Friday and most school closures. Leadership building, gym play, low teacher:student ratio, transportation available from select schools. Conveniently located off of Custer on McHugh Lane. Find us on Facebook: hacmt.com.

Helena Youth Soccer Association »» 406-431-3064 »» helenasoccer.org HYSA player programs include Arsenal Soccer, a Recreational League and Micro Soccer. Arsenal Soccer is a competitive program where U10–U19 players compete in competitive state league and travel to tournaments. The Recreational League is for children kindergarten through eighth grade who play games in different age divisions. Micro Soccer is for children 3-5 years old. They play soccer-oriented games in a safe and fun environment. Practices are after school and in the evenings. Soccer is great for fitness and making friends.

Queen City Ballet »» 8 W. Lawrence St.

»» 406-444-5004 Rock climbing is an excellent sport for kids and teens. It allows them to develop fitness, »» queencityballet.com confidence and communication skills—and most importantly, have fun and make friends. Spire The Queen City Ballet Company’s mission is offers a diverse selection of school year youth to present the many forms of artistic dance at programs including after-school, homeschool a professional level and actively teach positive and preschool programs. In addition, Spire offers behavior and sportsmanship. By being a member PIR day, spring break and winter break camps. of this artistic organization, dancers will have These programs give young climbers of all ages invaluable opportunity to work and perform and abilities the tools they need to climb safely within the framework of a team concept while and take their skills to the next level. For all of our learning valuable lessons, techniques and classes, we have an instructor-to-climber ratio of strategies for lifelong success. Classes begin 1:3 to 1:5.  September 8, 2015. mp

Mixed-age (infants to 5) family music-making and Big Kids (5-7) collaborative, music classes (collaborative music making and prep for private piano and or other lessons/Optional drop off). Attend for Fall (10 Wks), Winter (10 Wks) and Spring(8 Wks). Classes are mornings (10:30 AM), Afternoon (4 PM) and early evening (5:15 PM). See website for schedule. Contact Music Kate to try out an actual class or attend a free preview. :: september ACTIVITY & EVENT CALENDARS + BLOG + MORE @ MTPARENT.COM ::

september 2015 | mtparent.com

43

Y

WHAT'S UP?

baby announcement

BOZEMAN

Coffee for

Classrooms WRITTEN BY SHEL SEBREN

Welcome back to the school year, parents and caregivers. Between the mad dash to find all the required supplies (including those gym shoes that you won’t see again until next June), coordinating this year’s extracurricular activities and wondering how we can best support our kids’ schools, some of us may already feel wiped out. I need coffee just thinking about it. I bet you do, too. Let me help. Although I won’t be accompanying you to Staples for supplies or coordinate your soccer carpool, I will tell you how you can support Bozeman public schools: by drinking organic, fair trade coffee at your Co-op. It’s called Coffee for Classrooms. Talk about killing two birds with one highlycaffeinated stone. Coffee for Classrooms is part of the Deep Roots program developed by the Co-op’s Board of Directors. Deep Roots is our new giving program, designed to celebrate those organizations and groups which, “respect the food, the people and the place” with donations. And our public schools play a huge part in that mission.

Coffee for Classrooms

2015-2016

September 2015

Irving Elementary School

October 2015

Whittier Elementary School

November 2015

Hyalite Elementary School

December 2015 January 2016

Morning Star Elementary School

February 2016

Hawthorne Elementary School

March 2016

Meadowlark Elementary School

April 2016

Sacajawea Middle School

May 2016

Bozeman High School

June 2016

Bridger Alternative High School

How the PAC chooses to spend the money is up to them. We donate the money based on customer purchases. You don’t need to be a member owner, simply buy coffee and your donation is made.

Is it just me, or did the school year just get even brighter? For more information on Deep Roots, contact Alison Germain, Marketing Manager, at 406-587-1919 ext. 76. mp

44 september 2015 | mtparent.com

Anna Julia is the second daughter of our web deveoper Adam Piwko and wife Ewa. “It’s hard to say what our favorite thing about her is. I am happy Anna Julia is with us and I am happy that both herself and Ewa are in great form. It’s a real gift.” Congratulations Adam & Ewa!

Emily Dickinson Elementary School

Each month, starting September 2015, we will give 10 cents of every coffee sold (at both Co-op West Main’s Flying C Cafe and Co-op Downtown) to a different school. That’s right. Whether you are the classic drip-coffee drinker or prefer a talldouble-shot-skinny-vanilla-latte-with-extra-foam, part of every coffee purchase is donated to the PAC (Parent Advisory Council) of that month’s designated Bozeman public school.

See the schedule to support your favorite school(s).

Anna Julia Piwko

was born on august 8, 2015 in Lublin, Poland, weighing 8 pounds and 4 ounces and 22 inches long.

Longfellow Elementary School

July 2016

August 2016

Chief Joseph Middle School

Shel Sebren is Membership and Marketing Coordinator for the Community Food Co-op. She’s pretty excited to whisper those five little words, “It’s a school night, kids.” She loves coffee in the winter, spring, summer and fall.

Montana Ballet Company’s 32nd Annual

Nutcracker Auditions September 12, 2015 Montana Ballet Company, under the direction of Elizabeth DeFanti, announces auditions for its 32nd Annual Nutcracker to be performed on December 4 and 5, 2015 at the Willson Auditorium in Bozeman, and December 6 at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center in Big Sky. MBC will collaborate with guest conductor, Kyle Pickett, the Bozeman Symphony and world renowned guest artists, to create its much beloved Nutcracker, a true Bozeman original and treat for the entire family. All community dancers ages 6 and older are welcome to audition and take part in this treasured holiday tradition. Auditions will take place at MBC Studios, located at 521 E. Peach St. in Bozeman. Audition times are as follows:

»» Dancers ages 12 and older, 10–11:30 a.m. »» Dancers ages 6–11, 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. For more information contact the MBC office at 406-582-8702 or [email protected]. mp

BZN Cinema Circus West 2015 Kid Critics

Review Film Shorts WRITTEN BY PAULA K. BESWICK

Four years in a young person’s life is a v-e-r-y long time, so when I see former Kid Critics who are now taller than me and are still excited about Cinema Circus West, I know we’re on to something by bringing this film fest back to the Bozeman Public Library for the fourth year. This year’s lineup of films had us all giggling and looking forward to the big-screen viewing on Saturday, September 12, starting at 2 p.m. with a circus on the front plaza, followed by the films at 4 p.m. in the Large Community Room. This year’s Kid Critics crew was a joy to be with, and – for the first time ever – all of the critics liked all of the films. The circus portion of the program will again feature music, face painting, balloon twisting, dancers, video games, magic, a photo booth and more. This, plus the film viewing, is all free and open to all age family members. Call Paula at 406-582-2426 for more info.

Cinema Circus West critics from Emily Dickinson Elementary, standing: Alex Butler, 7, Madi McBride, 5, and Logan McBride, 7; from Hawthorne and Morning Star, kneeling: Rio Ranieri, 7, and Skyler Marley, 6.

2015 Films:

New Digs, 3 minutes, South Africa

Madi really liked the hamster and its antics, and Rio thought the music made the film even funnier. Axel would recommend it to someone going into first grade and thought some parts weren’t realistic.

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, 9 minutes, USA

Skyler said it was funny because of what Wilber the rat said, but we don’t want to spoil it for everyone! (OK, small hint: Wilber just doesn’t want to be naked!) Skyler thinks her mom or dad would like it.

The Music Box, 3 minutes, USA

Even though it wasn’t a cartoon (which meant he liked it less), Logan still liked that the girl kept on trying in the film. Rio liked the cool “track, thingy makings,” and Axel liked how it was live action instead of a cartoon and how the girl worked hard.

Mobile, 7 minutes, Germany

Rio thought it was funny, but not as funny as some of the others. Madi liked the flying things, which she called “whoopie cushions, but colored!”

The Lost Thing, 11 minutes, United Kingdom

All the critics agreed that the main character was talking differently – in a deep, sad voice with an accent –and he obviously cared for things. Even though the film had a darker feel, it got thumbs-up all around.

The Brunswick Browns, 3 minutes, Australia

“It was kind of boring because the guy was showing us about his chickens, and we all know about chickens,” said Rio. The other critics liked it, but not as much as the other shorts.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, 7 minutes, USA

“Lesson: When someone says no, that means NO!” said Axel. It was very funny!

Murphy’s Shorts, 2 minutes, USA

The group thought this film was pretty short and just OK at only two minutes long. Several said it would be better for “an ad or something.”

Don’t Go, 4 minutes, Turkey

“Is the main character the cat or creature?” I asked. The critics shouted varying answers of “Cat!” and “Creature!” We’ll let the audience decide. mp

Paula K. Beswick is the Foundation Director for the Bozeman Public Library Foundation.

:: september ACTIVITY & EVENT CALENDARS + BLOG + MORE @ MTPARENT.COM ::

september 2015 | mtparent.com

45

BZN

Group Coaching 2nd Shot

Shoe Swap

VIPink Weekend at the

Gallatin Valley Mall October 17-18, 2015 Join us for VIPink Weekend October 17 and 18 in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month to celebrate survivorship and express hope and our shared determination to make this breast cancer’s last century. Gallatin Valley Mall is hosting the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk on October 17. Form a team of family, friends or co-workers to fundraise and participate in the non-competitive walk to help finish the fight against breast cancer. After the walk, enjoy a breast cancer survivor fashion show, silent auction and raffle for a chance to do your part in contributing to breast cancer research. Purchase a $5 VIPink Pass to receive exclusive savings at select Gallatin Valley Mall retailers all weekend long. All proceeds raised during VIPink Weekend will help the American Cancer Society invest in groundbreaking breast cancer research and provide free, comprehensive information and support to those touched by breast cancer. To learn more or to join a team, visit gallatinvalleymall.com. Get Walking, Get Style, Give Back! mp

Gallatin Valley YMCA’s Cleat and Dance Shoe Swap The Gallatin Valley YMCA will host the Second Annual 2nd Shot Shoe Swap on Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bozeman Softball Field Complex on Haggerty Lane. Simply trade your too-small sport cleats or dance shoes for a pair that fits. Shoes must be dropped off in advance at the YMCA office, September 1-11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in order for them to be tagged for trade. On the day of the swap, bring your ticket for your traded-in cleats or dance shoes and take your pick of a large selection of almost new cleats and dance shoes.   • No shoes can be purchased the day of event • Shoes must be in good or great condition • Shoes must be turned in prior to the event [September 1-11 at the YMCA office, 514 S. 23rd St., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.] • No metal cleats • YMCA is not responsible for returning cleats that are not picked up  • YMCA cannot guarantee everyone will find the perfect size or cleats mp

Sungate Integral Coaching and Stacey Tompkins Group coaching offers a place to open up, learn, grow and explore new ways of being. Through a variety of forms, we connect and support each other in being honest with ourselves and those around us. The experience is kind and also real, creating lasting change. Dates: September 23-November 11, every Wednesday for eight weeks Time: 6-8 p.m. (limited to six participants) Location: 321 E. Main St., Suite 406 Fee: $225 For a free 30-minute coaching preview, call 406-5701304, e-mail [email protected] or visit www. sungateintegralcoaching.com.

Mindful Coaching and Training Facilitators Libby Michaud and Stacey Tompkins are offering mindful coaching and training workshops where participants can meet new people, gain insight and leave with a renewed mindful connection with their child and others. Libby Michaud is a parent coach, teacher, educational coach/ tutor and parent to five grown children. Stacey Tompkins is a counselor, integral relationship coach, mentor, writer, facilitator and parent to two adult daughters.

Upcoming workshops Visioning For Women

Date: August 9, Noon-3 p.m. Location: 612 N. Montana Ave. Fee: $40

Mindful Parenting for Parents of Children (5-11 years old)

Date: September 29-November 3 (six sessions), 6-8 p.m. Location: 321 E. Main St. Suite 406 Fee: $200

Mindful Parenting for Parents of Teens (12-17 years old)

Date: November 10-December 15 (six sessions), 6-8 p.m. Location: 321 E. Main St. Suite 406
 Fee: $200 Call for details.

»» Libby Michaud
(406-570-2894
/ [email protected])

»» Stacey Tompkins (406-570-1304 / [email protected])

46 september 2015 | mtparent.com

mp

BZN

Look at You Nutrition and Weight Loss Center WRITTEN BY DR. MICK LIFSON, MD

MOOSE That was his nickname. A fat kid. He suffered. That’s the reason Look At You nutrition and weight loss center was created, to help end the suffering. Even some physicians have been as frustrated as their patients with maintaining normal weight. Now there is a plan. Look at You is a low sugar, grain-free, all natural plan for sustainable weight loss. The good news is it’s drug-free, injectable free and it allows you to maintain a healthy weight.  

JOY

Susan Ferrin, a certified nutrition and wellness consultant, and Dr. Mick Lifson, MD, have created a place where joy is experienced and clients are grateful they finally have a safe, effective, sustainable program. Joy is getting off of your blood pressure medicine, cholesterol-lowering medicine, and diabetes medication. Joy is being at your grandkid’s wedding.  

Easy

This plan is simple. No measuring. No counting. No weighing. No recording. Follow the plan and lose weight.  

Support

It is hard to do any difficult task alone. That’s why we meet with you face-to-face on a weekly basis to provide support and assist you in your journey. You’re not alone. You can do this. We can help.   Look at You is located in Bozeman, 767 Stoneridge, Suite 2. Visit www.lookatyoubozeman.com for more information. mp

Color Run TO SUPPORT

Bozeman School Kids October 10, 2015

The Color Me Fun 5k, Bozeman’s first color run/walk, will be held Saturday, October 10 at 10 a.m. Proceeds of the run—put on by Hyalite Elementary PAC, Bozeman Running Company and the Ridge Athletic Club—will go to support Hyalite’s students and other local school children. “Everyone I know who’s done a color run raves about it, from college kids who wear funky costumes, to grandmas who walk the course with their friends, to kids who love getting covered in color, to people who just show up for a good time,” said Hyalite PAC Arts Committee member Alicia Andersen. “We’re excited to put on a color run in Bozeman, and the cherry on top is that it gives local students more resources for art and fitness education.” The run is a fundraiser for Hyalite PAC’s Arts Enrichment and Fitness Funds. Other local elementary schools will also benefit. “We want to support other schools as well, and bring the whole community together,” said Andersen. “Participants who register as a family (at least one adult and one child) have the chance to designate $10 toward their elementary school. It’s a great way for families to do something fun together, and benefit their school at the same time.” The run/walk will be held in the neighborhood around the Ridge and Hyalite Elementary, with color stations along the way, including a station at Meadowlark Elementary. The run is open to first-time runners, fun-loving walkers, and families and children, as well as seasoned runners. A timing clock will be present for those who want to know their time. Costumes are welcome. Participants can register online at racemontana.com or pick up registration forms at the Bozeman Running Company or at the Ridge. The tax-deductible registration fee is $25 for adults (ages 13 and up) and $12 for children (ages 12 and under). An early bird registration fee of $20 for adults and $10 for children is available until Labor Day. For more information go to Bozemancolormerun.com mp

:: september ACTIVITY & EVENT CALENDARS + BLOG + MORE @ MTPARENT.COM ::

september 2015 | mtparent.com

47

BZN

Aerial Arts Classes

Bozeman

with Mountain Air Dance

 

 

Family Deals & Discounts

Kids 2-12yrs, Family Circus, Teen, Adult & Date Night Classes too! Aerial Silks, LowFlying Trapeze, Aerial Hammock & more!

Learn  to  fly!  Gain  confidence,  strength  and   flexibility  in  these  one  of  a  kind  classes.  

just mention you saw it in

Montana Parent!

MountainAirDance.org  (406)  595-­‐0909  

Are there more fights and arguments? Kids stressed out? You stressed out? These are normal life stressors/changes or may be the result of a mental illness.

Tri Therapy can help!

Dr. Donna Kelsch has been a therapist for 28 years and now has a full time practice serving clients in Bozeman, Belgrade, Livingston and Manhattan.

Dr. Kelsch is also qualified to do socio-emotional and cognitive assessments Call today for a free phone consultation. Office: 406-404-1009 Mobile: 480-773-8386 TriTherapyMT.com • [email protected] 804 N 19th Avenue, Bozeman, MT 59718

now delivers to Bozeman

Dinners done right

$10 off

BOZEMAN

Increase - core strength and flexibility

Create - longer leaner muscles Improve - posture, balance, circulation, coordination 810 N Wallace, Suite A • Bozeman, MT 59715

(406)600-5247 • www.bridgerpilates.com

Heebs East Main Grocery a $30 order

Use coupon page 35

Bozeman

Don’t be left out

Children’s Museum

Celebrating the family table and all things food— including restaurants, markets, recipes and more. Yum!

FREE

of the october FOOD issue Submit editorial by september 5th - [email protected] Reserve your ad space by september 10th [email protected] or 406.579.0746

submit photos by september 15th - [email protected]

48 september 2015 | mtparent.com

dinner order See article on page 50

Take

$5 off

USA

a 6 or 12

Friday Nights! second Friday night of each month

Bozeman

Growth spurts

$10 OFF a $40 order when you bring in this coupon

Bozeman Bozeman

Meridian Friends With Meridian Benefits

ENJOY $10 OFF a purchase of $20 or more . . .

Because we

♥ you!

Reform pilates

five

private lessons for $250 or

$250 for 2 months of

UNLIMITED

group classes located under the CO-OP Downtown

BZN 0

Tarantino’s Pizza

Baxter Lane

N. Church Ave.

N. Willson Ave.

N. Black Ave. N. Rouse Ave.

N. 7th Ave.

South Church Ave.

S. Black Ave.

S. Willson Ave. S.11th Ave.

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Reform Pilates

Montana State University

Kagy Blvd. Museum of the Rockies

S. 3rd Ave.

45 miles to Big Sky

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Lincoln St.

Heebs Grocery Main Str

Children’s Museum of Bozeman

I-90

Music Together

N. 11th Ave.

North 19th Ave.

Main

Growth Spurts

0

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Huffine Ln.

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Mendenhall St.

I -9

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Bridger Pilates

Meridian

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North

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N. Wallace Ave.

Bozeman

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Bridger Pilates buy one private lesson get one

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when you bring in this coupon

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Every Wednesday 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Family Dinner Specials Featuring a character from Entertaining Montana and kids’ activities

Montana Parent magazine

Delivered to your home a great gift idea! www.mtparent.com annual subscriptions available convenient pay online registration

Bozeman

Learning Options

1/2 PRICE Learning Options Consultation Dyslexia/Autism Program Screening 406-282-7416 montanadyslexia.com

introduces the Holiday Bazaar; a holiday shopping event catered to people with small, creative endeavors.

GranTree Inn

Bozeman Bozeman

For those who create unique, local products and those operating home-based businesses, Montana Parent

Music Together

$15 OFF

Your 1st Semester Register with Coupon Code 1NEWFAM15

November 7th | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Support one another and our community by purchasing booth space for the Homemade Holiday Bazaar, Cost is $75 per booth Register at mtparent.com

Babies FREE (12 Months and under for 1st semester with registered sibling)

montana parent growing up under the big sky

from birth to college

MusicTogetherBozeman.com 406-570-2839

:: september ACTIVITY & EVENT CALENDARS + BLOG + MORE @ MTPARENT.COM ::

september 2015 | mtparent.com

49

Y

WHAT'S UP?

Helena

Dinners Done Right

WRITTEN BY VIKKI BOHLMAN

Dinners Done Right is your locally owned and operated meal prep store; we are not a franchise. We have been in business for eight years in Helena and are very thankful for our loyal customers. The reason we are so passionate about this business is because it helps people find more personal time, eat healthier, save money and reduce stress in their lives. We have a different menu every month and create custom meals made to your specifications from the menu. Don’t like onions? Let us know and we won’t add them to the meal. Don’t eat pork? We can exchange the protein. Or, you can come in and prep your own 6- or 12-meal package yourself. We do all the shopping, chopping and cleanup, saving you valuable time and energy. To check out our menu, go to DinnersDoneRight.com. You can place your order online choosing the date that works for you or give us a call and we would love to help you out.

From our Farm to your table We grow our grain, mill our flour, and bake our nutritious breads just down the road. You and your kids can taste the Wheat Montana difference!

www.wheaTmonTana.com

800-535-2798

Want to try before you buy? Come to our monthly Open House, the first Thursday of each month from 4-7 p.m. We will sample three different entrees, a side dish and dessert. We have the freezer meals on sale, and even have a Make and Take where we set up one station to let you make and take the entrée at a reduced price so you can see how the process works. Our entrees can be made for any size family, big or small. We offer single servings, 2-3 servings, 4-6 servings and 6-9 servings size entrees. Don’t have time to place an order? We always have a large variety of meals in our front freezer ready to grab and go, along with side vegetables, bread sticks, desserts and breakfast casseroles.

Scan this code to watch our Farm to Table video!

wheatmt

Check out our Facebook page: Dinners Done Right – Helena for Friday Freezer Specials and other great promotions. For lunch we also have a fresh Grab and Go salad bar open Tuesday thru Saturday, and hot homemade soup Tuesday thru Friday. We are the most economically priced salad bar in town, so stop by and check us out. Dinners Done Right, solving that “What’s for Dinner?!” dilemma. mp Vikki Bohlman is a Montana native and the owner of Dinners Done Right. She lives in Helena with her husband Leland and has three wonderful daughters and one amazing granddaughter. 

50 september 2015 | mtparent.com

HLN

Helena

Family Deals & Discounts

Helena | Butte

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just mention you saw it in

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• Sk ype in out-of-town family • Keepsake DVDs and photos • Monkey recorded with your baby’s heartbeat • 3D4D technology

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Two locations: Helena 406.442.6356 | Butte 406.723.0023

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Holter Museum of Art Broadway St.

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BEAUTIFUL • COZY • FRIENDLY

Helena

North Montana Ave.

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Great Northern Carousel

Dillon | Butte

walk in days and kids free days Helena & Butte

Dinners done right

$10 off

Southwest Montana Community Health Center Dental Clinic will be doing emergency walk-ins!

a 6 or 12

dinner order

Helena

Montana Parent

See article on page 50

Helena

magazine

Delivered to your home a great gift idea! www.mtparent.com annual subscriptions available convenient pay online registration

Helena

ExplorationWorks!

Holter Museum of Art

$2 OFF

Kids always get

For everyone in your party!

Admission

ADMISSION

FREE

:: september ACTIVITY & EVENT CALENDARS + BLOG + MORE @ MTPARENT.COM ::

Walk in Monday - Friday begins at 7:45a.m. on a first come first serve basis.

Free Kids morning is the second Friday of every month, beginning at 7:45a.m. on a first-come, first serve basis. Any child can receive comprehensive treatment for free that morning.

406•496•6007 september 2015 | mtparent.com

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WHAT'S UP?

Butte

butte

Wednesday Night Farmers Market

Held every Wednesday at Stodden Park (on Utah Avenue, south of Dewey Boulevard near the Korean Veterans Memorial) from 5-8 p.m.

STRESS FREE

HOLIDAYS Bazaar

Saturday Night Farmers Market

Held every Saturday on West Park Street in uptown Butte from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 

Original Mine Shakespeare in the Park

Original Mine Shakespeare in the Park will perform Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac on September 4 at 6 p.m. Bring a blanket, picnic and enjoy. Free.

Field of Honor

One thousand American flags will stand in perfect rows as a tribute to veterans, military personnel, first responders, law enforcement and your personal heroes. The Opening Ceremony will be held on September 10 at 5:15 p.m. with taps at 9 p.m. The Field of Honor will be open for viewing September 11-13 from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Admission is free.

Young Musicians Club

Sign up for the Young Musicians Club on September 10 from 6-8 p.m. at East Middle School. For more information call Maggie (406-498-1496), Tom (406-490-1537) or Bruce (406-782-8767).

The Original Festival Second annual

Stress Free Holidays Bazaar Dec 5, 2015 | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. FREE ADMISSION

Presentations on how to de-stress during the holidays and get it all done while taking care of yourself Support one another and our community by purchasing booth space for $50 *bring an item to donate to the Food Bank

Vendors register online at mtparent.com For more information contact: Taryn Calderon or [email protected]

montana parent growing up under the big sky

from birth to college

52 september 2015 | mtparent.com

The Original Festival, a two-stage music and arts gathering, will be held September 11 and 12 at the Original Mine. Tickets are on sale at www.facebook.com/OGFestival.

Wild Fest 2015

The Wild Fest will be held September 12, beginning at 8 a.m. at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. This one-day festival celebrates Montana’s wild places with hikes, activities and live outdoor music from the Kitchen Dwellers and Dublin Gulch. Admission is free. For more information visit wildmontana.org/wildfest or call 406-443-7350.

Out of the Darkness

First Annual Butte Community Suicide Prevention Walk September 13, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. Free to register and walk: afsp.donordrive.com/event/ butte/.

Fall Flag Football

Sign up for YMCA Fall Flag Football, running September through October. Contact 406782-1266 or go to www.butteymca.com for more information.

Mineral Museum

Montana Tech Mineral Museum is open Monday through Friday through September 15. Admission is free. 

Butte Walk MS

The Butte Walk MS presented by St. Vincent Healthcare will be held at Father Sheehan Park on September 19 at 9 a.m. Proceeds from Walk MS support research and local programs and services for people living with or affected by multiple sclerosis. For more information and to participate, volunteer or donate, call the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Northwest Chapter at 406-252-5927 or visit www.walkMS.org.

Walking Tours of Uptown Butte

Walking tours of Uptown Butte are available year-round. The main season is April through October, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance. There is a four-person minimum, cost is $20 per person. Sunday and afterhour tours are available as well. Contact 406-498-3424 to book your tour. Visit www. buttetours.info/tour.htm for more information. mp

Livingston

MOVIE LOVER’S MOVIE REVIEW WRITTEN BY SIERRA FEIN

Title Rating The Secret Garden (1993) G Simon Birch (1998) PG Soul Surfer (2011) PG The Other Sister (1999) PG-13 What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) PG-13 Adam (2009) PG-13 Phoebe in Wonderland (2008) PG-13 Autism: The Musical (2007) NR The Miracle Worker (1962) NR Fly Away (2011) NR

Health Care For You & Your Family Marie Mitchell

Pediatric and Family Nurse Practitioner

406-556-8300

Look for the monthly “Corner on Health” column in Montana Parent Magazine



Autism: The Musical (2007)

Watch the journey of five extraordinary autistic children over the course of six months, as they create, prepare and then perform a live musical play on stage. Elaine Hall, the mother of an autistic son, created The Miracle Project to allow her son and others with autism the opportunity to express themselves freely through music, movement and theater. In the first orientation with parents and students, she promises the families that although she has no idea what will happen, she can guarantee that each child will be accepted and loved. This poignant documentary allows audiences to not only understand the challenges of autism, but also celebrate the uniqueness of each child and cheer alongside.

The Other Sister (1999)

The Other Sister is a captivating and emotionally driven story about Carla, a determined and charismatic mentally challenged young woman. When she returns home to her parent’s care and affluent lifestyle, she is determined to attend college and live on her own, despite her mother’s fears. Carla conquers all expectations and along the way meets a charming young man with similar challenges. Throughout her transformation into adulthood, Carla’s tenacious spirit teaches her family about acceptance and unconditional love. “No matter how long I wait, I can’t be a painter and I can’t play tennis and I’m not an artist,” she says, “but I know how to do something, and I can love.”mp Movie Lovers is Bozeman’s only local, independent video rental store, since 1984. Movie Lovers offers a vast collection of foreign, independent and classic films on DVD and Blu-Ray; as well as new releases and TV series. Movie Lovers is located at University Square on South 23rd Avenue. The friendly and knowledgeable staff offers great service and recommendations.  

Free consultation & 20% off your first month Sales solutions for your growing business! Out Sourced Sales Director Sales Coaching

To learn more about these films and many others, call Joe, Jim, Jill and The Kid at 406-586-0560. Sierra Fein is a local filmmaker and owner of BlueSpark* Productions, “Creative Commercials from Spark to Finish.” Visit www.bluesparkproductions.com for more information.

:: september ACTIVITY & EVENT CALENDARS + BLOG + MORE @ MTPARENT.COM ::

Find me on facebook

Call or text Jessica Dehn at 406-581-5525.

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NEW photo contest! Have some great pictures that you or your child has snapped around Montana or Yellowstone? Send them to us! We will publish the best one each month here!

Runners Up:

September 2015 winner - photo by Ella | Age 14 | Bozeman, MT | taken at Big Horn Canyon

photo submission requirements:

>> Photos must be family oriented - taken of family - or during a family trip. get creative. must be taken in Montana or within 100 miles of montana. Winner chosen by MTP staff & Sponsor staff. >> submit photos to [email protected]. Please include name of photographer, age, hometown, photo title and caption. Let us know how much information you

Want to sponsor this photo contest?

Contact [email protected]

would like us to include with your photo if it is published.

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Kids’

Hall oween

Costume Swap Bring your clean, gently used children’s Halloween costumes from year’s past and exchange them for others. Just imagine, your girl can be a princess for the fourth year in a row, but this year she’ll don a new gown – for free.

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For every costume you donate, you are eligible to exchange it for a new, gently used one.

Saturday, Oct0ber 10th | Bozeman at the Gallatin Valley Mall in Bozeman

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

donations are accepted - please bring to the Gallatin Valley Mall office

Vendors - booths are available contact [email protected]. Cost is $75.

Saturday, Oct0ber 17th | Butte at the butte depot

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Vendors - booths are available contact [email protected]. Cost is $50.

This free event is being presented to you by Montana Parent, The Gallatin Valley Mall, Giggles Toys and More.

CONOVER FENCE 406-600-0950 | conoverfence.com

Call us today to get a free consultation on a new fence.

Local. Family-owned. Building quality fences in Bozeman & the Gallatin Valley since 2010.

Receive a free gate with your fence when you mention this ad! (value $150)

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september 2015 | mtparent.com

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INSTRUCTIONS NOT INCLUDED. READY Children are a blessing. And a responsibility. Unfortunately, they do not come with an instruction manual. When it comes to keeping them healthy, Bozeman Deaconess Pediatrics is here to help. With regular checkups, we’ll work together as your child grows to help establish and maintain healthy habits. We even take care of the extras, like giving your child books to aid their intellectual development. And we’ll coordinate your child’s care and maintain comprehensive electronic health records. Call us for an appointment. Or advice. Anytime. Bozeman Deaconess Pediatrics— we’re ready for you.

406-414-5700 | bdhg.org William Allen, MD Michael Blake, MD, PhD Kristin Day, MD Juliet Hansen, MD Pepper Henyon, MD Mark Hodgson, MD Angie Ostrowski, MD