The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/895273
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, November 1, 2017 D-1 HOME LIFE TO ADVERTISE: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: ads@pressdispatch.net Visit: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg Deadline: 5 p.m. on Monday Youth First Today by Parri O. Black, Youth First, Inc. Caring kids cultivate compassion Katiedid Versus by Katiedid Langrock Hope for the hopeless in fashion PAN-ROASTED CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES By Monica Sinclair With winter just around the corner, it's not always a bad thing to come home, heat up the oven and make a delicious dinner. This week, I found a perfect recipe for these cold nights. It's hearty and nutritious, and will most likely make the whole family happy. Enjoy! INGREDIENTS 2 pounds red pota- toes (about 6 medi- um), cut into 3/4-inch pieces 1 large onion, coarsely chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 garlic cloves, minced 1-1/4 teaspoons salt, divided 1 teaspoon dried rose- mary, crushed, di- vided 3/4 teaspoon pepper, divided 1/2 teaspoon paprika 6 bone-in chicken thighs (about 2-1/4 pounds), skin removed 6 cups fresh baby spin- ach (about 6 ounces) DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, combine po- tatoes, onion, oil, garlic, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon rosemary and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; toss to coat. Transfer to a 15x10x1-in. baking pan coat- ed with cooking spray. 2. In a small bowl, mix paprika and the remaining salt, rosemary and pepper. Sprinkle chicken with paprika mixture; arrange over vegetables. Roast until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 170°-175° and vegetables are just tender, 35 -40 minutes. 3. Remove chicken to a serving platter; keep warm. Top vegetables with spinach. Roast until vegeta- bles are tender and spinach is wilted, 8 -10 min- utes longer. Stir vegetables to combine; serve with chicken. Yield: 6 servings. Source: tasteof home.com Share your favorite recipe! www.facebook.com/mealsinminutes Monica's Meals in Minutes PO Box 68, Petersburg, IN 47567 mealsinminutes@pressdispatch.net FACEBOOK MAIL EMAIL MEALS IN Monica's MINUTES NOW AT THE LOWER PRICE! 814 Niblack Blvd., Vincennes, IN 1-800-743-7004 www.bairdvincennes.com We have 1 on-lot 68ft home where you'll save A MINIMUM OF $6,000. Choose the home of your dreams We've all had one of those days when nothing goes right and everything goes wrong. My niece, the mother of three chil- dren ages 2, 4 and 6, had "one of those days" this summer, but, thank- fully, it ended with some profound words of wisdom. It was the first day of summer, a time to relax, or so she thought. No rush- ing around to get ready and dash out the door to school, daycare, and work. However, this moment of bliss quick- ly turned into a series of trying events, lengthy work-related phone calls and simultaneous knocks at the door, all the while Mom was still in her paja- mas and trying to keep the kids enter- tained. Then the toddler locked herself in the house while everyone else was out- side, so Dad had to come home and save the day. But it wasn't over yet. This same adorable child decided to throw an hour-long temper tantrum because she was dressed in the "wrong clothes" to walk the dog. Just before bedtime, the sensitive big sister came to the rescue with an amazing gift for her frazzled Mom. She created a masterpiece with mag- ic markers, a sign which simply read: "Keep Trying Mom." This 6 -year-old's sweet gesture il- lustrates how well she has already grasped at least two important life skills. The first is the power of persistence, or as the proverb says: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again." There's a reason why tenacity is the theme of many children's books, like "The Little Engine That Could." Now often referred to as "grit," this is one of the characteristics that can predict success in school and in life. Another vital social skill is the one that motivated her message in the first place – empathy. She could tell Mom needed some encouragement after a very bad day. With the words "Keep Trying Mom," she was also communicating how much she cared. Researchers say chil- dren as young as one or two years old can demonstrate empathy by acting in a caring way towards others. Good parents start instilling these life lessons early, not only by what they say but also by what they do. Children need love and limits, a home envi- ronment that provides discipline and guidance with a healthy dose of under- standing and kindness. Studies have linked the lack of em- pathy in children to bullying and oth- er disruptive behaviors as well as juve- nile delinquency, so it's a very import- ant skill to cultivate. Caring, compassionate parents usu- ally raise caring, compassionate chil- dren, but teachers and mentors can al- so help children practice and develop their concern for others. Friends recently shared a great ex- ample of empathy turned into action when their middle school daughter noticed a fellow student who had few friends and low self-esteem. On her own, she decided to help by quietly sending a daily text message to her classmate. They were positive affirmations like "Your new shoes are cute" or "Great job on your science project." She sent a text every day without fail for months, a simple act of compassion that buoyed the spirits of another child. When my friends later learned about their daughter's initiative, they were amazed, grateful and, no doubt, proud. Just as parents encourage empathy in their kids, kindhearted children can also inspire compassion in adults. This column is contributed by Par- ri O. Black, President & CEO of Youth First, Inc., a local nonprofit dedicated to strengthening youth and families. Youth First provides 38 Master's level social workers to 56 schools in seven southwest- ern Indiana counties. More than 60,000 youth and families per year are served by Youth First's school social work and afterschool programs that prevent sub- stance abuse, promote healthy behav- iors, and maximize student success. To learn more about Youth First, visit www. youthfirstinc.org or call 812-421-8336. "What do you think about this? " she said to me, hold- ing up a checkered midriff shirt. "For me or a doll? " The sales clerk laughed. And she was genuinely ador- able. "For you! " "Yea-a-a-a-h, I'm pretty sure my midriff days are over," I said. "Really? " She asked. "Do they end? " See? What'd I tell you? Adorable. "It's pretty cool-looking," she said in a singsong man- ner, as if trying to seduce me into a midriff purchase. Oh, sweet child, if only you knew, no one could seduce me in- to a midriff purchase. Ja- son Momoa couldn't seduce me into a midriff purchase. (Though I wouldn't object to seeing him try.) "It's totally cool-looking," I agreed. "But I'm not look- ing for this cool. I'm looking for adult-cool – ideally adult- business-cool." She looked at me as if I just told her Homo sapiens evolved from pancakes. Her eyes darted around the room as she tried to make sense of what I had just said. "I'm sure it's a thing. Adult-business-cool is not an oxymoron." She panicked. "Oh, my God, I wasn't call- ing you a moron! " And so the adventure of spending two days a week on a college campus continues. I'm taking a class on en- trepreneurship at my local university. In two weeks, we will have to pitch our ideas in lieu of a final exam. For this, I will need proper attire. Pre- suming my business follows, the clothes will get some de- cent wear. The problem is I have nothing in my closet that fits the bill. I've never been a fashion per- son. And despite having written for many fashion brands, somehow the ability to put together an outfit still evades me. My friends would always joke that they were going to nominate me for "What Not to Wear." My mom still buys most of my clothes. This is not a joke. My mom still buys most of my clothes because she knows that I'm never go- ing to update my wardrobe. The items she buys are cute but always look like a dis- aster on me because I don't know how to put together an outfit. What shirt with what shoes with what pants with what jewelry? How does any- one who cares about appear- ance spend any less than 7 1/2 hours getting dressed every morning? I wonder whether, sub- consciously, I went into the arts so I'd never have to wear pants with creases. (And by "creases," I mean the in- tentional kind, not the kind your shirt gets when it goes on the floor after you wore it for a week straight, on- ly to be picked up and worn again. Those creases I rock almost daily.) Creatives are cool; that mustard blob on my shoulder is an artistic badge of honor. Undoubt- edly, it proves my status as an official visionary. For my entire adult life, I have been able to wear a stained T- shirt and leggings to work. Which means that I've been this shabby for my entire life, because no one rocks a stained shirt and leggings better than a baby. It was the very realization that I dress like a baby spitting up on her- self that led me in- to one of the cool- er boutiques right off campus to buy some work-appro- priate attire. When I told my mom I would be shopping for clothes to match my expand- ing entrepreneurial consult- ing career, she suggested an array of bland button-up collared blouses and pressed slacks that looked as if they belonged in a funeral, not in my closet. I wanted some- thing fun and hip. Surely, there was a way to mix busi- ness and boho, right? The adorable sales clerk, in her 6 -inch blue snake- skin booties, asked how I felt about bodysuits. "You mean the leotard things that were popular when I was in junior high in the mid-'90s? " I asked. She hesitated and then cautiously proceeded, "I don't know. I wasn't alive then." Right. I was about to leave, but she took me on as her per- sonal project. I could easi- ly imagine how she would speak of our interaction to her peers: "I knew that if I could help this one poor cen- tenarian, surely I could help anyone." She wouldn't be that wrong. An hour and a half of per- sonal attention later, I was the proud owner of six sepa- rates that look positively hip together and appropriate for a creative business. Liv- ing among young collegiates has its advantages. Like Katiedid Langrock on Facebook, at http://www.face- book.com/katiedidhumor.