New Year, Same Mission- And Here is Why

Submitted by Nicole Criner on Thu, 01/11/2024 - 15:13
Four babies sitting next to each other

With the start of the new year, many individuals are setting goals to ensure 2024 brings value, success and more. After celebrating 25 years of Idaho AEYC being a champion for children and families in 2023,  we  have reflected on the impactful work accomplished last year. As we eagerly step into our 26th year, the anticipation builds and we stand ready to continue our unwavering commitment to championing the well-being of children and families in Idaho.

With Idaho being one of the few states that does not provide state funding for pre-K programs, this increases costs for child care centers, families and, in turn, employers. Even with federal funding, families are still struggling to afford child care. This leaves families with little to no options for support, resulting in families making tough decisions and leaving employment. This does not just affect singular families, this impacts Idaho’s economy as a whole.

The Vacation-Loving Dad

Submitted by Idaho AEYC on Tue, 06/07/2022 - 16:05

Every Day is a Holiday When You Have Family

Josh and Aubrey Naylor escape the Idaho cold for the beaches of Florida and California when the family budget an timeline allow, and trips Switzerland, Iceland, and New Zealand are on the short list, says Josh, because the kids need to see the world.”

father with children

“I like seeing their reactions when they visit new places,” he said. “Vacations are great because there’s no distractions, just focusing on the kids and doing things together.”

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Idaho Dads Matter

The Time-Conscious Dad

Submitted by Idaho AEYC on Tue, 06/07/2022 - 15:57

He Values Today While the Clock Ticks Away

“Being a dad is the greatest gift a guy could ever have; cherish it and respect it because that’s the best thing that could ever happen to you,” says Joey Few of parenting one-year-old Aiden.

“Even when you’re tired, even when you don’t feel like doing the stuff, you just have to do it; you only have one opportunity,” he advises.

Father, son, and two cats hang out in the shop frequently on the Few property and Aiden drives his dad’s excavator from his dad’s lap now and then. “The number one thing is spending as much time as possible with your kids— being there and showing them stuff,” he said.

father and son

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Idaho Dads Matter

The Fisher of Moments

Submitted by Idaho AEYC on Tue, 06/07/2022 - 15:53

He Makes Time to Interact with His Children

Dylan and Allison Herman put their children at the top of their priorities, and Dylan’s interactions with the kids are meaningful, if sometimes challenging.

“I’ve taken Remi fishing ever since she could walk,” Dylan said of his six-year-old daughter. “I try to get her out of the house as much as possible. She caught her first fish in Alaska—a beautiful rainbow trout—and that just kind of stuck with her. She likes hunting with me too, so we do that anytime we can.” Sophie, 5, is content “just spending time with me, and she doesn’t care what we’re doing if she’s with me,” Dylan said warmly “She likes it when we read books together, especially our National Geographic book with dinosaur information; we look at the pictures a lot.”

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Idaho Dads Matter

The Understanding Dad

Submitted by Idaho AEYC on Tue, 06/07/2022 - 15:37

He Gets Worn Down, But He Rallies For More

James (Jay) Aragon says children need love, understanding, patience, and boundaries. The father of adult daughters Holly and Katie—and the grandfather of

Holly’s two-year-old daughter, Arielle—says he and Sally Aragon (grandma) brace for action whenever Arielle comes over.

“She likes jumping on the bed and doing flips,” Jay explained. “As soon as I flip her over, she yells ‘do it again, do it again!’ She’s like a little gymnast; she likes to jump around and flip around on the bed and the trampoline. ‘Only jump in the center and not on the edges because I don’t want you flying off the side,’ I tell her.”

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Idaho Dads Matter

The Intentional Dad

Submitted by Idaho AEYC on Tue, 06/07/2022 - 15:33

He Parents With Purpose and Practice

Drop by Clinton Blettner’s house in the evening and you’ll find six-year-old Addilyn and her brother Landon, 5, devouring the spaghetti or casserole their dad made. After dinner you’ll see a father reading books to—or watching a movie with—two children.

“Addilyn is the TV show one, and Landon is the runner,” Clinton said, noting that running is a useful skill for an aspiring superhero. “Landon and I run around holding superhero figurines and pretending like we’re fighting the bad guys—that’s a typical game in our house,” he said.

Clinton became a single dad four years ago, landing him in a world he didn’t comprehend. “I was not raised to understand how to raise kids, so when I got thrown into (that) situation being a single dad... it was a very growing, stretching experience for me,” explained. “(When) it’s only you, you actually get outnumbered by the kids,” he said wryly.

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Idaho Dads Matter
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