In these uncertain times it's important for families to continue learning about and developing close relationships. For information on this topic, you may find the articles about parent/teen conversations, grandparents connecting with grandchildren, and safe Internet social networking particularly valuable.

Whether job losses or pay cuts have affected you directly or indirectly, we're all paying a little closer attention to our family's monetary issues. The articles on low cost vacation ideas, organic gardening, reducing housing costs and keeping food safe can help your keep your family's fiscal house in order.

Have a good summer.

A common complaint parents of teens have is that their teen quits talking to them. If we listen to what we talk about with our teen and the way we say it, it can offer clues that will guide us in keeping the door of communication open.

Too often a parent's conversation with their teen focuses on chores that need to be done, schedules that need to be kept, hair that needs to be combed, and other topics that teens consider dull and monotonous or fault-finding. When Tore Hayden, an educational psychologist, asked several hundred teenagers what they really wished they could talk about with their parents, the teens identified eight issues. (www.teentouch.org)

1. Family Matters. Teens want to be involved in the decisions that affect not only them (i.e. allowance, curfew) but also ones that affect the entire family (i.e., moving, vacations, money problems, job pressures, an impending divorce, a serious illness). They want to know about these things.

2. Controversial or Taboo Issues. Teens are full of questions. Is it ever right to tell a lie? What does it feel like to be high on drugs? What does sex feel like? They want parents to talk with them about these subjects rather than telling them they are too young or it is too complicated to explain.

3. Emotional Issues. Teens would like to know how their parents really feel about things, and they would like them to tell them "I love you" more than most do.

4. The Big Whys. Why do people go to war? Why does God let people go hungry? Teens want parents to talk to them about the big whys.

5. The Future. Teens want to talk about college and careers.

6. Current Affairs. Teens are often more aware of current events than parents realize. When something happens in the world or their community, they want to talk about it.

7. Personal Interests. Teens wish their parents would show more interest in them—their sports, their hobbies, and their friends.

8. Parents as Teens. Teens want to know more about what their parents were like at their age. They really like to hear stories that reveal their parents' emotional sides or human frailties.

How long has it been since you have engaged in one of these topics with your teen? Maybe you had not yet considered talking with your teen about these things. Let the topics come up naturally. Don't be quick to give your advice or criticism. Both of these responses will break down communication between you.

Sometimes we are just so busy that we don't take the time to reconnect with our teens. In this case, create times when you are available to talk with your teen. Stop by his or her room before bedtime to see how things are going. Remember to knock first before entering your teenager's room. Don't force communication.

Don't get discouraged if your teen's response is "I'm fine." If you are just beginning to build communication skills or events have happened to break down communication, it can take time to build or rebuild trust. This is your opportunity to let your teen know that you are there for them, and you are committed to them unconditionally—even when you disagree or your relationship has become hurtful.

Letting your teen know you believe in them and you desire to talk with them will speak volumes to their heart and keep open the door of trust which is the foundation for a relationship to grow. By staying available and approachable, it will make it easier for your teen to learn when and how to come to you for help.

The following books are good sources for information on communication with your teen: You and Your Adolescent by Laurence Steinberg, Ph.D., and Ann Levine; How to Talk to Teens about Really Important Things by Charles Schaefer, Ph.D., and Theresa Foy DiGeronimo.

Patti Faughn, family life

If you have a teenage child, chances are they are a member of Facebook (or another social networking website such as MySpace). Facebook has over 200 million users worldwide—including more than 6 million United States high school students. While these social networking sites have opened up exciting new ways for teenagers (and adults) to interact with their peers and express themselves, there are certain things that you can help your children keep in mind as they participate in the social networking universe.

1. Facebook is not for pre-teens, despite the fact that many pre-teens have opened accounts with or without their parent's knowledge. Facebook's terms of service specifically state that users must be 13 or older. Think long and hard about the implications of allowing your pre-teen to lie about their age in order to join. Just because their friends are doing it, doesn't mean they should.

2. Make sure your child closes his or her profile to people who they have not approved as their "friends." This will prevent other Facebook members from looking at your child's profile and postings without their permission. Facebook offers several different levels of profile security, and these can be found under Settings à Privacy.

3. Talk to your child about the implications of making statements or posting photographs on Facebook that make them appear irresponsible, reckless, or immature. Many employers now routinely check Facebook profiles as a part of the vetting process for job applicants. At some point, your child will apply for a job, and irresponsible activity reflected on Facebook could cause them to lose valuable employment opportunities. This is another good reason to have a closed profile and retain a level of personal privacy.

4. Be sure your child understands that if he or she posts on the profile (or "wall") of another Facebook member, that posting is viewable by not just his or her own "friends," but all of the "friends" of the other Facebook member. A posting that your child thought was an "inside joke" can suddenly become a cause for embarrassment or worse.

5. Facebook has a whole series of privacy protection controls that most users don't even know exist. Encourage your child to look under the Settings Privacy area and see how he or she can control which of their "friends" can see certain parts of their profile. Using these controls can allow your child to be "friends" with some other Facebook members, but not necessarily share all of his/her profile information with them. This can be especially useful if your child "friends" other relatives, employers, mentors, or teammates.

6. Items posted to Facebook are virtually forever. Although users can delete an account, the account is simply disabled—archived on a server in case the user decides to reactivate the account in the future. Facebook does this as a service to its users who may have second thoughts after deleting their account, but it does have implications for the longevity of the information your child posts.

Chris Tidrick, web development

Organic gardening without the use of chemicals to control weeds, diseases, and insects grows more popular with many home gardeners each year.

You can increase your chances of success with organic gardening if you follow some established gardening practices. As a starter, choose varieties that can be grown with little or no danger of damage from disease or insect pests.

For vegetables, these include radishes, lettuce, onions, leeks, chives, beets, chard, mustard, Chinese cabbage, parsnips, salsify, peas, spinach, sweet potatoes, and turnips. Most herbs fill this bill and can be grown with great success.

If you're interested in using biological methods to control insects, such as a spray of Bacillus thuringiensis, you may add green beans, cabbage, kale, collards, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower to your garden's roster.

You can grow tomatoes, the most popular garden item with home gardeners, if you hand-pick tomato hornworms and stake, tie up, or mulch the plants to prevent plants or fruits from coming in contact with the ground.

Sweet corn also can be grown successfully in Illinois without the aid of chemicals if you pay attention to timing. Plant corn after the first week of May but before the end of the month. Corn planted during this period will generally silk after June 15 and before mid-July, a period during which there is little risk of serious earworm infestation.

Most organic gardeners will run into trouble if they attempt to grow vine crops, such as cucumber, muskmelon, pumpkin, squash, and eggplant. These crops are attacked by insects that are difficult to control without chemicals. You can be diligent if you pick off the insects or their egg masses which are usually hidden under leaves.

Follow these important steps to further assure success for your gardening efforts.

· Plant at the proper time.

· Plant in rows, and thin to proper spacing.

· Use insecticidal soaps and summer horticultural oils to control insects. Read and follow the directions on the label.

· Don't water in the evening. Wet foliage is more prone to disease problems.

· Use fresh, commercial seed that is grown under disease-free conditions. Buy the best quality transplants that are healthy and vigorous.

· Keep weeds and grass out by shallow hoeing or mulching. Weeds compete for fertility, water, and space. Use mulches applied between 4 and 6 inches thick.

· Don't work the soil when it is wet in order to avoid soil compaction.

· Use compost, manure, steamed bone meal, or rock phosphate, and muriate of potash, hard ash, or wood ashes to provide adequate nutrients for your garden's plants.

· Stake and cage plants if possible to keep plants off the ground to cut down on disease problems.

If, in spite of all your efforts, pests threaten to take over, it may be necessary to apply an appropriate pesticide. When the pest population has been reduced, continue your organic methods. You will soon find this method demands the best of you as a gardener. The reward of success makes the effort worthwhile.

David Robson, horticulture

Fruits and vegetables are a very important part of a healthy diet. If you enjoy fresh produce, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emphasizes it's important to handle these products safely to reduce the risks of foodborne illness.

Harmful bacterial may be in the soil or water where produce grows, and it may come in contact with the fruits and vegetables and contaminate them. Or the fresh produce may be contaminated after it is harvested, such as during purchase, preparation, or storage.

FDA shares a few tips to avoid foodborne illness from fresh produce:

· Purchase produce that is not bruised or damaged. Be sure fresh cut produce like bagged salad greens are refrigerated or surrounded by ice. Separate fresh fruits and vegetables from raw meat, poultry, and seafood in the grocery cart and when bagging to take home.

· At home, maintain produce quality by storing perishable fresh fruits and vegetables in a clean refrigerator at 40 degrees F or below. Note pre-cut or peeled produce should be refrigerated to have best quality and safety.

· When preparing fresh produce, be sure hands have been washed for 20 seconds with soap and warm water before and after handling produce.

· Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fresh fruits and vegetables before preparing and/or eating. Discard produce that looks rotten.

· All produce should be thoroughly washed under running water before eating. This includes produce grown conventionally or organically at home and produce that is purchased from a grocery store or farmer's market. Even if you plan to peel the produce before eating, it still should be washed before using.

· It is not recommended to wash fruits and vegetables with soap or detergent or to use commercial products. Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.

· FDA states drying produce with a clean, cloth towel or paper towel may further reduce bacteria that may be present.

· Keep fruits and vegetables that will be eaten raw separate from raw meat, poultry, or seafood – and from kitchen utensils used for those products.

For more information on safe food handling, visit the U.S. government's food safety website at www.foodsafety.gov.

For recipes and information on growing, storing, and using fresh produce, visit the University of Illinois Extension website, http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies.

8 ounces low-fat cream cheese

1/2 cup low fat soft spread margarine

2 T. skim milk

1/2 clove of garlic, crushed

1/2 tsp. dried basil or 1½ tsp. fresh basil leaves, chopped

1/2 tsp. dried dill or 1½ tsp. fresh dill

Combine cream cheese and margarine, mixing well until smooth. Add milk, garlic, basil, and dill. Combine until well blended. Cover, and refrigerate. Serve with fresh vegetables. Yield: 2 cups.

Serve as a dip with fresh vegetables and can be used a topping for fresh, cooked asparagus or green beans.

Nutrient facts for 1 tablespoon: 29 calories, 1 gram protein, 1/2 gram carbohydrate, 3 grams fat, 4 milligrams cholesterol, 9 milligrams calcium, 49 milligrams sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 fat.

Jananne Finck, nutrition and wellness

3 ounces low-fat cream cheese (softened)

2 T. sugar

8 ounces vanilla yogurt

1/4 cup crushed fresh strawberries

Blend cream cheese and sugar together. Stir in yogurt and strawberries.

Yield: 15 servings.

Serve with fresh fruit: bananas, strawberries, grapes, peaches, or nectarines.

Nutritional information for 1 tablespoon: 35 calories; 1 gram fat, 25 milligrams of sodium and 4 grams of carbohydrates.

Source: Family Nutrition Program (FNP), University of Illinois Extension

Whether you live next door or are separated by a great geographical distance, staying connected with grandchildren is important.

No matter how far a grandparent and grandchild live from one another, three things can help develop and maintain a strong relationship.

First, the time a grandparent spends alone with a grandchild becomes very special and is often remembered for a long period of time. Second, most parents want and will encourage a close bond between their parents and grandchild. Third, technological advances make it easier than ever to stay in contact with grandchildren.

There are several ways to develop and maintain good relationships with grandchildren:

· Set up a family meeting with children and grandchildren in person or by telephone to discuss potential challenges that may come in the way of connecting with grandchildren.

· Develop a tentative schedule for phone calls, e-mails, or instant messaging.

· Devise a plan to be together in person as much as is feasible for all involved.

· Dedicate some financial resources to support the plan. Example: parents might pay for the grandparents airfare to visit the grandchild. The grandparent might save money to have a grandchild come for a week or two during the summer.

· Allow for as much personal grandparent-grandchild time as possible.

Keeping regular contact and selecting age-appropriate communication techniques is perhaps the key to a strong grandparent-grandchild relationship. Some ideas include:

· Call regularly (ideally at a scheduled time) as it is important for both grandparent and grandchild to hear a live voice.

· Share pictures through the mail or digital pictures by e-mail.

· If you and your grandchildren have cell phones and have text messaging capability, send text messages.

· Learn to use social networks or instant messaging—communication methods your teenage and young adult grandchildren use. If you are not technologically comfortable, take a community class. Using technology will most likely impress a grandchild.

· Attend sporting events or exchange pictures or videos of each other, especially of the grandchild doing fun activities such as playing sports, acting in school plays, or taking his/her first step.

· Write or audio record stories to share. Write and send cards, letters, and notes either through normal mail or e-mail. Even with e-mail, it is still nice to use old technology and periodically send a special card with a note.

· Keep up with a grandchild's changing interests. This shows support and understanding.

· Share in person or by mail, small inexpensive gifts of favorite things.

· Try to be present for important events such as significant family holidays or graduation.

It is possible to have a close attachment with a grandchild whether you live next door or far away. It does take some effort, creativity, and active involvement from the grandparents and parents to make it happen, especially if distance separates you. However, it's worth the effort. Both grandparents and grandchildren will benefit.

Diane Ryals, family life

If your family is planning a summer vacation to a national or state park, learning as much about the park as you can before you go makes the visit more enjoyable and helps you know specific sites you want to see. A few parks and their geology and its formation are discussed below.

Yellowstone National Park lies over what is known as a mantle plume—a huge area of magma that is close to the earth's surface. The park's surface was formed during three enormous volcanic eruptions that occurred between 2.1 million and 600,000 years ago. The eruptions created a caldera, or depression, that is 45 miles long and 28 miles wide. This mantle plume is still at work today underneath the surface, and is responsible for the geysers, hot springs, and other features found in the park.

Yosemite National Park is known for its spectacular cliffs and waterfalls. These landforms were created about 200 million years ago as part of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Underneath these volcanic mountains, a large mass of magma cooled and solidified. Over time, the mountains eroded down and exposed the rock underneath. About 65 million years ago, the eastern side of the area was tilted upwards. This made rivers run much faster—creating narrow, V-shaped valleys. In the last several million years, glaciers carved out the river valleys, creating large U-shaped valleys and leaving behind the hanging valleys and waterfalls.

The area which includes the Grand Canyon contains sedimentary rocks and was once part of a shallow sea during several periods when sea levels were higher and the land was lower in elevation. Fossils of coral, mollusks, and other sea creatures can be found in these rocks. About 60 million years ago, the Colorado River was created as it drained water from the Rocky Mountains. The area that is now the Colorado Plateau started to be slowly uplifted about 17 million years ago. As the land lifted, it allowed the Colorado River to cut into the sedimentary rock, creating the Canyon.

Sedimentary and metamorphic rocks also make up the Great Smoky Mountains. These rocks are between 450 and 800 million years old. Between 245 and 310 million years ago, the eastern edge of North America collided with what is now Africa. This collision raised the Appalachian mountain chain. Because of the great pressures and heat created during this collision, many of the sedimentary rocks changed into metamorphic rocks. Example: shale was changed into slate. These mountains, originally as tall as the Rockies, have been eroded over time, about 2 inches every thousand years.

About 1.2 billion years ago, a series of eruptions poured out lava that covered hundreds of square miles at Isle Royale National Park in northern Michigan. Part of this area formed a basin. In more recent times, huge continental glaciers have scraped and scoured the area.

Approximately 505 to 438 million years ago, northern Illinois was south of the equator on the edge of a shallow sea. The sandstone cliffs at Starved Rock State Park were formed out of sediments deposited from this time. About 14,000 years ago, a huge amount of glacial melt water rushed through the Illinois River valley, scouring the area around Starved Rock.

Geologic and other natural resource information on all National Parks can be found on the National Park Service site at www.nature.nps.gov, the United States Geological Survey http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov, or at http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/project. In Illinois, visit the Department of Natural Resources at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/region.htm.

Duane Friend, natural resources

When an economy begins to suffer, the tourism industry is hit harder than most. Considering the current state of the economy, it's no surprise many families are choosing to save money by eliminating their annual vacation.

However, families staying home this vacation season don't have to spend that valuable time on the couch. There are inexpensive ways that allow families to create lasting memories while protecting the bottom line.

Visit family or friends. Visiting friends and/or relatives can be a great way to reconnect and save money at the same time. If planned ahead of time, you can arrange to stay with those family members rather than in a costly hotel. Even if you need to fly, the money saved on hotel accommodations can make the cost of flying much easier to handle. Keep in mind, fair is fair—offer to exchange visits so your relatives and friends can reap the same benefits of a less expensive vacation.

Do some local sightseeing. Even though you might not realize it, there is history nearly everywhere you look, including in your backyard. For example, it isn't just people from other states who can go look for Lincoln. The state tourism office has developed a series of recommendations for three-day getaways in different parts of the state, with some specific to families. Visit their website at www.enjoyillinois.com. Chances are good that nearby state tourism offices have created similar suggestions for day trips.

Eating out less. Try to limit eating out at restaurants. This isn't always easy to do, although staying with friends and family would make it much less difficult. If you are driving to your destination, take snacks and things to eat in your car—think fruit, not chips…or even pack a cooler with more substantial fare to limit the number of restaurant stops.

Plan an unvacation. Enlist ideas of the whole family. Have each list favorite foods, movies, places, and things to do—including some wacky ideas. Attend a court session, learn to make gumbo, or hold a board game tournament. Then divide the time into segments to focus on what each person likes. Hype this up as "kids are king day" when it's the younger set's "favorite day."

Vacations are important ways for working parents to relax and build family memories. Find a way to accommodate economic realities without sacrificing all the good that can come from families traveling together.

Earl Bricker, community and economic development

Keeping a roof overhead is the most important concern when your family income drops. As for bills, hous­ing would be near the top of the list. Housing is one of the biggest expenses when you're under the financial stress of reduced or lost income. Housing expenses include mortgage or rent payments, insurance, taxes, household maintenance and repair, utility bills, furnishings, and cleaning supplies.

When your family income drops, planning can help you avoid eviction from your rental unit or the loss of your home. The following information is condensed for this newsletter format. It can be found in its entirety at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/toughtimes.

Rent Payments. If you rent and are having difficulties making the rent, tell your landlord about your situation before rent is due. If your lease has a grace period before late charges, what are the fees? A fee of $15 if not paid by the fifth of the month is much more reasonable than $5 a day after the first of the month. Know your responsi­bilities as a renter. Suggest making smaller payments for a month or two, with the understanding that you will catch up when your income increases again. It costs money for a landlord to change tenants, so they may be willing to work with you.

Mortgage Payments. With reduced or lost income, you may feel the stress of a sizable mortgage payment on your finances. If your loss of income will only be for a few months, you may be able to cut back on other expenses to meet your mortgage payments.

Important: If you miss a mortgage payment, you have defaulted on your contract, and your lender can be­gin foreclosure on your home. Contact your lender immediately before you miss the first mortgage payment.

You may be able to skip a payment or arrange a lower payment. Go in person, and take along a new spending plan that fits your reduced income.

Most lenders would rather avoid the time and cost involved in a foreclosure if another alternative can be worked out. If your family's loss of income is going to last a long time or be permanent, you will need to consider other options. You may be under extreme stress and strain of meeting mortgage payments that are too high. Some options you have are:

· Taking in a boarder, and using the money toward mortgage payments.

· Renting your house to someone else, and renting less costly housing for yourself. (Check the effect this will have on taxes and changes needed on insurance coverage).

· Selling your house, and buying or renting less costly housing.

· Moving in with relatives or friends. Offer to share some of the housing costs.

· Deeding your house back to the lender. You may not lose much. For example, if you've been paying on a 30-year mortgage for 10 years, you have not paid for much of the house yet—only about 10 percent. If you choose deeding the house back to the lender in lieu of foreclosure and the house has decreased in value, you are still responsible for the amount of the loan and must pay the lender the difference. If by staying in this house you won't have enough money for food or other necessities, you may find it less stressful to leave the house and find less expensive housing.

Other Ways to Consider Cost-cutting

For specific ideas and information about each of the following categories go to the link shown at the beginning of this article.

· Insurance Payments

· Real Estate Taxes

· Utility Payments

· Phone Bills (Landline and Cell)

· Cable Service

Web Resources

· Illinois Insurance Facts—When Disaster Strikes: What to Do After an Insured Homeowner Loss www.idfpr.com/DOI/HomeInsurance/disaster.asp

· Compare Bank Interest Rates

www.bankrate.com

· Illinois Office of Attorney General—Tenant Rights

www.ag.state.il.us/consumers

Susan Taylor, consumer and family economics