Schools and colleges have started classes, elections are just around the corner and the coming of fall presents working families with challenges, decisions and seasonal tasks. Working families also continue to look for ways to save money and deal with parenting and relationship issues. You'll find all these topics and more in this issue of Working Families Newsletter.

As always, we solicit your ideas for topics of interest to you and suggestions for improving this newsletter. Send ideas to your local Extension office or jmtaylor@illinois.edu.

Schools have fire drills about four times a year. Other public institutions and places of work have an evacuation plan in case of a fire. So, why do homeowners and families think they are immune from the need of such preparation? Probably, they've just not thought about it.

So, let's think about it. Fires are quick and dark. They can double in size every minute. They produce thick, dark smoke that can make it almost impossible to escape. Planning an escape route and having the whole family practice it is one of those tasks that you hope you never need, but will be immensely thankful if you actually do have to use it.

Fire drill preparation assumes you have a functioning smoke alarm on every level of your home and replace the battery each year. Though this is a very serious topic, have fun with the practices and involve your family with the planning.

Where do you start? Plan an escape route.

Sketch a floor plan of your home. Locate all the doors, hallways, stairways and windows that can be used to escape. Determine two escape routes out of each room. The primary route is the fastest, safest route out of the house. Check for windows that may be painted shut. Make sure that all able family members can unlatch door and window locks. Make sure your plan includes helping any family member that would need extra assistance, such as small children and those that are physically impaired. Keep exit routes clear of furniture and toys. Depending on the age of your children, you may even ask them to prepare the sketches and assist with determining escape routes.

What do we need to remember about exiting during a fire?

Heat and smoke tend to rise, so the freshest, coolest air will be near the floor. If you're in bed, roll out onto the floor and crawl on the floor to the bedroom door. Touch the back of your hand to the door to see if it's hot or cold. If it's cold you may proceed. If it's hot, leave it shut and go to the alternate route. If a child sleeps through the fire alarm, an adult will need to wake them.

If the primary escape route is blocked, close any doors between the smoke and you, and make your way to the alternate escape. Consider purchasing a window ladder, making sure family members know how to use it. Never jump from a window—instead turn on lights in the room, and open the window to signal for help. Don't forget the stop, drop and roll rule, should someone catch on fire.

Designate a meeting place.

Decide on a meeting place, such as a specific neighbor's house, to make sure everyone is out and safe. Call 911 from the neighbor's house or with a cell phone. Your 911 address should be posted so that it's easy to find and see by emergency personnel. Never go back into the house. Leave the fire fighting to the professionals who have equipment and training.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Carry out fire drills during daylight and night hours. Conduct fire drills often enough that family members' actions are automatic. Twice per year is probably the minimum. You may need to make changes to the plan as family members grow and develop, if home remodeling alters escape routes or when you see that adjustments need to be made.

Remember—When the alarm sounds

· Leave the building.

· Get out and stay out.

· Go to the designated meeting place.

· Call 911 from the neighbor's house or cell phone.

· Wait for the fire department at the meeting place. Let them know if anyone is inside.

- Judy Taylor, youth development

College freshmen often find themselves faced with surprises and unexpected discoveries. As they search for identify they may be caught off-guard by the newness of the adventure. Their academic, social, personal and even financial skills will be put to the real test.

Parents not ready to let go

It's not just college freshmen who struggle, so will you as a parent. After years of being a responsible, caring and in-control parent, having a child away at college can be frightening, rewarding and nerve-racking—sometimes all in the same week.

Our moods fluctuate for a while because our generation of college parents is used to being in touch with our kids on the cell phone several times a day. Our kids have made many decisions, but often with our input. It's hard to give it up! Their moving out to live on campus can leave those of us remaining behind feeling:

● empty – like their vacant rooms.

● unprepared – and uncomfortable with our changing roles.

● under-utilized – no longer fixing meals, doing laundry, handing out money for various expenses. (Okay—that part doesn't change much. They just get it in bigger chunks).

● left out and/or lonely – don't know all their friends or daily details of their lives.

● no longer in control – of their decisions with or without our advice.

● worried – about the student adjusting to college academics, tight family finances and the college social scene with its pressures to experiment with sex, drugs, drinking games and their overall health and wellness.

Emotions may be high during this stage of life, but keep in mind that you are still a parent; your role is just different. The relationship to your child switches from disciplining and directing to advising and befriending.

Teen may not be ready to let go either

Don't be shocked if your teen feels overwhelmed, stressed, and frustrated with his or her new college life. Sometimes they balk and want to give up too soon. If this happens, nudge them gently and remind them that uncertainty is part of any new experience.

Communicating from a distance

With cheaper long distance charges, nationwide cell phone plans, e-mail, instant messaging and lower airfares, it is easier than ever to stay in touch once children leave home. Consider these suggestions:

● Keep in touch with your child, but don't do so excessively. Your offspring may need your support, but will not want to be swamped.

● Ration your calls to no more than two a week. Try e-mailing or text messaging instead of phoning.

● Write regularly. College students love mail. Frequent short notes are much better than occasional long letters.

● Provide guidance if your teen seeks help, but don't step in and do everything for them.

● Compliment your teen when they have solved a problem. It boosts their self-confidence. They'll also be more likely to think of you as a resource later on.

● Send care packages. Include their favorite snacks, gum, instant drink mixes, pudding cups and mints. Also include small items such as post-it notes, highlighter pens and even a mystery toy.

Talk with other parents who have sent a child off to college. Find what they did and didn't work for them.

- Diane Ryals, family life

Share this information and options with your college attending teen.

If a college student is a resident of the town they live in (have a lease, utility bill in his/her name, etc.) they can register to vote in the town they live. If a college student lives in campus housing and still has residency with his/her parents (address on drivers license or student ID card), then voting absentee in the home town district is the option if traveling home to vote is out of the question.

In Illinois, requests for absentee ballots can be made by mail or in person. See next article for locations. Requests must be made no more than 40 days nor less than 5 days if by mail and no more than 40 days nor less than one day if in person. The ballot will be sent to you, unless you complete the request at the election authority office and immediately vote your absentee ballot.

Additional information about voting absentee in Illinois go to State Board of Elections website.

Voting is one of the most important privileges we have—and it comes with the responsibility to ensure that people who represent us in public office are capable of carrying out their duties. How do you find out about candidates? What are their views on issues important to you?

The news media continues to be an important source of information. Many people believe that it's best to use several sources of news to get a more complete composite of candidates' views and qualifications. Check the candidates' websites to read their positions and background. You can also check websites like Vote Smart; http://votesmart.org/ where you can enter your zip code to find information on candidates such as biographical information, voting records, issue positions and interest groups they may be aligned with.

There are efforts to involve young votes through websites such as Rock the Vote www.rockthevote.org and Declare Yourself www.declareyourself.com; these sites engage young voters and encourage them to register and vote.*

In Illinois, voter registration is open year-round except during the 27-day period just before an election and a two-day period after the election (one day in Chicago). This year, the deadline will be October 7. There are many locations where you can register, including your county clerk's office, city and village offices, township offices, as well as precinct committeemen, schools and public libraries. A complete list of locations, requirements, and necessary identification can be found at the State Board of Elections website, www.elections.state.il.us/. This site also includes other information about candidates and elections, including campaign funding.

*University of Illinois Extension is offering these web addresses for information purposes only and does not endorse either.

- Jeri Marxman, Extension specialist, public policy education interim director, community and economic development programs

When parents approach the topic of sexual activity with their teens, we often focus on physical risks and consequences—pregnancy or getting someone pregnant; losing our health through incurable sexually transmitted infections (STI's) such as herpes, HPV or HIV; and health issues created by curable STI's that have lasting effects (infertility).

Certainly teens need to be informed of the physical risks of having sex, especially with the constant messages and images of the media conveying sex as the next step after mere attraction. However, consequences to the emotions are just as life changing. In Ten Emotional Dangers of Premature Sexual Involvement, Dr. Thomas Lickona, helps teens recognize emotional consequences involved:

1. WORRY. There is an emotional stress and weight that is carried each month worrying if you or your partner is pregnant or have contracted an STI. Even using condoms, 15 percent are pregnant within a year, 15 percent contract HIV, 50 percent contract Chlamydia, and no protection is offered for STI's spread by skin-to-skin contact.

2. REGRET. Regret often comes, even when sex is with someone we really care about. Getting to know someone is often short-circuited when a relationship moves from spending time with each other to spending time with each other's bodies. Sexual intimacy is not what makes a relationship meaningful. Teens can feel trapped in a relationship they are not truly committed to or recognize they have given a valued part of themselves to someone for nothing. Two-thirds of teens report yes when asked if they wish they had waited after being sexually active.

3. FEAR OF COMMITMENT. When teens breakup after the intimacy of a sexual relationship, it can be hard to trust again.

4. LOSS OF SELF-WORTH. It is common to suffer a loss of self-worth upon finding out you have an STI. Worry about finding someone who will value you as a marriage partner can cause you to settle for unhealthy future relationships.

5. DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE. Studies show a sharp increase in depression and attempted suicide in teens who engage in risky behavior from those who do not.

6. GUILT. Women report guilt, loss of self-worth and depression following an abortion, even when it seems like a reasonable solution.

7. SEARED CONSCIENCE. When teens are treated or treat others as sexual objects, they not only lose self-respect, they change who they are becoming.

8. DAMAGED OR RUINED RELATIONSHIPS. Sex can cause jealousy, selfishness and other negative emotions to poison a good relationship. Communication can become difficult or non-existent.

9. STUNTED INDIVIDUALITY. An early serious relationship can hinder teens from developing a sense of their own identity.

10. LESS SELF-CONTROL. Self-control is developed over time through practice. If we haven't practiced saying "no" before marriage, it becomes easier to justify infidelity after marriage.

Help your teens recognize that the decision to become sexually intimate with someone will leave lasting results in their lives. Who we choose to be intimate with is one of the most life-changing decisions we will make.

- Patti Faughn, family life

Is Your Financial Security at Risk?

A personal risk management plan helps assure that you are protecting the people you care about and give you peace of mind. Visit: www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/risk/

to help you identify events that pose a financial risk to your family; learn ways to manage risk; determine how you currently manage risk and identify gaps in risk management strategies.

Your Guide to Diet & Diabetes

Available in English and Spanish www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/diabetes2/ can help you make better food choices in managing your diet.

Recipes for Diabetes www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/diabetesrecipes/intro.cfm

Contains recipes that include an approximate nutritional analysis and exchanges calculated on the exchange list of the American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association.

Without a doubt…using a shopping list can save money. Information from University of Illinois Extension states planning ahead, making a list and sticking to it can save money.

Before making the list, plan your menus. Check grocery ads for sales and specials and plan meals around those items. Once menus for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are developed, check what foods you already have at home, and then make your shopping list.

When making your list, try to arrange foods needed in the same order as they are found in the store. Put refrigerated and frozen foods last on your list, to help keep food safe and at optimal quality.

The important point is to only buy what's on your list! Impulse buying can lead to overspending if you aren't careful.

For more information on food buying, nutrition and food safety, visit the University of Illinois Extension website at: www.extension.uiuc.edu.

- Jananne Finck, nutrition and wellness

4 thin-cut, lean pork chops, about 3/4 pound

1 cup apple juice

1 tablespoon flour

1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

1 (12 ounce) can sweet potatoes, vacuum-packed

1 medium onion, cut in 1/4" slices

Brown chops in hot fry pan. Add 3/4 cup apple juice. Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes. Combine 1/4 cup apple juice, flour and allspice. Stir apple juice mixture into liquid in pan. Heat liquid until thickens. Arrange sweet potatoes and onions. Spoon sauce over potatoes. Cover and simmer about 10 minutes longer until potatoes and chops are done.

Nutrient analysis per serving: 302 calories, 11 grams fat, 102 calories from fat, 166 milligrams sodium, 57 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber.

Many people like to bring their indoor plants outside for the summer. These plants have probably found comfortable spots in planters, under trees and on tables.

As temperatures start to cool drastically, we need to start thinking about bringing houseplants back indoors, or overwintering those special annuals that perk up the outdoors. When bringing plants indoors, there are a few considerations that need to be made.

First, to avoid light and humidity shock to the plants, start acclimating them to the indoors by moving plants in the sun to the shade. Then move them to an enclosed area such as a garage or porch. Start these measures for a few hours a day. Then build up the time until you can move them to the house. This will take a couple of weeks, not days.

Second, make sure you check the plants for bugs. Avoid bringing any bugs in the house as they will spread to other houseplants. Look for bugs such as aphids, mealy bugs, spider mites, white flies and scales on the leaves or stems of the plants.

Aphids, mealy bugs and scale can be controlled with several insecticides. Make sure to read labels to see that the particular pest is listed on the label, as well as the plant you are using it on. Some are sprayed on the plants while others may be used as soil drench. Also, several applications of insecticidal soap will also control most insects. Read the label for all restrictions.

Make sure to check plants thoroughly under leaves and on stems. If you are overly concerned, you may want to repot plants in new soil, washing all the other soil off the roots where insects and their eggs may be hidden.

It is best to spray the plants while they are outside. It is difficult to find an out-of-the-way place inside the house.

If a plant is severely infected, it is best to dispose of it and start with a new plant.

Remember to start adjusting your plants to the indoors soon. An early frost may catch you off guard and then disaster may strike. It is better to be safe than sorry as far as our treasured houseplants are concerned.

Finally, no matter how successful you are in bringing plants indoors, some will resent the disturbance. They usually respond by dropping leaves right and left. Eventually, they should adjust to indoor light, humidity and water levels and produce new growth. Be patient.

- David Robson, horticulture

Wasps and bees are beneficial insects. However, wasps can become a problem in autumn when they may disrupt many outdoor activities. Not all stinging insects are "bees." While both social wasps and bees live in colonies ruled by queens and maintained by workers, they look and behave differently. It is important to distinguish between these insects because different methods may be necessary to control them if they become a nuisance.

Wasps have a slender body with a narrow waist, slender, cylindrical legs, and appear smoothed-skinned and shiny. Yellowjackets, baldfaced hornets, and paper wasps are the most common types of wasps encountered by people.

During late summer and fall, yellowjackets become aggressive scavengers and frequently disrupt outside activities where food or drink is served. Control of scavenging wasps is difficult, as there are no insecticides that effectively repel or discourage them.

Yellowjackets commonly build nests below ground in old rodent burrows or other cavities. They can also build nests in trees, shrubs, under eaves, and inside attics or wall voids.

Paper wasps build nests under any horizontal surface and are commonly found on limbs, overhangs and eaves of buildings, beams and supports in attics, garages, barns, sheds and other similar structures.

If a nest is not discovered until fall, control may be unnecessary as imminent freezing temperatures will kill the colony.

Nests that are near human activity can pose a potential problem. If there is a concern about stings, you should eradicate the nest.

When yellowjackets are found nesting in the ground, first try pouring a soap and water solution into the entrance. Many types of soap will work, including dish and laundry soap.

If that doesn't work, apply an insecticide into the nest opening. Be sure you use a product that is cleared for use in lawns or soil. Dusts are more effective than liquid insecticides because liquids do not always reach the nest. After you are sure all the wasps have been exterminated, cover the nest entrance with soil.

The best strategy is to minimize attracting them. Wait to serve food and drink until people are ready to eat. Promptly put away food when done and throw garbage into a container with a tightly fitting lid. Examine glasses, cans and other containers before drinking from them to check for wasps that may have flown inside. If a wasp flies to your food, wait for it to fly away or gently brush it away.

If only a few yellowjackets are bothering your activity, ignoring them or capturing them with a net and crushing them may be sufficient. Traps may catch a considerable number of wasps, but not enough are captured to noticeably reduce the wasp population in the fall.

For more information, visit the following website: www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG3732.html

Adapted from Wasp and Bee Control

Jeffrey Hahn, Phil Pellitteri, Donald Lewis

University of Minnesota Extension

- Duane Friend, natural Resources

Have you noticed the latest hot trend? "Going Green" is the buzz word in news stories, magazine articles and websites. Now, you can take this popular trend and put your family's own spin on it! In upcoming newsletters, we will include helpful tips from www.springfieldmoms.org that can help you get started.

· Keep reusable bags in your car not only for groceries but for any time you go shopping.

· Cook from scratch to eliminate packaging waste.

· Buy in bulk to reduce packaging.

· Turn down the temperature of your water heater a few degrees.

· Unplug appliances you are not using.

· Use non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning and laundry products. Vinegar and baking soda are great multipurpose items to have on hand, also.

· Combine errands to save on gas and driving around town.

· Walk or ride your bike.

· Collect rainwater to irrigate your lawn and garden.

· Recycle empty ink/toner cartridges and help local nonprofit organizations raise money. Ex: Habitat for Humanity.

- Jen Dillman, Going Green series editor Springfieldmoms.org

The official holiday season is rapidly approaching. This statement alone is enough to drive panic into the heart of millions of consumers. If the thoughts: I just finished paying for the last holiday season, endless hours of waiting in line, and how am I going to manage this again came to mind, you are not alone. While the holiday season should be a time of relaxation and joy, for many people it causes great anxiety and stress. To help relieve some stress and ease anxiety, here are some tips to help make the holiday season more manageable.

1. Make a "to-do" list. Write down all of the goals you wish to accomplish, and then prioritize them. You may find the ones you thought were urgent can wait.

2. Develop a budget. List all reasonable expenses for the year. Make sure to include an emergency allotment for unexpected expenses.

3. Pay yourself first. Deposit a certain amount from your paycheck into a savings account. This will help reach the budget goal for the year.

4. Leave credit cars at home. A good rule of thumb is to use credit cards for emergency purposes. Ask the question, is what I am purchasing necessary or can I save to buy it later.

5. Use cash whenever possible. Take a designated amount of cash when shopping. By using cash for purchases, you are less likely to overspend.

6. Be creative. If you are on a limited budget, be creative with the materials you have on hand. Store bought presents are nice, but it is often the gifts made with love that mean more to the recipient.

7. Take time to relax and enjoy. You are the only one who can truly make you happy. Take time out of each day for yourself. Five minutes of quiet can relax and rejuvenate (if necessary.)

- Jennifer Hunt, consumer and family economics

Can't find an item in your local stores? Have you tried to find an item online? Want a Spiderman collectible lunch box? Or want a Barbie Doll—with patent pending? Bet you could find one on an online auction site! Or how about some hot new clothing item at a discount? Look online! Online auction sites and shopping are extremely popular. They help you find hard to find items and save money in the process. You can also comparison shop different venders, too. While online, you can book a hotel, send flowers and even order groceries!

Online shopping does have a downside. It is always risky! The greatest risk is protecting private information because criminals are constantly monitoring people's online shopping habits to create new ways to deceive shoppers.

Potential Benefits

· Shopping from the comfort of your own home

· Access to shops 24 hours a day

· Potential for saving money

· Larger selection

Negatives

· No storefront to return items or receive customer satisfaction.

· Private information is revealed online.

· Not able to "see" or "feel" the item in real life.

· Fakes or frauds online.

· Constant need to be vigilant.

Minimize Risks

Online shopping can never be guaranteed to be safe and without risk. However, it is possible to take steps to minimize the risks:

· Use a secure browser.

· Know who you are dealing with by confirming the online seller's physical address, phone number. Anyone can set up shop online.

· Before purchasing, evaluate how the company secures your financial and personal information.

· Look for an online privacy policy and read it.

· Keep your password(s) private.

· Do not give up any "optional" personal information.

· Pay by credit card.

· Keep a record of the transaction.

· Know what your purchases will cost, including shipping and other fees. Check out the refund policy.

Remember—Anytime you shop online, you are putting your personal information at risk. Shop with caution online!

- Susan Taylor, consumer and famiy economics