As we get closer to the holidays, it seems we have even less time to read and learn, but our lives, the environment we live in and even the products we buy continue to change. This issue of Working Families Newsletter brings information that addresses many of these emerging concerns. You'll find short articles and Internet URLs for further information on the following issues: preventing the spread of H1N1 flu, maintaining good relationships among step-families and among multiple generations, acquiring skills to keep and secure a job and disposing of CFL bulbs.

All the best during the holidays and coming new year,

All families have traditions for the holidays that are important. Traditions help bring families together and provide bonding opportunities. We know who we belong to because we always do certain things together. We have shared memories of past experiences. Planning for special events, reminiscing about what happened last year, looking at photographs and video tapes, cooking and eating favorite foods are examples that bring warm feelings of belonging and being connected together.

For step-families, the holidays can be challenging. Often family ties and traditions have been discontinued or strained, and different ones have replaced them. Families who have experienced divorce or death may have feelings of loss for family members and traditions that are no longer part of their life. Sometimes we are not aware of how important rituals can be until they are lost. Those who recently became a new family member may feel a bit left out or disjointed. One of the most important things step-families, as well as the entire extended family, can do is to help new members become a part of the clan.

It is easy to forget how these new "step" people may feel. Ask them if there are any special ways they like to celebrate the holidays. Be flexible and allow some new traditions to be included. Do the step grandchildren have any special foods that can be fixed? Is there a special story that was always read or an activity that was a part of their festivities? Are there decorations that can be included from their past? Were they involved in preparing a food or creating a decoration? New family members may appreciate the opportunity to share a story about their past.

After a few holidays spent together, awkward feelings will pass. Be tolerant if young children. Share stories about their other grandma, or what their dad or stepdad gave them as a gift. While this can sometimes be painful for adults who are trying hard to adjust to loss and new ways, children need the security of all their family members at holidays.

The holidays can be especially demanding on children. Children in step-families may have two sets of parents and four or more sets of grandparents to please. Everyone may want to spend time with the children, feed them and buy them gifts. While this may not seem like a big problem for most children, they can become overly tired from too many events. There may be feelings of jealousy between step brothers and sisters. How do you explain to a young child that his brother got twice as many gifts?

Try these practical ideas that may make holidays easier:

· Be intentional about including new members, helping them to fit in with others and to feel a vital part of the activities.

· Recognize the importance of holiday traditions, but stay flexible to new ways of doing things.

· Use family meetings to negotiate events and schedules. This can prevent over scheduling.

· Keep everyone informed of plans.

· Be willing to compromise. One happy tradition will be better that two that are stress filled.

· Remember that holidays are often an emotional time when memories and feelings are magnified.

Taking simple steps of preparation can go a long way in smoothing out transitions and building positive foundations for all your family members.

- Patti Faughn, family life educator

The holiday season sends people of all ages searching for special and creative gifts for loved ones. However, in all this excitement, a dilemma has crept into our gift-giving. The search for the perfect gift often becomes an inconvenience and empty ritual.

We seem to have less and less time to find those perfect gifts and we often live farther apart from loved ones. This has a profound impact on not only our gift-giving, but on all aspects of family life. Even under the same roof, family members are spending less and less time together. This raises concerns about family unity, especially between the young and old. There seem to be fewer and fewer opportunities for the youngest and oldest generations to interact, which is very important to family cohesiveness.

So, what does this have to do with the holidays and gift-giving? Holiday gift-giving can link the generations if thought is put into the gift-giving. What can you give that special loved one that will provide an added connection between the two of you? What kinds of gifts most readily lead to quality time spent between older and younger family members or friends? The quest for the perfect gift should become a search for ways to share time and build relationships. The gift should be seen less as a product and more as a vehicle for bringing people together across geographical and generational distances.

Looking from this perspective, here are some gift ideas that older adults and young people can give each other, as well as gifts they can develop together for others.

Gifts from Old to Young:

· A favorite family recipe (include a story about the recipe).

· An heirloom with a note or story about the item included.

· A quilt made with fabric or design that has family significance.

· Hand down a hobby. (Note: When I was 10 years old, my grandma gave me some yarn and knitting needles. She then taught me how to knit. It's a gift, skill and person I'll never forget.)

· Ingredients for a joint baking/cooking session.

· Seeds or tools for a garden to work in together.

· A family photo album with stories included.

· Written, audio or video taped stories about the older person's past.

Gifts from Young to Old:

· A package of supplies to make a book about family history. This could include photos, newspaper clippings and stories (written together).

· A book with questions about their life and space for the older person to answer the questions. This book can be a purchased or handmade with questions such as, "Tell about a pet you had as a child" or "What was your best birthday and why?"

· A computer game that the younger person can help install, teach to and play with the older person.

· Ingredients for a joint baking/cooking session.

Joint Giving/Co-Producing:

· Conduct a presentation, sing a song or play instruments together at a nursing home, a children's ward at a hospital as part of a community event or during your family holiday gathering.

· Cook and deliver a meal to a soup kitchen or homeless shelter.

· Join a community service project. Clean up a road-side, deliver meals to shut-ins or help with a fundraiser.

Gift-giving does not need to be an empty ritual or an inconvenience that reminds us of how busy we are. The process can be quite meaningful and enriching for all generations. The essence of a great gift is that it helps us locate the "we" rather than the "me." Use this gift-giving season as a time to look beyond our private worlds and become closer to our loved ones.

- Diane Ryals, family life and youth educator

Whether we are in a recession or our economy improves, employers always look for talented employees. From an employer's perspective there's the need to be competitive—the need to have employees with 21^st Century Skills. These skills include mastery of core skills such as mathematics, reading comprehension and science. 21^st Century Skills also include awareness of and literacy in technology, entrepreneurship and global issues.

The Partnership for 21^st Century Skills (www.21stcenturyskills.org) notes that "learning and innovation skills are increasingly being recognized as those that separate students who are prepared for a more and more complex life and work environments in the 21^st century and those who are not. A focus on creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration is essential for the future" (November, 2009).

Employers said they were struggling with ill-prepared workers in a survey conducted by Corporate Voices for Working Families (www.cvworkingfamilies.org) and The Conference Board (www.conference-board.org). Some employers deal with ill-prepared workers by providing remedial training to close the gap between the skills applicants come to the job with and the needs of the job. Other employers carefully screen applicants to avoid hiring anyone who lacks important skills for the job.

I write all this to remind individual workers in this working family's audience that all of us need to continually look for opportunities to strengthen skills that make us valuable to our employers. We need to be proactive in assessing our current skills and then seeking opportunities to develop our weaker skills. We can be open to co-worker's and supervisor's comments and assessments of our work, as well as finding ways to self-assess. For skills we have decided we would like to enhance, look for workshops and courses—both internal and external to our current workplace. Skills can also be developed by stretching ourselves in the job we already have and by volunteering for tasks within non-profits, whose causes we support, allowing us to practice and hone those skills.

Still not sure that taking initiative to assess and improve your skills could help you keep or secure a job? Consider this—employers also said they valued a strong work ethic and personal responsibility.

Following are a few websites that may help you assess skills and find opportunities to enhance your skills.

· Find your local Extension office by going to http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/state/index.html where you can contact local staff about job skills training and volunteer opportunities.

· Visit Illinois workNet at: www.illinoisworknet.com to assess your skills; and, then in some cases, take a review course on line.

· To check out course and workshop offerings at your closest Illinois community college visit: www.illinois.gov/learning/community_colleges.cfm

· Look for volunteer opportunities at: www.serve.illinois.gov/default.htm

- Judy Taylor, youth development educator

Growing up on a small farm in Central Illinois, being outdoors was a part of everyday life. It didn't matter what the weather was—whether it was a beautiful 70-degree F day in the spring, a 100-degree F day in the summer, or a 10-degree F day in the winter, I was outside. I had outside chores to do, but being outdoors was more of a personal need. I hated being cooped up for any length of time and found my disposition improved after I had gotten out of the house—just to walk around if nothing else. At 50, I'm still that way. If I can be outside for awhile each day, I feel refreshed and revived.

I've hopefully instilled that enjoyment of being outdoors in my kids. My daughter likes to take walks and bike rides, and my teen-aged son recently asked, "Why do we never see many of the neighbors outdoors?"

As a society, the time we spend outdoors has decreased dramatically. Along with this, there has been a corresponding increase in such things as childhood obesity, diabetes and other diseases related to inactivity. The term Nature Deficit Disorder, first coined by author Richard Louv, relates to the potential consequences of children not spending much time outdoors.

Studies show that time spent out of the classroom for learning during the school day is critical to the intellectual, emotional and physical health of children. Providing students with opportunities to directly experience the natural world can improve students' overall readiness to learn and their academic performance. It also increases self-esteem, personal responsibility, community involvement, personal health and the understanding of nature.

The benefits of enjoying the outdoors and being knowledgeable about the environment have been recognized even by legislators. Congress is currently working on the No Child Left Indoors Act. The Act would require states to develop environmental literacy plans that would engage students and teachers in outdoor learning. In addition, grants would be available to provide professional development opportunities for educators and development of environmental education curricula. The bill is currently working its way through the committee process.

As parents, it doesn't take an environmental education degree or an act of Congress to instill an enjoyment of the outdoors in our kids. While outdoor sports are a good, there are other activities that can be done as well. Sometimes, all that's needed is a walk around the yard or block. Taking the family to a park with trees is a great way for everyone to enjoy being outdoors and experience nature.

Being outdoors in winter, even for short periods, has a benefit as well. Receiving a few minutes of sunlight each day, particularly in winter, helps in preventing vitamin D deficiency. It can also aid in battling Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression that affects some people in the winter months.

So take a hike. Literally….

- Duane Friend, natural resources educator

A popular part of the American holiday season is kissing under the mistletoe. One tradition holds that kissing under the mistletoe increased the possibility of marriage in the coming year. In North America the tradition began in the 1880's.

Mistletoe is one of the most magical, mysterious and sacred plants of European folklore and has long been a symbol of love, peace and goodwill. Traditions involving mistletoe date back to ancient times. Mistletoe was widely used centuries before Christ as a religious symbol in pagan rituals. The ancient Druids of Britain used mistletoe to celebrate the coming of winter. Mistletoe was so s acred to the Druids that if two enemies met beneath a tree on which mistletoe was growing, they would stop their battle and claim a temporary truce.

Most of us know mistletoe as the sprig of small, leathery green leaves and white berries tied with a red ribbon. American mistletoe, Phoradendron leucarpum, is an evergreen shrub that is native to the United States. It can primarily be found growing in the tops of hardwood trees in the eastern U.S. from New Jersey to Florida and west to Texas and Illinois. It is hardy to zone 6 and is found in the southern most counties in Illinois. There are other species of mistletoe in western North America that are parasites on conifers. Most mistletoe sold during the holiday season is harvested in Oklahoma and Texas.

In Greek, the scientific name, Phoradendron, means "thief of the tree." All mistletoe species grow as semi-parasitic plants, living off the tree it attaches itself to. Mistletoe has specialized tissue (hasutorium) that grows into the host plant and combines with the living tree. While mistletoe plants have green leaves that supply some energy, they rely on their host for water and minerals supply. This dense evergreen mistletoe cluster is often found growing on trees such as oak, elm and poplar. The bushy clumps are easily observed in fall and winter when the host tree has shed its leaves. Mistletoe seeds are spread mainly by birds who feed on the berries. Birds digest the pulp of the berry and excrete the living seed.

Even though mistletoe has inconspicuous yellow or white flowers (so small their barely visible), it was adopted in 1893 as the official state floral emblem of Oklahoma. (This was 14 years before Oklahoma became a state.) Mistletoe appropriately represented the landscape of Oklahoma. It is reported that mistletoe served to decorate settler's graves when no other flowers were available. In addition, the evergreen mistletoe was said to symbolize the perseverance of early settlers.

A word of caution, mistletoe is toxic and should not be ingested. While severity of toxicity may vary, keep mistletoe out of reach of children and pets. For safety reasons, some companies have replaced the berries with artificial, plastic berries.

- Jennifer Fishburn, horticulture educator

Individuals who have H1N1 virus are encouraged to contact their physician for any medications. In addition, it is recommended that you have enough food and water supplies available so that you can stay at home until the sickness has passed.

Colds, flu and viruses seem to make the rounds during the winter months. To help stop the spread of these ailments, the key is to wash your hands, often.

Research has shown that hand washing in schools is the number one line of defense to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases. So when do you wash your hands?

· After using the restroom.

· Before eating.

· After touching any part of your body.

· After sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose.

· After touching surfaces that harbor germs—doorknobs, countertops, etc.

· Whenever they are dirty.

· Before preparing any foods and during food preparation when your hands become soiled.

To wash your hands, use warm to hot running water, and wet your hands. Work up a good lather with soap, making sure to wash between fingers, around your fingernails and part way up your arms. Work the lather into these areas for a minimum of 20 seconds (time to sing the ABC song). Then rinse with clean, warm, running water. Dry your hands using a clean paper towel. Use the paper towel to turn off the water and then open the door if you are in a restroom.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not effective for some types of viruses. Also, there is some concern about young children putting their hands/fingers into their mouth when the hand sanitizers have been applied. These products are poisonous and not intended to be ingested—so use caution if you have this type of sanitizer available to young children.

In the home, using disinfectant sprays on bathroom surfaces can help prevent the spread of germs when someone has the flu or colds. Spray the surface of the toilet seat, flush handle, doorknobs, faucet handles and other surfaces that have been touched.

Kitchen disinfectant sprays can be used in food preparation areas. If someone in your family is ill, make sure to use a sanitizing rinse for dishes, glasses and eating utensils. To make a sanitizing rinse, add one teaspoon of chlorine bleach (regular, not scented) to one gallon of warm (75 degrees F or above) water. Immerse the utensil in this solution for a minimum of one minute. Then place on the drain to air dry. Using a dishwasher is also an effective way to make sure kitchen ware is clean and sanitary

Vegetables with Lemon

1/2 head small cauliflower, cut into florets

2 cups broccoli, cut into florets

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tsp. fresh parsley, chopped

Steam broccoli and cauliflower until tender (about 10 minutes). In a small saucepan mix lemon juice, oil and garlic. Cook over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Put vegetables in serving dish. Pour lemon sauce over them. Garnish with parsley. Serves 6. Nutrition facts per serving: 50 calories, 2 grams protein, 6 gram carbohydrates, 3 grams fat,0 milligrams cholesterol,30 milligrams sodium.

- Shirley Camp, nutrition and wellness educator

Compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs) typically use 75 percent less energy, last up to 10 times longer and can lower energy costs in your home. However, you need to be aware that the powder in the CFL bulbs conta ins mercury. If the mercury or its vapor is breathed and absorbed by the body, it can cause neurological damage. CFLs are made of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Use extra care when removing a bulb from the package, installing it and replacing it. Never forcefully twist the CFLs into the light socket. Used CFLs should be disposed of properly. Check with your local hardware store to see if they will accept CFLs for recycling. You can also check with the municipal solid waste agency or go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org to identify local recycling options.

Mercury-containing light bulbs discarded by households are not subject to hazardous waste rules. They can be accepted by municipal-waste landfills. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends you take these lamps to household-hazardous-waste collection centers. Call your county recycling coordinator to find the center nearest you. If you choose to place the CFLs in the garbage, seal them in two plastic bags and place in an outside container for the next trash pickup.

For broken CFLs, EPA recommends the following clean up procedure: Have people and pets leave the room without going near the broken bulb. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes to reduce exposure to mercury vapors. Shut off the central forced air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one. Wash your hands after cleaning up the broken bulb.

To clean up mercury on hard surfaces:

1. Scoop up glass fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard, and place them in a glass jar with a metal lid or seal them in a plastic bag.

2. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up remaining glass pieces and powder.

3. Wipe the area with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes, and place in the glass jar or plastic bag.

4. Do not vacuum or use a broom to clean up the broken bulb.

To clean mercury on carpets and rugs: Do the previous steps of 1 and 2. If vacuuming is needed, vacuum the area the bulb was broken. Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a plastic bag and seal it. The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced air furnace or air conditioning and open a window. Keep the furnace/air conditioner off and window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming.

To clean clothing and bedding, etc. If they came in contact with the broken bulb or the mercury, throw them away. Don't wash them or the mercury will contaminate the washing machine and pollute the sewage. If only the vapor from the bulb was exposed to the clothes, bedding or other fabrics, they can be washed. If shoes came in contact with the broken bulb and mercury powder, wipe them with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.

Visit this website: www.ActOnEnergy.com which has a list of towns in Illinois with drop off sites for CFL bulbs. Click on For my home > CFL bulb recycling > Authorized CFL Drop-off Location List, or you can call 1-866-836-6918 for more information.

- Debra Bartman, consumer & family economics educator

Looking for ways to cut costs? Consider the following energy saving tips:

· Use compact fluorescent bulbs.

· Use lower wattage bulbs.

· Use timers to turn lights on/off.

· Keep refrigerator full, but not overloaded. Too much food can hamper air circulation. Vacuum condenser coils twice a year.

· Dry full loads of clothes. If buying a new dryer, consider getting one with a moisture sensor.

· Clean the lint screen on the dryer after every use.

· Check the dryer vent to make it is not blocked.

· Insulate hot water pipes, using material designed for this purpose.

· Check air ducts for leaks. Professionals should seal ducts in unconditioned spaces.

· Keep fireplace dampers closed when not in use.

· Set the thermostat lower when home is unoccupied, or consider installing a programmable thermostat.

"To say that times are tough for small business is an understatement. Reduced credit, wary customers and longer payment cycles are all causing many small business owners to lose sleep. But the good news is that small business is the most likely group to start the recovery. It is their persistence, innovation and entrepreneurial mindset that will turn the economy around," says Rick Wallace, Executive Director for Community Development Resources. "We want to support small business during this period by providing Tools for Business Success, an extensive online toolkit to start and grow businesses."

Tools for Business Success is a website developed by the University of Nebraska which can be tailored to other states and communities. The Illinois host is the Will County Center for Economic Development. Go first to www.toolsforbusiness.info, and then click on Illinois on the map to get to resources for Illinois residents. Here you will be able to research financial measures, operations manuals, business plans, employee relations tips, marketing ideas, laws and regulations and much more. You can find answers to your business questions and to help you grow and develop your business. From startups to mature businesses, Tools for Business Success can be your guide to better management.

On the site is a link to a free workshop, "8 Marketing Tips for Recession Stressed Entrepreneurs," produced by The Foundation for the Advancement of Marketing Excellence in Entrepreneurs, a non-profit, which educates small businesses in effective marketing. For eight days participants will receive a link to a short video that will give practical tips on how to operate during this recession.

The website also has a link to a free cash flow calculator by MPlans.com where business owners can quickly see how changing their inventory, collections, payable schedule and pricing will affect their cash flow. "This is a powerful, yet easy-to-use tool that can help you take control of your business," says Marilyn Schlake, Associate Director for the NebraskaEDGE program. "Managing cash flow is the key to surviving tough economic times."

It is also a time for businesses to strengthen relationships with their best customers. Community Development Resources' and the NebraskaEDGE Tools for Business' website have two resources to help. Businesses can use a link to an external site to send a professional appreciation card to their good customers, with the cost per card at under $1. You can also use the free customer survey tool. Businesses can set up a 10-question survey in minutes and put a link to the survey on all their customer emails.

Businesses can also verify that their website is optimized for the highest web traffic. There is a link to a free tool on the Tools for Business that will grade any website and offer ways to improve web traffic.

Surviving tough economic times often requires improving selling skills. Community Development Resources' and the NebraskaEDGE Tools for Business' site has an online store which includes sales training books. There are also free online workshops on selling.

These are just some of the tools available on the Community Development Resources' and the NebraskaEDGE Tools for Business' website. There are also business plan templates, funding sources, training resources and links to local business support. "Small businesses are the engine that drives our economy," says Wallace. "We want to support that engine."

- Earl Bricker, community & economic development educator

Plan Well, Retire Well:

www.RetireWell.uiuc.edu

Learn basic money management skills: http://MoreForYourMoney.extension.uiuc.edu

Getting Through Tough Financial Times: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/toughtimes

Healthy Indoor Air: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/healthyair

Learn about radon for healthy homes

www.TakeActionOnRadon.Illinois.edu