At this time of year, graduations from preschool to high school and beyond are filling our readers' calendars. They allow us to honor all of the people that made a dramatic impact on our children (teachers, coaches, friends) and to celebrate together. My favorite theme from a recent commencement speech was "don't make excuses for not being great." Everyone has unique talents and everyone has the ability to be great and contribute in their own way. As we're all finalizing our summer camp options for kids we wanted to provide some FREE activities too, so we gathered some of the best activities we can find and put them into our new Free Summer Activity Guide. This issue will help you get organized and stay current on challenging issues and opportunities for your family! Forward to a friend and share the wealth of resources. Best,
As summer nears, it's a perfect time to plan visits to the Children's Discovery Museum in Normal. CDM has special activities, camps and other events going on this summer: check it out by clicking here!
The school year is coming to a close, and that means papers, papers, papers, art projects, locker contents...and more paper! Take the challenge and take on the avalanche of paper now! Springfield Mom Amy Peterson has a multitude of tips on how to sort, what to keep and what to toss, and more. Read Amy's advice here!
A new loan program for working families is available from the Illinois Housing Authority and it makes home buying more affordable. The Welcome Home Illinois loan is available state-wide, including at Marine Bank. Read the details here!
Parenting teenagers can be a roller coaster. One day you are cherished -- and the next, you're an idiot. But sometimes the issue is bigger than day-to-day teen drama. Click here to read Memorial's Live Well online magazine's article that lists warning signs of psychiatric and learning disorders, and what to expect in a medical assessment.
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