JAK CHAT

April Wrap Up: Wrapped in Love                           In recognition of April being Autism Awareness month, Just Add Kids welcomes Colleen Nagle, a Burlington mom, as JAK's guest blogger. Autism is easy to misunderstand, misinterpret and mislead.  My son is the master of disguise and the best way to understand our kids is to assume nothing.  That is, assume only that they are kids, children, teens, silly, loving, intelligent and, well, simply put, no different than any other kid. Everything I have been told about Autism is wrong. Everything I know about Autism I have learned from my son.  My son with Autism.  He loves me just like his typical siblings love me, he cries when he misses me and he smiles when we are together again. Read more... He cannot speak.  He has never been able to express his favorite color or cartoon or game.  My heart longs to know him, to know the little everyday things: to know that he has favorites; to know that he likes the food I serve him; to know if ...

...The Extended Version                                   Perhaps, this commentary will be long and extended.  I don't know, I am just starting out.  However, the focus is on my "extended" former work family. I lost a former co-worker yesterday.  She passed away after a half year battle with lung cancer. While I wouldn't say Marie and I had a tight, on-going friendship, there still is and has been a special place in my heart for her, as well as other members of my Metroparent family.  Read more... Marie was hired only a few short months after I was back in 2000.  She, the creative director, whose talent was most evident from the reputable front covers of the monthly magazine.  And me, one of three full-time advertising sales reps.  In all, there were only about a dozen employees that pulled together and brought to the market several publications and special events...all women, with the exception of the head of our team, our publisher, "the man". It was a gr...

...Clothing: Corduroys and Boys                                   I’ll just start out and say it...not a good match! After having 3 girls in a row, I’ve had a lot of experience with the girly wardrobes.  My two oldest daughters are 22 months apart, so you know #2 got all of #1’s hand me downs.  With the exception of being  the projectile vomiter and having the normal diaper blowouts in her baby years, #1 did very little damage to her clothes.  Damage to mom’s and dad’s clothes absolutely!  It was as if a target was on us, with regurgitated or digested breast milk and rice cereal as the ammo.  Read more...   But that was pretty much it.  Her clothes were quite impeccable, which interestingly, has carried over into her teenage years.  Poor  #2, rarely ever had her own original clothes.  That, however, has changed, now that she is a teenager.  There is a distinct difference in the fashion tastes of daughters #1 and #2, now 16 and 14. So where does daughter number #3, next in line, fall?  ...

What are You Doing April 9th? by JAK Guest, Patty Gale a followup to March 31st: "A" is for April, and A Day 4 Dreams, Type A, and Amazin' Whatever it is, clear off your calendar and put A Day 4 Dreams on it! What is A Day 4 Dreams? We are very privileged to have been working with Tammy Flynn of Elegance Salon & Spa to bring her vision of helping kids to the Milwaukee area. A Day 4 Dreams is a fun, family fundraiser in which 100% of the proceeds benefit Children’s Hospital, Wisconsin and Make-a-Wish Foundation, Wisconsin. Your whole family will have a ball meeting and getting autographs from local sports figures such as:  Read more • Corey Hart of the Milwaukee Brewers • DeAndre Levy, Detroit Lion – former Milwaukee Vincent Player and WI Badger • Brian Calhoun – former WI Badger and Detroit Lion • Troy Dusosky from the Milwaukee Wave • Anthony Pettis and Justin Lemke of the UFC • Chris Oestreich – BMX Biker • Adam Mania – 2004 Summer Olympics Swimmer. Your All-...