JAK CHAT

 Empowering Parents to Equip Their Children for Success Written by guest mom blogger from Racine, Lindsay Knapp "The Parent Empowerment Initiative (PEI) is a community supported effort to give parents and caretakers the tools they need to raise children who are equipped for the future." Aside from being a mouthful to say, ... what is the Parent Empowerment Initiative really? Read more... In real terms - this initiative consists of 12 electives, taught by our own community members, on topics ranging from "finance management" to "leadership development in your children". We currently meet twice a month at Living Light Community Center for an hour on Tuesday nights to gain understanding and education on various subjects - both pragmatic and soft-skill parental. Our hope is to raise awareness regarding the needs within our community, and to address some of those challenges head-on through education and relational support for families. Currently, the city of Ra...

Trick or Treat! Smell My Feet! by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann Tis the season! Last week Just Add Kids brought you up to speed on many of the area's festive fall family destinations . With this amazing extension of beautiful warm weather, I hope that you have gotten a chance or plan to head out with the family soon to take in a pumpkin farm or haunted house, or both.  My family...we're in both boats (mellow & frightful) with the age ranges we've got. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we Herrmann peeps haven't waited too long and we can sneak in our seasonal fun this weekend. I don't hold up too well in cold, damp weather. Uh uh. So let's fast forward to the big gig: the day/night of your community's big candy haul...Trick or Treat! And this year, with Halloween landing on a Thursday, your kids could go trick or treating multiple times, multiple days. And no, I am not suggesting that. To each his own. Check out our listing of southeaster...

Chris. by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann [youtube=http://youtu.be/zuBSRC1zpHw]   From the mouth of Ashton Kutcher, as he accepted his MTV's "Ultimate Choice" Award at the 2013 Teen Choice Award's this past weekend. Amazing things he learned about before he was 19, when he was called by his real first name, Chris. (Ashton being his middle name, that he soon took on as he "put on" Hollywood as Ashton Kutcher, who catapulted to mega stardom, in my mind, as actress Demi Moore's cougar eye candy): 1) About "opportunity", 2) about "being sexy", and 3) "about" living life. The birth of MTV came at a time in my life, when I was pretty much the same age as the screaming girlies in the audience of this awards program.  Read more... Now, I am the mother of girls that are teens (18, 16 and 11 going on...well, she's a preteen, so it changes with the wind), MTV ain't what it used to be, and (much to my pleasant surprise) As...

Busy, Busy, Busy, Busy by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann I dreamed about a summer of chilling out, rest and relaxation, fun, a family getaway, getting more healthy and fit...Hmmmmm, at this juncture, it doesn't look too promising. I am not sure what went wrong. It all started okay once I got past the end of the school year hangover. As a mother of 4 kids, (now 18, 16, 11,9...yah, that old!) I figured out years ago, a mom's busiest months are May, September, and December. Maybe not in that order for everyone. I think I'd flip the last two months. But definitely May (into early June) tops 'em all if your kids are of school age. Might anyone refute that? Read More... So what the heck happened this past week that has had me flyin', drivin' by the seat of my panties? As I recap: I promoted and participated at the (wonderful) fundraiser for Autism Solution Pieces last Friday night; a graduation party and a birthday party on Saturday; 2 singing performances for...

Tradition Transition by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann Patriot (def): A person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors. I can identify with that definition.  And boy oh boy, along with many members of my family, community, and country, do we ramp up our patriotism with displaying the red, white, and blue (in our clothing, accessories, etc.) and that of Old Glory ...today especially, Independence Day . While I say I can identify with being a patriot, I can also say there are many more who put their money where their mouth is and are fighting and/or have fought the good fight. To those, I applaud you for your service and I am pleased to be personally celebrating side by side with a few of these good men today. Today, unlike many many (this is the 19th celebration of such) years of parade going, Herrmann family party and fireworks, marks the first year of noticeable difference. I didn't go to the parade. Say what? Read Mo...

Um, Smile! Written by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann   It was the highlight of my life, being a post-college, 20 something year old. Year after year. A tradition. I'd take off of work for a week, just so that I could spend every vacation day soaking up the sun, the sights, and the sounds; eating my chive fry lunch accompanied by a Miller Lite (or 5, who was counting?). Oh the life, before children. I LIVED for Summerfest ! Fast-forward to the summer of my 30th year. My first year of mommyhood. Why not bring baby in the stroller to see Kool and the Gang ? Baby-friendly...I think not. Kid-friendly? Read More... I would've questioned that a couple of years ago when I dragged our gang of 6 down to the Henry Maier Festival Grounds so I could share and relive with my tweens and littles the joy found in a plate of Saz's Chive Fries . Funny, they weren't overly impressed. My husband reflected back to the day his drinking ceased. Seriously. A day at Summerfest forever ...

F.B.O. Reyna! Written by Beth Bitner Reyna Moore is a local Racine girl who has recently been diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, which is a rare form of bone and soft connective tissue cancer.  She has a tumor in her left hip and upper femur. The cancer has also spread to her lungs.  She has undergone 5 rounds of chemotherapy thus far and is starting her 6 th round on May 29 th . Reyna is 8 years old and a middle child in a family of four children. She has two older brothers, Alonzo who is 15 and Mario who is 13, as well as a younger sister Maria who is 7 and doubles as her best friend. Her mother Trudy is a hardworking single mom who is trying her hardest to provide the best life possible for her children. Reyna’s cancer was found after she had been complaining about her leg hurting for a couple of weeks, and it was pretty much written off as growing pains. At 8 years old, cancer is probably the furthest thing from a parent’s mind.  Read More... Trudy decided to take Reyna to the doctor a...

The MAY-hem Continues If you read last week's blog, MAY-hem : A Mom's Life , you know that I am, just like many of you are, especially those with school-aged children, in the midst of probably THE busiest month of your parenting year. May, while crazy busy, is joyfully filled with spring concerts, recitals, banquets, tournaments, graduation celebrations, layered on top of your normal practices, games, and other extra-curricular activities. You ever wonder why they (who is they anyway? Hallmark?) throw in Mother's Day in May? Read More... ? Is it suppose to provide us moms with a day of respite while in the mix of mayhem? Perhaps, if you hit up a brunch.  Or on the other hand if we as moms weren’t spearheading the creation and/or purchase of gifts to celebrate our own mothers and mother in laws, etc.  Or if you are “lucky” enough to have hosted the celebration at your home, which was our case (thank you hubs) you are in a mad mad rush to get your house looking presentable fo...