JAK CHAT

Now, and in the month April and throughout the year, Just Add Kids encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making Southeastern Wisconsin a better place for children and families. By ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children, we can help promote children’s social and emotional well-being and prevent child maltreatment within families and our communities. Consider the following five protective factors that protect families that are under stress: 1 – Social emotional competence of children Children who learn how to identify their feelings, empathize with the feelings of others, share emotions appropriately and problem solve with peers and adults are more likely to succeed in school and have friends. Give your children many opportunities to talk about feelings and discuss positive ways of coping with their feelings like listening to music, play-ing sports, drawing or writing, etc. 2 – Knowledge of child deve...

#3 at age 8 A "Little" Girl Named "Pink Stink" Written by Just Add Kids, Founder Paula Herrmann   Daughter #3 brushed past me this morning in the kitchen. Yah, so? We were able to look at each other eye to eye, meaning our eyes were level with each other. Rrrgh...another one growing up.   I don't like it one bit. Another daughter on the cusp of teenhood. Please stop now!   Am I being selfish, or do you feel like this as you watch your kids grow right in front of your eyes? Read more... It's funny, it seemed as though she stayed a little girl for so long and I kinda expected her to stay that way like FOREVER . There is a 5 year gap in between her and her next older sister (#2) and 7 years in between her and #1, my oldest.  As 1 & 2 transitioned into teens and now into young adults, Pink Stink, which is one of the names we dubbed #3 at birth, seemed to get stuck. She's always been on the petite side. When the older two would cause me distress, there wo...

A Memory Crisis . . .  Avert Yours in Advance!             Sponsored by Pixologie, Inc.  It happened on December 1, last year . . . nearly two months ago. I lost my iPhone and, even today, I have the sinking feeling of sadness and dread over this. It is not because of the money I paid for the phone, or the frustration of having to figure out how to get a replacement, or the time invested into apps that I may or not even get again. I miss my family photos on it. We had a very unique and special Thanksgiving weekend (just five days before I lost the darn thing.) I was heartsick that I hadn’t uploaded the photos anywhere - including the memories of our family celebrating Thanksgiving in a new place with very special family, spending time together at a Christmas tree farm where my 12 year old daughter was able to take the reins of a four horse wagon ride, the special times working on crafts with family friends and so much more. Read more... I just knew I was going to remember some other...

  #4. Huh? Say What? [caption id="attachment_2171" align="alignright" width="270"] #4 hits double digits[/caption] by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann I must be losing it. Actually, I know I've lost it. My mojo. My groove. It happens. Just not this early in the winter. I think I know the culprit. It's my family's  Read more... new school year schedule. Um, Paula, it's been 3 months now.  I know. I know.  For the last two years it had been 2 kids at one school and the other 2 at another. Just two schools. Starting times 2 hours apart. The flow was quite perfect. This year, not so much. Four kids. Four different schools with four different start times and end times. I just can't seem to get the flow going. [caption id="attachment_2173" align="alignleft" width="225"] Texting after 10pm BANNED. Even if it's a stupid app![/caption] Okay, so how does this equate to making up another excuse for not gett...

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...

Taking Flight by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann Several weeks back I introduced you to the trio of Cindy, Rusty, and Gavin Schultz: a mom, a dog, and a teen with autism. (see JAK Chat: "You Had Me At...Hello!") Since our introduction at a special needs resource fair back in April, I've hung out with them at Gavin's R.P.M.(Rapid Prompting Method) Therapy, gone to his horse therapy; worked side by side with Cindy to bring the Kid's Carnival to life in late July; and followed along with their comings and goings (Brewer games, summer camp, hospital, Auditory Integration Therapy, to the pool, bowling alley, Gentle Worship, and the list goes on) mostly via Facebook. This trio has an amazing social life, of which admittedly, I am a bit jealous! Cindy exhausts me! Her hard work with A.S.P. and tending to Gavin's needs inspires me. However, her latest posts/texts/conversations about Gavin concern me. Please READ MORE... Gavin is non verbal. He can certainly com...

September 11th Memory Lapse by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann Back-to-School Coma ? I swear I live my life like a marketing campaign sometimes. (Previous campaign: End of School Year Hangover , which I think I just overcame a couple of weeks ago, right?). I don't know where my mind has been lately. Um let's see...4 kids, 4 different schools; surgery for the dog; car problems; new JAK staff, rummage sale... Well, there is more, but I think you get the picture. I'm freaking busy as all get out. I was not reminded of today's day of remembrance until late last night, something brief on the news. I didn't even have the subject on the docket for this week's blog. How in the world could I forget? In year's past, I'd approach and live through this anniversary heavy-hearted. Eerily, each year's September 11th to me, seemed to mimic the clear day that we had back on that Tuesday in 2001. Today, with all due respect, I didn't somberly tune into the n...

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...

...Hello! Meeting Cindy, Gavin & Rusty By Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann It might sound a little creepy to say that I fell in love with a relationship. Well, I did. I bumped into the trio of mom, Cindy; son, Gavin; and therapy dog, Rusty Schultz at a special needs resource fair a few months back. I, there representing the resources Just Add Kids has to offer families, including those with special needs* children. And "team Schultz"? They were there at the table next to me, sharing the opportunities available from the support group Autism Solution Pieces , selling merchandise, and seeing and making new friends. Wasn't too hard!  The adorable, extremely well-behaved Goldendoodle is a magnet.  Read More... I spent some time learning more about the group that I had been introduced to before via a phone call from co-founder and Vice-President Cathy Wathen months earlier. By meeting the other half Cindy, President of the founding team of A.S.P., as it is commonly r...

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 (Non)Prom Mom Written by Just Add Kids Founder Paula Herrmann Ladies and gentlemen, I have arrived.  Our firstborn is a senior in high school. She's 18. My husband and I are close to completion of raising a child. This past weekend we experienced our first prom. And if you know about Racine's prom, it's more of a big deal than most. As a mom of 3 daughters, you can only imagine the firsts that we've experienced and how before each of those experiences, I'd imagine how perfect each of those firsts would be (first dance recital, first day of school, first communion, first date)  Yeah, many times, it was all about how each of the occasions made me feel...how does she look? Isn't she adorable? I'm so proud.  This time 'round, was no exception, only experienced from a distance. Because this time...mom wasn't invited. :-( Read More... I don't quite know when the "mom at an arm's length" became her posture toward me. She was and stil...

The Never-Quite-Under-Control List – Are We All On This Page? Sponsored by Next Step Goals, LLC Written by Julie O'Keeffe Henzey Make appointment, replace florescent light, fertilize plants, activate credit card, return boxes, install new battery, buy present, call mom … there are so many things on my “to do” list. What about you? With my goal coaching background, I’ve got a pretty good handle on managing my time and tasks. And still, the loyal companion of my “to do” list is a low level anxiety.  Read More... Either anxiety settles in when I do something non-work related during work hours (even though I work for myself), when I feel like everything is urgent, or when I’m still chipping away at things at 10 o’clock at night and know I should just stop. When immersed in four to five different major volunteer, work, or home projects at one time, I can feel scattered and tense. I decided to reduce my stress by transferring both my “to do” list and the framework I use for it from paper...

Faith, Hope and Love - Duffel Bags for Children in Crisis  Written by Heather Lojeski We have hurting children in Racine County.  Some of these children may have been victims of abuse, abandonment, and neglect or were unable to be cared for by their family.  These children desperately need to experience unconditional love, a sense of hope, and faith in for the future. Did you know that in the United States approximately 500,000 children are in foster care on any given day? Read More... For approximately 125,000 of these children, there is no plan for reunification with their parents and little prospect for adoption. Three out of four children are separated from at least one sibling when placed in foster care. Children often change foster homes. When neglected, abandoned and abused children enter the foster care system; unfortunately most come with very little belongings besides the clothes on their backs. If they have a few items, they are typically transported in a trash bag. What ev...

Take It To The Edge Sponsored by Next Step Goals, LLC Written by Julie O'Keeffe Henzey We’ve all seen the movies where someone gets in a car and decides to see how fast it can go. Or you may recall Chuck Yeager boldly breaking the sound barrier by flying faster than the speed of sound. Some people with the need for speed even get their fix at the Bonneville Speedway on the salt flats of Utah during Speed Week, where world land speed records are made and broken. I’m not sure whether it’s the speed itself or the desire to go to the edge that captivates people. Many of us love to live vicariously through others as they risk life and limb to reach a goal. There’s simply a pure thrill in going to the limit. Just think Olympics. To win, you have to be on the razor-sharp edge of your ability. We love watching it all unfold. Normal people like you and me typically play it safe in most areas of our life. We don’t take unnecessary chances that could result in injury, physical or otherwise. W...

Special Children Need by JAK guest blogger, Amanda Burns, of Racine Hi there. My name is Amanda J. Burns, and I founded Children with Disabilities in February of 2007 inspired by my son who was born with Cerebral Palsy . The goal of this organization is to help fund programs that serve special needs children. These children require a lot of supplies at school and acquiring those supplies can get expensive. The teachers and teacher’s aides that work in the special needs classes purchase a lot of the supplies that are used at school. As there isn’t a budget for these supplies, the cost comes out of the pockets of the teachers and staff. The supplies include such things as laundry soap, tissue, baby wipes, dish soap, and liquid hand soap. Other supplies are school and craft items such as markers, paints, construction paper, and so forth. The children also go on outings that include going to Target, Wal-Mart , and the bowling alley. These outings require the parents and caregivers of the ...

Let it Flow Sponsored by Next Step Goals, LLC Written by Julie O'Keeffe Henzey What a rainy few days we’ve had in the past week. I’ve been in our unfinished basement pulling up fabric runners and mopping up water that inevitably leaks in through the wall each time we experience heavy rains. Box fans have been going full blast and I’ve left the lights on to warm it up a bit. As of today, we’re all good again. Water is amazing because as much as we try to control it, we can’t. Sure, we can dam it up or redirect it here and there, but our planet is covered with rivers that choose their own path, with no human intervention. Funny thing is, it’s the same with stuff that happens in our life. There’s a lot we can’t control. We can’t control when our kids will get sick or when we’ll get a flat tire. We can’t control when our job is eliminated during downsizing or when our mother will do something about her weight . The writer Pema Chodron talks about life as a river and our problems as the...

Springing Forward by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann Allow me to be the messenger of this annual reminder.  This daylight savings time has really crept up on me. You? Once again, we need to set our clocks ahead one hour before we go to bed this Saturday night, March 9th. As a mom, trust me, losing an hour of life, sleep, in bed, does not bring me great joy.  I am sure you can relate! At the same time, READ MORE... the extension of daylight into the evening is welcomed. It's amazing the impact that one hour can have on our bodies. Yet instead of being discouraged with the change, think more about a time FOR change, new beginnings: start fresh.  Isn't that always the beautiful thing with life? You can always start afresh with a new day or a new season.  Now if the weather would continue to cooperate (it's amazing what one day of sunshine and melting snow can do). I found myself the past couple of weeks just absolutely in a funk, so I made a change. This one was suggeste...

Snow Day: Little Man by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann He's my son. He's my youngest child. And he's alive and healthy...thank God!  I can attribute the fact that he was able to snuggle up on the couch with our puppy on Wednesday's snow day to his bus driver. Only a week ago, his life was nearly wiped out  Read More...  by a driver who flew through our bus stop, apparently completely oblivious to the fact that there was a big yellow vehicle stopped with flashing lights and stop sign, and a group of little people enroute to board, like any other school day at 8:30am. I remember I was a bit miffed at my 10 year old daughter for her deliquency in turning in a project and I was chatting with another parent who was sitting in her van discussing that fact (her son is in the same grade/had the same project).  I saw the bus approach with lights triggered prior to the bus making the full stop and I acknowledged to the kids that it was time to move toward the bus. Casually...

April is Prevent Child Abuse Awareness Month But we've got problems now. This minute. Today. Last week a  JAK-ie  (one of  Just Add Kids  friends, followers, mom) contacted me in a frantic, helpless state.  A young neighbor girl had been sexually assaulted and her own children witnessed the assault.  On top of that, the accused and admitted violator was released back into his home, right next door to his victim. Oh my gosh, what do you do? And you may have heard of this one...a high school gym teacher is charged with child enticement.  This is just what we know in one week in our community. READ MORE... Nothing happens by chance. This past Monday, I got together with the committee behind the Turn the Town Blue Campaign , Kenosha County's collaborative initiative to bring awareness to preventing child abuse and keeping kids safe in conjunction with National Child Abuse Prevention Month .  As we build toward April and the culmination of activities, information and events that wi...