JAK CHAT

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 ...

More Summer Time? I Wish. Written by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann Are you ready for some long days? We'll get well over 15 hours of daylight today and tomorrow. Summer officially begins at 12:04am tonight/tomorrow, however you look at it! Wishing that summer meant even more hours (in number) to the day. Lord knows I, Miss Time-Challenged, could certainly use some more time. Okay, I am happy with more daylight. I thought with the change of season, it might be a great time for those who are new to Just Add Kids (aka JAK) , and those that have never " taken the class" , to do a JAK 101 and familiarize all as to everything Just Add Kids has to offer you, the busy parent, grandparent, child care provider... Read More... Let's get started!   The Just Add Kids business provides resources that are quickly and easily accessible for families looking primarily for kid-oriented, family-friendly activities and events. JAK currently focuses on serving those in Racine,...

The Journey of Hope Written by Heather Lojeski, co-director Faith, Hope and Love - Duffel Bags for Children in Crisis Last Thursday,  I had the privilege of being a part of the “Journey Home” experience; the life of a child entering foster care.  Our morning began on a school bus, and upon entering the school bus the group of us were given a black trash bag; which we would later find was how most times the children move their personal belongings. The beginning of our trip was a narration reminding us of our family, homes, and pets; we had left that morning on our way to this event.  How would we feel if a person of authority had interrupted our morning and said we were being moved from our home because it was no longer safe?  Would we be scared, angry, or sad?  Read more... As we continued on our drive, we pulled up to a home (we later found out it was the home of a foster parent). At this stop, a human services investigator and police department investigator boarded the bus.  They wa...

The Lump In My Throat    Written by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann I know, I know... if you are an avid reader of this newsletter and JAK Chat blog, follower of Just Add Kids , or a personal friend of mine, you might be thinking ..."Girl, just get over it, already!" Nah, no, your not, especially if you are a mom. You know what I am talking about. The choking back of happy sadness and/or the overwhelming pride. You get it every time you see your child up on the stage singing, dancing in a recital, reciting in a program, competing in a competition, and then there's the dreaded graduation. Okay, I know I am not alone on this one. Whether it's graduation from preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, 8th grade...you know it's a milestone that marks not only an accomplishment and a transition for your child, but it also brings on a sense of loss. "Losing" your baby, the fast passing of time, and you're getting older right along side of your ...

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...