What I have Learned

 

 

One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families from diverse backgrounds is that I will be able to embrace them and treat them with respect and dignity. I also hope that I will be able to relate to them in some way and make them feel welcomed and loved.

 

 

One goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field when it comes to diversity, equity, and social justice is that educators and families would have scheduled required meetings to be able to learn about the backgrounds of children and families in an effort to better serve and educate children and their families.

 

 

I would like to thank my colleagues for sharing your thoughts during this past eight weeks. It always seems like the eight weeks go by so quickly. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from each of you. I think we all share the goal of wanting to improve the lives of the children we come in contact with. I hope that we will all continue to make it our life's mission to serve children and their families. I wish you all the best on your personal and professional journeys. Peace

 



Start Seeing Diversity Blog: Creating Art

 

I immediately thought about a song that was written by my husband when I read the assignment. It describes the mentality of so many young African American males who were not given the opportunity to become who they wanted to become because of biases, discomforts, and trauma. This song does not in anyway depict my husband's life. He is simply describing the lives of young African American men from the "hood." 

 

 

 

I Don't Want to be a Gangster

 

 

This is the tale of a young man who fell victim to an underprivileged upbringing.

 

I be on the block with the rocks off in my socks

 

Trying to hustle up a knot

 

I ain't worried bout a cop

 

Cause I'm a G, ain't nobody out here gone mess with me.

 

I been on my own; I ain't never had a family

 

My mama using drugs

 

Papa in the penitentiary

 

And he ain't getting out

 

They gave my pop a whole century

 

Think I see some him in me

 

That's what my granny say

 

I don't want to live this life

 

But I don't see no other way

 

When I was a little kid I used to look up at he stars

 

Thought I'd be the first man to make it up to Mars

 

But I ain't get no help in school

 

So I gave up on my dream

 

And I just went to getting it with this his triple beam

 

But sometimes I sit and wonder what would happen had I never gave up

 

Had I never took the attitude that I don't give a damn

 

Cause I really give a damn if the truth is really told

 

And I'm not the only one

 

All the real G's know

 

That I don't want to be a Gangster

 

By: Adam Wells



Gender, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

 

 

When observing books, cartoons, toys, and other tools associated with young children today, it is my opinion that these things show how homophobia and heterosexism permeate the world of young children. As I watched some popular television shows with my own children, I couldn't help but notice just how sexist the world really is. Likewise, I realized that I too have become a part of the problem without even knowing it. I noticed that the female characters did things like pick flowers, help the mom wash dishes, play with dolls, etc. On the other hand, the male characters played sports, rode bikes, and helped the dad fix things around the house. We teach our children early that there are certain things that boys do and certain things that girls do. While reading a book about colors to my children, I found myself being guilty of promoting sexism. I asked my daughter what her favorite color is. I immediately asked if pink or purple were here favorites, and I asked my son if blue or green were his. I thought about topics that we have been discussing in class and corrected myself. I told them that they could like any colors that they chose. As a result of the things that I am learning, I think I am going to be conscious in discussions and interactions with my children and other children.

 

 

Sadly, I know a lady who often tells her grandson that he is going to be gay because he is such a "mama's boy." This makes the boy sad, but I don't think that he fully understands what she is saying or what she means. I always get upset when I hear her say that. I have told her that she shouldn't say those things to him. I don't think she is intentionally trying to hurt him, but that is exactly what she does every time she says it. I can just see it in his face. I think that things like this can have a negative effect on all children. We should allow children to grow up and be who they want to be instead of what we want them to be. This might be hard for many to accept, but we have to learn to accept people for who they are. 

Closing Post

It seems that 8 weeks really do just fly by. I have learned so much from all of you. This class has been interesting to say the least. Communication is something that we do from birth, but it is something that many of us never really completely master. I think it is most certainly an area that could always use improvement. I definitely think that we have gained some valuable information on how to become more effective communicators. It's up to us to put this information to use. Thank you all for the thought and post throughout these 8 weeks. Thank you for allowing me to share my experiences with all of you. I look forward to continuing this educational journey with you.

Team Building

 

 

When I think about the groups that I have been a part of, the adjourning stage was often not the hardest. I have often been in groups in which the other group members were not pulling their weight. They left the work up to a few people, and I always found myself being a part of the few. As a result, I was usually looking forward to the adjourning stage. However, this has not always been the case. One of the most enjoyable groups that I have been a part of was my youth group at church. We formed a bond that I still treasure to this day. I am still friends with many of them. I was very sad when I turned 18 and headed off to college. The adjourning stage was very difficult.

 

I do feel that high performing groups are hardest to leave. I've often found myself eager to leave low performing groups because I was exhausted from having to do all of the work. My church youth group was an extremely high performing group. I became so close to my group members that I considered them to be family. When the members got ready to go off to college, we would have a special dinner to honor them. It was always such a sad occasion because we never wanted any of the members to leave. I remember being happy to be going to college but sad that I had to leave my group members. I now realize that I really wasn't leaving them because we had already formed an unbreakable bond.

 

I'm not sure how I will feel about adjourning from the colleagues of my Master's program. I assume that it will also be a bittersweet time. I have had the opportunity to get to know some truly amazing people who are making a major difference in the early childhood field. I have enjoyed learning from them through the experiences that they share each week. It has become a part of my life. My life has been very stressful and being a part of this program has been somewhat of an outlet for me. I know that it will be difficult to leave.

 

In the "adjourning" stage the project is coming to an end and the team members are moving off into different directions (Abudi, 2010). This is an important part of the team building phase. It gives the members an opportunity to reflect on the tasks that were performed. Hopefully, the tasks were completed and successful. This also provides the team the opportunity to say good-bye to each other and wish each other luck as they pursue their next endeavor (Abudi, 2010).

 

References

 

Abudi, G. (2010). The five stages of team development: A case study. Retrieved from http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/the-five-stages-of-team-

          development-a-case-study.html

 

 



Who I am as a Communicator

 

 

 

In evaluating the results of the two people who took the test, I found the fact that my former coworker thought that I enjoy public speaking to be the most surprising. Actually, I despise it. I always have. It is something that I want to improve because I know that it is something that I have to do especially in the early childhood field. She has heard me speak in front of small groups several times, and she felt that I've always done well. As a result, she thought that I liked doing it. I learned that I need to improve my listening skills as well. This week's lesson taught me that others do not always see us the way that we see ourselves. We should be mindful of how others view us. I also learned that a person can tell if you're not really being attentive no matter how hard you are trying to act like you are. 

Communication

 

 

 

 

When I think about diversity, I definitely feel that it effects the way that we communicate with others. I know that I find myself communicating differently with people who are not like me. For example, I feel like I have to make sure that I speak correctly when I am around highly educated people. I generally speak correctly anyway, but I find myself making more of a conscious effort to do so when I am around certain individuals. I think  that they will misjudge me if I don't do so. Another example is how I communicate around extremely religious people. I was raised in a religious home, but I do not consider myself to be super religious. I am a Christian, but I have learned to respect people of all faiths, religions, beliefs. etc. However, I find myself trying not to say the wrong thing around people who are very religious. I often feel that those kind of people won't have the desire to be around me if I don't present myself in a certain way that is acceptable to them.

 

 

I am learning that I should be myself. It is always good to be respectful towards others, but I don't have to stop being myself. People should respect us for who we are and not for who they want us to be. I think that I can become a more effective communicator by not being ashamed of who I am. I have to love myself and trust that others will do the same. If not, that is okay. I have to find comfort in myself. As long as I'm being respectful and understanding towards others, I should be okay with that. 

Professional Hopes and Goals

 

 

One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families from diverse backgrounds is that I will be able to embrace all children and families with respect and love.

 

 

 

One goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is that all early childhood professionals will work diligently to overcome personal biases in an effort to fully embrace children and families from diverse backgrounds.

 

 

 

I would like to sincerely thank all of my colleagues for the discussion posts, responses, and blog assignments. I have learned so much from all of you in regards to the issues of diversity, equity, and social justice. I think we all desire to positively change the early childhood field so that all children and families are treated equally. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all of you through the stories that you have shared. We all have a story to tell. I wish you all continued success throughout your educational and professional journeys. Be blessed!

Welcoming Families From Around the World

Nicaragua is a country in Central America. It has coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea, in the east, and the North Pacific Ocean, in the west, and has Costa Rica to the southeast and Honduras to the northwest.
Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America with an area of 130,373 km² and contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua (Lake Nicaragua) or Cocibolca.

There are about 5.6 million Nicaragüenses in Nicaragua. The majority of the population is mestizo and white. Nicaraguan culture has strong folklore, music and religious traditions, deeply influenced by European culture but enriched with Amerindian sounds and flavors. The main language is Spanish, which is spoken by about 90% of the population.

I would do the following things in preparation for my new Nicaraguan student:

1) I would familiarize myself with the Spanish language in an effort to communicate with my student and the family.

2) I would ask the family to tell me about their family culture so that I can relate to the child.

3) I would familiarize myself with traditions in the Nicaraguan culture.

4) I would have pictures of things in the Nicaraguan culture displayed in the classroom.

5) I would give the student the opportunity to tell me about himself/herself.


I would hope that these preparations would give me the opportunity to get to know the child as well as become familiarized with his or her culture. Becoming familiarized with the culture and getting to know the child will help me to better serve the child and his or her family. Becoming familiar with the language will help me be able to communicate with the child and the family. I would hope that these preparations would be helpful in educating and serving the child and the family.

Resource

 

www.wikitravel.org

When I think about bias, prejudice, and oppression, I think about one of my favorite movies, A Time to Kill. This movie was filmed here in my hometown, Canton, MS. The character Carl Lee Hailey, played by Samuel L. Jackson, experienced bias, prejudice , and oppression. He killed to two men who raped his young daughter. However, he was Black, and they were White. There was no way that he was going to receive a fair trial in MS. At the end of the movie, Hailey's attorney, Jake Brigance, came to visit him at the jail. He basically told Carl Lee Hailey that he didn't have anymore to offer. He felt that they were going to lose the case. After talking with Hailey, Brigance gave a great closing argument the following day. He told the story of how the little girl was raped. There wasn't a dry eye in the courtroom. He ended by telling the jurors to imagine that the little girl was White. As a result, carl Lee Hailey was acquitted.

I was eleven years old when this movie was released. I remember going to the watch the movie being filmed almost every night. It was a big time for my hometown. However, I really didn't know what the movie was about. Therefore, I was stunned when I went to see it at the movies. At that moment, I felt that the color of my skin would make my life harder. I was young, but I left the theater feeling as though I was not good enough. Now that I am an adult with children of my own, I realize that I am not inferior. When I became more educated and knowledgeable, my mindset changed. I'm grateful for growth. A Time to Kill is still one of my favorite movies.

 

 

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

 

 

 

While visiting with my uncle from Florida this weekend, he told me a story about his days of working as a mechanic. My uncle was a skilled worker who had been highly trained to do his job. However, he was often looked down on because he was black. The other men who were all white would often tell him to pick up heavy boxes or fix different things around the shop. They never took the time to find out what his job title was or what his job description entailed. They simply ordered him to do these things because they assumed that he was incapable of doing their job because he was black. Of course, they never said that they were asking him to move heavy boxes because he was black, One day the manager called a meeting and informed the other employees that my uncle was a skilled worker just like everyone else. He said that he never had anymore problems after that day.  I wasn't really shocked by the story that my uncle told me, but I was thankful that his boss cared enough to address the issue. Sometimes people are guilty of doing and saying harmful things because they are  unaware that they are doing and saying those things.

 

The observations this week helped me to realize that we are all capable of having certain biases and prejudices against others. We have to make a conscious effort to overcome these biases and prejudices so that we are treating al people with dignity and respect. Everyone wants to be loved and accepted. I know that I am going to do a better job of being respectful towards other people. It's something that I try to do anyway, but this week's discussion makes me want to do it even more!

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

 

 

The answers that I received about culture included elements such as religion, race, food, clothes, beliefs, and language. These are all things that we have been discussing and learning about.

 

 

Some of the things that were omitted in the answers that I received were family expectations and rules, our way of thinking, goals, gender and child roles, health care, and work.

 

 

After studying diversity and culture and asking people about their perspectives, I think that I have a better understanding. I realized that culture and diversity encompasses way more than just the things on the surface. Just about everything we do is based on our culture and diversity. I am now more conscious about my culture, and I realize that my culture has made me who I am. I have never thought much about how culture affected me before now.

 

 



My Family Culture

 

 

The three items that I would take with me to this foreign country would be my Bible, my mother's picture, and my grandmother's picture.

 

 

The Bible is representative of my family's faith. I grew up in a very religious household. having the Bible with me would remind me to remain faithful that one day I would be able to return to my home.

 

My mother is such a spiritual woman. I love her so much for the things that she has taught me, and the things that she has done for me. Having her picture with me would remind me to stay strong and not give up.

 

My grandmother was the matriarch of our family. She taught me many things, and I am grateful for that. She is no longer with me physically, but her spirit lives on inside of me. She is my guardian angel.

 

If I was told that I could only keep one item, I would completely devastated. It would be hard for me to choose, but I would choose the Bible because my grandmother and mother are always with me. They are a part of who I am.

 

This exercise has taught me that life presents us with difficult choices. We have to be willing to accept that and realize that we can survive. I also realize that our family culture will always be a part of us and it should be. We can embrace the good things and move on from the bad ones. 

When I Think of Research....

 

 

One of the insights that I gained is that selecting topic is a very important step in the research process. One must choose a topic that is of interest. I think that I was so leery about the research process because I often felt like I was being  forced to conduct research on topics that were given to me. Being able to actually choose my own topic helped my the process easier. Another insight that I gained is about experimental designs. I learned that experimental designs will typically have two groups. There is a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group receives the independent variable or the treatment. The control group does not receive the treatment. Like most things in life, the research process presents many challenges that we must be willing to overcome. One of the many challenges in conducting early childhood research is being sure to protect the rights of children and their families. We never want to do anything to jeopardize the safety of young children.

 

 

Eight weeks ago, I was a nervous wreck about starting this class. I had not had the best experiences with research in the past. I got afraid just from hearing the word. However, my whole attitude about research has changed. The process was broken down in a way that I was better able to understand the necessary steps. I also realized that many of my colleagues felt the same way that I did. This helped me overcome my fear because I knew that I was not alone. Each week, we were introduced to a new step in the research process. It was broken down in a w ay that was easier for me to understand. I now know that I have the necessary tools and information to be able to conduct research. I am grateful to Dr. Pickens and my colleagues for helping me be able to overcome my fear, one week at a time.

 

One of the challenges that I faced in the class was the fact that some unexpected things occurred in my personal life. I got a little behind. I also have a very stressful life at times. I just had to realize that we all go through things and face challenges in life. I decided to keep pushing forward and not give up.  I often wondered how I would have the time to conduct the research. I know that I have to learn how to use my time more wisely.  My research topic question was if placing children diagnosed with ASD in structured environments would improve their ability to talk. I wondered if I would have a large enough study group. 

 

I did not really consider myself to be an early childhood professional when I first started this program because I was not working in the field. I even changed my mind about which aspect of the field I wanted to engage in. I realized that I wanted to be an early childhood advocate, especially for those children and families living with disabilities. One day it hit me that I was already an advocate. As a result of this course, I have learned that we are all researchers whether we know it or not. We are always trying to provide answers to the many questions that exist. As early childhood professionals, it is our responsibility to conduct research in an effort to improve the lives of young children and their families.  

International Awareness

1. The first consequence of learning about the international early childhood filed is that I became more aware about the issues and trends that exist internationally.

2. The second consequence is that I became more knowledgeable about organizations that I can contribute to in an effort to help bring an end to some of these issues like poverty.

3. Lastly, I was able to learn ways to better help children and families in my own community.

One goal for the filed of early childhood as it relates to international awareness is to continue to serve children and their families and help them gain access to a high quality education in hopes that children will one day give back to their communities by alleviating the negative effects of these issues and trend that exist. 

National Black Child Development Institute

The website that I chose to study is that of the National Black Child Development Institute. Being an African American who lives in a town that is predominantly made up of African Americans, this website was of much interest to me. I think that the section entitled "Who We Are" was most interesting to me because it talks about the mission of the NBCDI. I, like the NBCDI, have the desire to help children and families in my community through education and advocacy. Because my son has autism, I have become passionate about helping those with special needs. Being that most of the children in my community are Black children, they are the ones who I will be privileged to serve. I think that there is a great need for more organizations like the NBCDI.

The information about family engagement reaffirmed the fact that I also want to help families understand the importance of familiy involvement in the educational journeys of our young children. I know that this is a controversial issue. However, it is my belief that family engagement is crucial. The NBCDI has a program called the Family Empowerment Program which helps families improve positive influence in the lives of their children. I am certainly looking forward to being involved in my own children's education, and I want to help promote positive influence with other families. NBCDI was proud to announce that President Obama talked about focusing more on early childhood education during his State of the Union address.I was glad to know that the NBCDI has chartered an organization in my home state of Mississippi. I definitely feel that the NBCDI is doing an excellent job promoting education and advocacy in our Black communities. It is always good to know that positive things are taking place in our communities, families, and schools.

International contacts

Getting to know International Contacts

I have been able to get a response from any of the international professionals who I contacted. Therefore, I viewed the Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre's website. I chose to read about China. China has the world's largest population at 1.27 billion in 2001. China has made great strides in reducing the percentage of people living in poverty. By 2001, 5 percent of China's population lived below the national poverty line. There has been a lot of economic and social transistion in China which has lead to the reduction in poverty. However, the poverty rate has increased in Western China. China has carefully used foreign investment. In fact, china receives more foreign investment than any other country in the world except for the US. 4.2 million Chinese children live in absolute poverty, and 8.7 million live in disadvantaged conditions.



Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

I decided to contact early childhood professionals in Mexico and Nigeria. I looked at the resources that were given for the blog assignment. Those were the two that stood out to me. I have the desire to one day become fluent in Spanish so I chose to contact a professional in Mexico. I have always been intrigued by the cultures that exist in Africa so I chose to contact a Nigerian professional. However, I have not yet been able to get a response from the professionals. Therefore, I may have to choose the alternative resource.

I viewed the sites that were listed in the second part of the blog assignment. I was most interested in the National Black Child Development Institute's page. Being an African American, I want to learn more about early childhood programs that meet the needs of our young children in the Black communities. I look forward to learning more about this organization throughout the duration of this course.

My Supports

When I think about the things and people in my life that/who support me, I automatically think about my husband and mother. I also think about other family members and friends. They all have been there to support me throughout my life. However, my mom and husband tend to support me the most on a day to day basis. My husband provides financial support because I am not working right now. He also provides emotional and physical support. I am very blessed to have him in my life. Things can become very challenging for me being at home with both of my children all day. My son goes to therapy three days a week. This can be extremely challenging. I often feel like I am doing things alone, and I get so frustrated. My mom usually stops by to help me get the children in the house. She will often stop by after work so that I can go to the grocery store and run other errands. I really appreciate what she does to help because life can get overwhelming at times.

The challenge that I have chosen is having to have an emergency surgery that would I have to recover for six weeks. I know that this would be very challenging for me because I am the one who basically runs the household and takes care of the children while my husband works 12 plus hours a day. I know that this would require emotional support from family and friends. It would also require financial support from them. I would have to have someone care for my children and make sure that my son continues to go to therapy. I know that my mom will probably take on this task. I would also need someone to fix meals for my family. This assignment has made me appreciate the supports that I have in my life because I would be totally lost without them. My mom and step dad are the best because they are really the only ones who will help me with my children when I need to get a small break. I am truly blessed to have them in my life. My husband makes sure that I don't have to worry about bills being paid which allows me to be home with our children. My son who has autism requires more attention than I would have ever imagined. I am grateful for the people in my life who provide support.

My Connections to Play

"Whoever wants to understand much must play much." Gottfried Benn
"If I get to pick what I do, then it's play...if someone else tells me that I have to do it, then it's work." Patricia Nourot






My parents and grandparents always encouraged me to play. My dad was a teacher and basketball coach so he taught how to read when I was 3 years old. He also played sports with me. My mother was so loving and nurturing that I played with dolls because I wanted to be just like her. Play was a very important part of my childhood. I learned so many things from engaging in fun activities. As an adult, I still like to play games with my family and friends.

As a child, we engaged in many outdoor activities. We even created games to play. This is something that has certainly changed. I rarely see children playing outside anymore. Modern technology has taken over. children are more interested in the new age technological devices. I desire for our young children to become more active in outside activities. I would also like to see our young children reading more books instead of being on the computer, video games, and electronic tablets.

Play was an essential part of my childhood. Some of my my fondest memories come from times when I was engaging in fun activities with my brother, other family members, and friends. I was able to learn so much from playing with others. It taught me how to follow directions, share, and get along with others. As an adult, I am still using those valuable life lessons that I learned as a child.

Relationship Refelection

Relationships are important to me because they are at the foundation of my development. I have become the person I am today because of the relationships that I have experienced throughout my life. Relationships help us any so many ways. I honestly do not know where I would be or what I would be doing without the relationships that I have been blessed to form. Unfortunately, not all relationships are positive, but I have learned valuable life lessons from the negative and positive relationships. I guess that's the good thing about relationships. We definitely learn from them.

My husband, Adam, and I have been married for 4 1/2 years. We have been together since we were 11 years old (puppy love). That makes 16 years together. I like to think that God created him just for me. We have a partnership because we work together to make sure that our family is cared for. He is not only my husband and father of our children, but he is my friend. We share similar interests like history, politics, and sports. I think that we make the perfect team. We make each other laugh. Not everyday is perfect. We have been through many trials and tribulations, but God has blessed us to come out on top together. He supports me in everything that I do, and I do the same for him. I know that he has my back, and I am grateful to have him in my life.
The relationship that I have with my husband is a positive one because we love each other, and we want the best for each other. We are better people because of how we have influenced one another. We developed our relationship by spending time together and getting to know one another. We continue to develop and work on our partnership everyday. We have to remember to continue to focus on our marriage despite how hectic our lives can sometimes get.

The relationship that I have with my children is a very special one to me. They need me, and I need them. I have always wanted to be a mother. My children are my greatest blessings. Motherhood is challenging. I never know what each day will bring. I'm usually exhausted at the end of the day, but I wouldn't trade them for anything. They are my motivation. I strive to be a better person because of them. I desire to teach them valuable life lessons like my parents taught me. I want them to be able to achieve their goals and reach their full potential whatever that may be.

The relationship that I have with my children is positive because they bring out the best in me. I decided to stay home with them just so that I could work on building a positive relationship with them. This is something that very important to me. I spend quality time with each one of my children everyday. I always want them to know that I am here for them when they need me. A mother's love for her children is truly unconditional.

My mother is my best friend. She has taught me everything that I need to know about being a wife, mother, and productive member of society. My mother often tells me that she admires me because she feels that I am a great mother. I always tell her that I learned from the best. She has always supported me in everything that I've done. She has been there for me when it seemed that everyone else had turned their backs on me. My mom has made many sacrifices to make sure that I had everything that I needed. I am blessed to be able to call her Mom. God could have chosen anyone to be my mom, but he blessed me with her. Most people say that their mom is the best, but mine really is!! :)

My relationship with my  mother is positive because she gave me life. She has always been in my corner. Although I am an adult with my own family now, my mother continues to love and support me just as she did when I was a child. She continues to give me advice, and she doesn't hesitate to let me know when I am doing something that isn't right. We continue to develop our relationship by spending time together every chance that we get. I absolutely love her.

One of the challenges that exists in developing and maintaining positive relationships is distance. I think that it is difficult to work on developing and maintaining healthy and positive relationships when two people live in different places. I have had relationships with people that were destroyed because of distance. Another challenge is distrust. When you don't trust someone, it is hard to develop a positive relationship with that person. It's like you're always looking over your shoulder. Trust is a major factor in forming positive relationships. Reciprocity is also another factor in developing positive relationships. Both people have to willing to give just as much to the relationship as the other person. You can't have one person giving while the other person is simply taking.

I like to think of the relationship that I have with my husband as a partnership because we are definitely partners. We work together to make sure that our family's needs are met. He works outside of the home while I work inside. We have the same goal, and that is to make sure that our children are properly cared for. We are a team.

I think that my experiences in relationships/partnerships will help me to one day be an effective early childhood professional. My partnership with my husband has taught me how to work with others while trying to accomplish a goal. This will help me to be able to work with my future colleagues. My relationship with my mother has taught me how to deal with constructive criticism because I know that she always has my best interest at heart. I think that this will help me to be able to work with my boss. My relationship with my children has taught me how to love and care for someone other than myself. I know that they are totally dependent on me. This will help me in caring for the children that I will one day be blessed to work with. Lastly, being an advocate for my son who has autism is helping me to be able to be an advocate for other children with special needs.