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.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
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.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
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.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
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.
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.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
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.
"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.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
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.
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 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 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.
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