"Relationship Reflection"



 

 

 

 

 

 

     I have to start by saying that family is very important to me.  Unlike many, I don't have friends that I hang out.  I really enjoy being at home relaxing.  The most important relationship I have is my spiritual faith which include God. This relationship allows me to see things from another person's perspective by not passing judgment.  This relationship is what helped me with the lose of my grandmother who was near and dear to me.  If I had to choose a best friend it would be her.  I considered and called her my mother.

     My husband is very important to me.  Our relationship today is stronger than ever.  we have learned how to communicate more effectively which allows us to make better decisions for ourselves and our family.  We try to attend every event together whenever we can.  Better communication has allowed us to develop and strengthen our identity as a whole.  We have had our ups and downs like many other couples but we always seem to pull through.  We listen for understanding and try t remember key points of the discussion in order to make sure that a clear understand has been received.

     My boys, well they know who has the upper hand.  My relationship with my boys is loving, caring, and supportive.  As a parent, I vowed that my children would no have to endure the things that I went through as a child.  I am protective but not as bad as I use to be.  I talked to both of them about peer pressure and relationships just to name a few.  They know what I expect when it comes to education and I don't bend.  I am a stern but fair disciplinarian.  I am trying to help them receive a college education and become a productive citizen of society.  Communication, engagement,  and trust are key factors to long-lasting relationships. 

     There are challenges in just about everything we do.  It is important to understand that all challenges don't have good intentions.  I have worked with people who come to me and telling me awful things about a co-worker and when she comes back in the room she act like her best friend just arrived.  I have experienced someone taking something I said and turned it completely around.  It is important to observe individual's character and get to know them before deciding on the type of relationship you would like to  have with that person.
     Being able to communicate and listen is important in the field of early childhood education because of the diversity of people.  Being open-minded and knowledgeable of the available resources will help one become a better person as well as an educator.

 



Intelligence

 Intelligence

Determining intelligence through testing has and still is a controversial topic.  Here in the U.S., standardized testing is one of the number one ways of determining an individual’s IQ.  This can be contradicting in my opinion because many people don’t do well testing.  Some experience anxiety which can result in the inability to concentrate and scoring low on a test.  Hands on and oral is a good way to test.  It all depends on the individual.  I have a 14 year old who was given an IQ test for the gifted program at school because of a recommendation from his teacher and he passed it.  He has a friend that was also recommended but he did not pass the test.  The environment was that same but how one child can do well and the other poorly but both had the grades to get recommended.  This is why it is important to consider all factors when accessing children.  In considering “the whole child,” it is important to note that a hands on assessment may produce a different result than a standardized test.   Because children learn differently, based on culture and inclusive environments.  Testing can be useful to determine disabilities, problem-solving skills, and instruction design. 

            In recent years, researchers in Asia and elsewhere have found that people in non-Western cultures often have ideas about intelligence that differ fundamentally from those that have shaped Western intelligence tests (Benson, 2003). Eventually, it may also help researchers design new intelligence tests that are sensitive to the values of the cultures in which they are used. There is a problem when trying to compare intelligence of different cultures in terms of standards, values, and concepts. "On the one hand, mindless application of the same tests across cultures is desired by no one," she suggests. "On the other, everyone would like to be able to do at least some comparisons of people across cultures (Benson, 2003).”
          I have seen stories on television regarding how important math and science are to the Asian culture.  I can remember one story of an Asian young man who was in college, committed suicide because he felt he was a disappointment to his family because he made a “C” in college.  Intelligence is very important in the Asian culture.  Some attend school for the majority of the day compared to the 6.5 hours the children in the U.S. attend school. 
          In assessing children, the ultimate goal is to determine a plan that fits the need of the child.  It is ok to use standardized test for determine learning disabilities, take into account the behavior of the child during testing.  If the child appears uncomfortable and scores low on the test, I think that another method needs to be considered.  Oral testing is also an option. 

 

 

Benso E 2003 Intelligence across culturesBenson, E. (2003, February). Intelligence across cultures. Retrieved August 8, 2014, from http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb03/intelligence.aspx 201408092055361561690569

 

Isolation

There are many struggles that are faced throughout life.  How you rebound from them is characteristic of one's strength and resilience.  Growing up without a mother directly in my life was challenging.  Starting in elementary school, it never dawned on me that having a mother in my life would make a difference, it did.  By the time I was in middle school it seemed that everyone knew that my mom was struggling with an addiction.  I  was taunted and teased.  Feeling hopeless and helpless, I did not want to go to school.  I made many excuses to come home early or not to go.  I felt that my mother and father did not love nor want me.  By this time, I was living with an aunt and her three children.  It was hard because I never felt like I belonged but I had no where else to go.  Attempts to contact my father were unsuccessful.  I started to stay inside and not talk to anyone.  Holding all my emotions inside, I became depressed and told my aunt that I felt alone. Helpless and isolated, I had to figure out a way to press on. Finding the courage to face fellow classmates and persevere was my biggest challenge.  I decided to try and beat the odds.  I was told by family members and classmates that I would end up like my mother, this was not something I wanted.  I started to put my time into my studies to become a better me. I graduated at the top of my high school class.  By this time, my mother was living a clean and healthy lifestyle.  She was married to a wonderful man and had a successful job.  I came to the realization that no one is perfect and I need to forgive in order to heal.  I confronted her and my father about my feelings and I forgave both of them.  I proved others wrong.  However, I did not seek counseling until I was an adult because it was a necessary step before I started a family.  Isolation held me back temporarily but determination helped my get through it. 

Nutrition/Malnutrition

Health is an important part of development as well as learning.  Starting when a child is in the womb, it is important that the child is receiving proper and adequate nutrition for growth and development.  We all know that many children do not receive the proper nutrition which can result in abnormalities of a child.  This is evident when a child is taken to the doctor and his weight and height are compared to the average child of the same age.  Nutrition is directly related to all aspects of growth and development which will influence health through adulthood.  A better quality of life is another result of proper diet and nutrition. 

This topic is meaningful to me because my youngest son exercises daily but still gained weight.  I noticed a change in the color of the back of his neck.  I immediately made and appointment with his doctor.  I was informed that many parents associate discoloration to poor hygiene but it a sign of diabetes.  She told me that although I cooking the right things, we were eating at the wrong time, late in the evening.  I had to change how I cooked because I get home late in the evening.  As a result of this the changes I made, my son's weight decreased and his attention span improved. 

There are so many children who do not receive the proper nutrition and its is sad because once they go home, many of them do not receive  a meal until the following day at school.  This was noticed in the local schools.  They coupled with a local organization and did food drives. Children are allowed to come in and get food to take home to ensure that they have something to eat when they go home.  I always give whenever there is a food drive going on because this could change and I could be needed assistance as well.  It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that children are well nourished and know the importance of good health.  Proper diet, nutrition, and exercise helps to extend life.  Studies have shown that this is when children perform at their best.

Childbirth

It was a hot day in June.  I was starting to feel the toll of the added weight that pregnancy added to my body. The day started out as normal with cleaning and then cooking.  I experienced complications throughout this pregnancy but this particular day was different.  By evening, things started to change, I started experiencing pain that I had never felt before, more frequent and more severe.  I became very nervous and woke my husband so we could go to the hospital.  Once I arrived, I was taken to labor and delivery immediately due to previous complications.  I felt apprehensive and overwhelmed of the fact that I was about to become a mother, responsible for another human being. The baby was delivered by noon the following day.  My first impression when I saw him has been described to me as shock.  Naturally, the motherly-instinct began.  This was a special moment in my life where I thought I was not prepared at all but I really was! Preparation is key to any task including childbirth, mentally and physically. 

As my son grew older, I learned to teach him based on his personality.  We grew and learned together.  This was an experience I will never forget.  The care I received during my pregnancy allowed me to have a healthy and well-nourished child with no major health issues.  This is a key factor in child development, this will allow them to focus better on the task at hand.