A quote about children
Working with children may not make you rich financially, but it has enormous benefits to your soul-Chinese Fortune
I received this while dining at Chinamen's Buffet in Colonial Heights, Virginia in January of 2007
Friday, December 24, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Testing for Intelligence
As a Head Start employee, I believe 100% in testing a child holistically. I also believe that we have to develop holistically as well. I think we need to have as much knowledge about a child's emotional health as well as cognitive abilities. When we talked about stressors for children previously, that gave us examples right there of the many things that can affect a child's cognitive abilities. We as adults must think about when we are going through some type of stress, are we really able to focus? Are we thinking about what particular thing is bothering us or concentrating on the workshop we are in or a training that we are sitting in? Kids have that same problem. It's hard to focus if you're thinking about the fact that last night the police burst into your home and took your mom to jail. Therefore, I think emotional assessments are very necessary. I looked into assessments in Australia and found that Primary school is for children ages 5-12 and children are assessed beginning at age 7 with a NAPLAN test. I also found a program called Reach for the Stars that does assessment of children for the schools. The tests Reach for the Stars will perform are: Sensory, Developmental, Social Emotional, Motor, Participation Assessments, and Adaptive behavior/cognition assessments. Most of these are self explanatory, but I wondered about the participation assessment so I dug deeper and found this is a school function assessment that evaluates and monitors a students performance of functional tasks and activities at school. The adaptive behavior assessments is a test that assesses disorders of planning, organization and problem solving. This test is assessed beginning at age 16. I hope that I never have to take that test. I will flunk out for sure! I am so unorganized!
www.psychcorp.com.au/otguide
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_school#Australia
www.psychcorp.com.au/otguide
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_school#Australia
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Stressors on Children
Racism was experienced by my husbands aunt. She lives next door to us right now. As a child she was raised as black but her parents were: Father-black, mother-black and Native American. She is very light complected and looks white. She said the teacher used to call on her and the kids would say, she just calling on you because you look white. That's why you get called on. The kids picked on her and too this day she still has a complex about people telling her she looks white. She is in her 70's now. This happened when she was in Elementary school. We occasionally see the people who taunted her when we walk on the track at the school in the morning and she still has ill feelings toward them. when she talks about them you can hear the built up feelings in her voice. I'm so glad that our nation is waking up and being aware of bullying and trying to do something about it. It has lasting effects on people. I chose to see what Iraqi people are doing about the effects of war on the children.
Every month in Iraq, according to the 1996 UNICEF report, more than 4,500 children under the age of five die from hunger. The children are the most vulnerable in this war. Twenty-three percent of all children in Iraq have stunted growth, approximately twice the percentage before the war. A 1995 FAO report Crop and Nutrition Status Assessment Mission states that child mortality level in Iraq has risen nearly fivefold since 1990. Alarming food shortages are causing irreparable damage to an entire generation of children. Due to the use of depleted uranium (a form of nuclear warfare) in the military campaign against the people of Iraq, there has been a dramatic increase in childhood cancers, particularly leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and lymphomas. Congenital diseases and deformities in the fetuses-a condition similar to the babies of the Gulf War veterans-have also increased. Infant mortality in a child's first year is expected to reach an unprecedented 20%. More than 2 million children are starving to death in Iraq, and more than 1,500,000 orphans are crying out for help.
In Hamrin, Task Force Liberty soldiers distributed school supplies and toys to the town's children. In all, over 10 boxes of pens, pencils, notebooks, coloring books, crayons and toys were collected by the soldiers, with the help of their families back home, and distributed to children ages 3 to 14. The supplies were gifts from the people of the United States to the children of Hamrin, the soldiers told the children and their families. There isn't a lot of attention being paid to these children individually. I'm sure there are many who are depressed and I read that many of the children have nightmares.
Every month in Iraq, according to the 1996 UNICEF report, more than 4,500 children under the age of five die from hunger. The children are the most vulnerable in this war. Twenty-three percent of all children in Iraq have stunted growth, approximately twice the percentage before the war. A 1995 FAO report Crop and Nutrition Status Assessment Mission states that child mortality level in Iraq has risen nearly fivefold since 1990. Alarming food shortages are causing irreparable damage to an entire generation of children. Due to the use of depleted uranium (a form of nuclear warfare) in the military campaign against the people of Iraq, there has been a dramatic increase in childhood cancers, particularly leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and lymphomas. Congenital diseases and deformities in the fetuses-a condition similar to the babies of the Gulf War veterans-have also increased. Infant mortality in a child's first year is expected to reach an unprecedented 20%. More than 2 million children are starving to death in Iraq, and more than 1,500,000 orphans are crying out for help.
In Hamrin, Task Force Liberty soldiers distributed school supplies and toys to the town's children. In all, over 10 boxes of pens, pencils, notebooks, coloring books, crayons and toys were collected by the soldiers, with the help of their families back home, and distributed to children ages 3 to 14. The supplies were gifts from the people of the United States to the children of Hamrin, the soldiers told the children and their families. There isn't a lot of attention being paid to these children individually. I'm sure there are many who are depressed and I read that many of the children have nightmares.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Child nutrition and Malnutrition
I chose this topic because I remember a little boy who went to the babysitter with my daughter. He took so ling to sit up and he would drool like an unusually large amount. he couldn't roll over for a long time and I would constantly ask his mother about his formula. I even talked with her about getting him to the doctor and having him checked and see if he was developmentally delayed. He didn't try to crawl and it took him forever to walk. Well one day I discovered just by accident that she had been adding extra water to his formula to make it go further. Her husband was laid off and they didn't have enough money for groceries so she was adding water to the formula to stretch it out. She didn't realize that he needed those vitamins and minerals in the formula. I talked to her about this and helped her enroll in the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program so she could get the formula at no charge. He soon became a more active and developing child. He is about to turn four years old now and I still see some effects of his what I call Malnutrition.
Malnutrition in Australia
is a major public health issue in Australia. Known as the silent epidemic, malnutrition is estimated to affect 35 - 43 per cent of patients in Australian hospitals.
Estimates of malnutrition in the wider community vary, but a recent Australian study found the prevalence of malnutrition across eight residential aged care facilities ranged from 32-72 per cent.
Malnutrition can have huge implications on quality of life and ultimately lead to poor medical outcomes.
This makes me wonder if there is actually a direct relation to the lack of medical supplies available during childbirth and the malnutrition epidemic. Is it poor medical care and education about the nutrition of the child. Are the parents getting the information from the midwife that a doctor would give them about feeding their child? It definitely gives you something to think about.
Malnutrition in Australia
is a major public health issue in Australia. Known as the silent epidemic, malnutrition is estimated to affect 35 - 43 per cent of patients in Australian hospitals.
Estimates of malnutrition in the wider community vary, but a recent Australian study found the prevalence of malnutrition across eight residential aged care facilities ranged from 32-72 per cent.
Malnutrition can have huge implications on quality of life and ultimately lead to poor medical outcomes.
This makes me wonder if there is actually a direct relation to the lack of medical supplies available during childbirth and the malnutrition epidemic. Is it poor medical care and education about the nutrition of the child. Are the parents getting the information from the midwife that a doctor would give them about feeding their child? It definitely gives you something to think about.
Personal birthing experience and childbirth in Australia
I chose to post about the birth of my third and final child Nyla, who is four years old currently. I chose her because it will relate to my post about Australia. When I had Nyla, I had some complications after she was delivered. It was about 3 or 4 hours after she was born that i felt really bad like I was going to vomit and then I had a seizure. I was hemorrhaging badly and if not for the quick response of my medical staff, I would have died.
This leads me to Australia. Many childbirth experiences are done at home with midwives because one, the parent feels like the are more in control of the birth if they are at home, and two, they feel its much more personal than going to the hospital. i just feel that all childbirth should be at the hospital. In my situation I explained above, if I had chose to use a midwife, I wouldn't have survived. Nyla was fine but she would have been raised by husband and my two older boys and she would have gone through life without their mother. I just feel the hospital setting is equipped with whatever you need, whatever may go wrong.
This leads me to Australia. Many childbirth experiences are done at home with midwives because one, the parent feels like the are more in control of the birth if they are at home, and two, they feel its much more personal than going to the hospital. i just feel that all childbirth should be at the hospital. In my situation I explained above, if I had chose to use a midwife, I wouldn't have survived. Nyla was fine but she would have been raised by husband and my two older boys and she would have gone through life without their mother. I just feel the hospital setting is equipped with whatever you need, whatever may go wrong.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Code of Ethics
I-1.2 To base program practices upon current knowledge and research in the field of early childhood education, child development and related disciplines, as well as on particular knowledge of each child.
I-1.11 To provide children with experiences in a language that they know, as well as support children in maintaining the use of their home language and in learning English.
I-2.2 To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve.
These ideals are significant to my professional life because I want to provide my children and families with every opportunity to have things in their language. This will make things easier to understand and keep the parent involved in the educational process. I also want to stay trained and committed to doing what is best for each child based on current research. Just because I have always done something a certain way doesn't necessarily mean it is the right way. I want to do as much as I can to support my children and families in the best way I can. I also will always strive to build trust with my families. I want them to know that I care about them. I want them to feel that they can come to me with anything. It's hard to help someone ho doesn't trust you or is suspicious of your motives. I want to be their friend first and foremost and have them know that I will help them as much as I can.
I-1.11 To provide children with experiences in a language that they know, as well as support children in maintaining the use of their home language and in learning English.
I-2.2 To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve.
These ideals are significant to my professional life because I want to provide my children and families with every opportunity to have things in their language. This will make things easier to understand and keep the parent involved in the educational process. I also want to stay trained and committed to doing what is best for each child based on current research. Just because I have always done something a certain way doesn't necessarily mean it is the right way. I want to do as much as I can to support my children and families in the best way I can. I also will always strive to build trust with my families. I want them to know that I care about them. I want them to feel that they can come to me with anything. It's hard to help someone ho doesn't trust you or is suspicious of your motives. I want to be their friend first and foremost and have them know that I will help them as much as I can.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Course Resources
* NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
* NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
* NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
* NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
* NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
* NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
* Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
* FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~images/pdfs/snapshots/snap33.pdf
Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
* Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42–53.
Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title.
Part 2: Global Support for Children’s Rights and Well-Being
* Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
* Websites:
o World Forum Foundation
http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/about.php
This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage
o World Organization for Early Childhood Education
http://www.omep.org.gu.se/English/about_OMEP/
Read about OMEP’s mission.
o Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/about/
Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements.
Note: Explore the resources in Parts 3 and 4 in preparation for this week’s Application assignment.
Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations
* National Association for the Education of Young Children
http://www.naeyc.org/
* The Division for Early Childhood
http://www.dec-sped.org/
* Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
http://www.zerotothree.org/
* WESTED
http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
* Harvard Education Letter
http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
* FPG Child Development Institute
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
* Administration for Children and Families Headstart’s National Research Conference
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
* HighScope
http://www.highscope.org/
* Children’s Defense Fund
http://www.childrensdefense.org/
* Center for Child Care Workforce
http://www.ccw.org/
* Council for Exceptional Children
http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
* Institute for Women’s Policy Research
http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm
* National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
* National Child Care Association
http://www.nccanet.org/
* National Institute for Early Education Research
http://nieer.org/
* Pre[K]Now
http://www.preknow.org/
* Voices for America’s Children
http://www.voices.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=22807
* The Erikson Institute
http://www.erikson.edu/
Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to “How Do I...?”, select “Tips for Specific Formats and Resources,” and then “e-journals” to find this search interface.)
* YC Young Children
* Childhood
* Journal of Child & Family Studies
* Child Study Journal
* Multicultural Education
* Early Childhood Education Journal
* Journal of Early Childhood Research
* International Journal of Early Childhood
* Early Childhood Research Quarterly
* Developmental Psychology
* Social Studies
* Maternal & Child Health Journal
* International Journal of Early Years Education
My Favorite Conference Presenter, Speaker, and Trainer
Dr. Virgie M. Binford
Adjunct Faculty Member
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
1651 E. Parham Road
Richmond, Virginia 23228
United States map
(804) 371-3000
(804) 371-3739 Fax
www.jsr.cc.va.us
VIRGIE M. BINFORD is an educational consultant, motivational speaker, and workshop facilitator. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in elementary education, and received her doctorate from Virginia Tech. A former teacher, early childhood and elementary education program director, and college professor, Dr. Binford serves as adjunct faculty member at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Virginia. Avenues of Success,Self-Esteem Enhancers,Character Education, and Are You Famous? I Want to Be Just Like You! are among her books published by Providence House Publishers.
www.earlychildhoodnews.com
Handbook for Early Childhood Administrators: Directing with a Mission / Edition 1 by Hilde Reno with Janet Stutzman and Judy Zimmerman, Hilde Reno, Judy Zimmerman (With), Janet Stutzman
* NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
* NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
* NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
* NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
* NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
* Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
* FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~images/pdfs/snapshots/snap33.pdf
Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
* Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42–53.
Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title.
Part 2: Global Support for Children’s Rights and Well-Being
* Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
* Websites:
o World Forum Foundation
http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/about.php
This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage
o World Organization for Early Childhood Education
http://www.omep.org.gu.se/English/about_OMEP/
Read about OMEP’s mission.
o Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/about/
Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements.
Note: Explore the resources in Parts 3 and 4 in preparation for this week’s Application assignment.
Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations
* National Association for the Education of Young Children
http://www.naeyc.org/
* The Division for Early Childhood
http://www.dec-sped.org/
* Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
http://www.zerotothree.org/
* WESTED
http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
* Harvard Education Letter
http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
* FPG Child Development Institute
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
* Administration for Children and Families Headstart’s National Research Conference
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
* HighScope
http://www.highscope.org/
* Children’s Defense Fund
http://www.childrensdefense.org/
* Center for Child Care Workforce
http://www.ccw.org/
* Council for Exceptional Children
http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
* Institute for Women’s Policy Research
http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm
* National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
* National Child Care Association
http://www.nccanet.org/
* National Institute for Early Education Research
http://nieer.org/
* Pre[K]Now
http://www.preknow.org/
* Voices for America’s Children
http://www.voices.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=22807
* The Erikson Institute
http://www.erikson.edu/
Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to “How Do I...?”, select “Tips for Specific Formats and Resources,” and then “e-journals” to find this search interface.)
* YC Young Children
* Childhood
* Journal of Child & Family Studies
* Child Study Journal
* Multicultural Education
* Early Childhood Education Journal
* Journal of Early Childhood Research
* International Journal of Early Childhood
* Early Childhood Research Quarterly
* Developmental Psychology
* Social Studies
* Maternal & Child Health Journal
* International Journal of Early Years Education
My Favorite Conference Presenter, Speaker, and Trainer
Dr. Virgie M. Binford
Adjunct Faculty Member
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
1651 E. Parham Road
Richmond, Virginia 23228
United States map
(804) 371-3000
(804) 371-3739 Fax
www.jsr.cc.va.us
VIRGIE M. BINFORD is an educational consultant, motivational speaker, and workshop facilitator. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in elementary education, and received her doctorate from Virginia Tech. A former teacher, early childhood and elementary education program director, and college professor, Dr. Binford serves as adjunct faculty member at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Virginia. Avenues of Success,Self-Esteem Enhancers,Character Education, and Are You Famous? I Want to Be Just Like You! are among her books published by Providence House Publishers.
www.earlychildhoodnews.com
Handbook for Early Childhood Administrators: Directing with a Mission / Edition 1 by Hilde Reno with Janet Stutzman and Judy Zimmerman, Hilde Reno, Judy Zimmerman (With), Janet Stutzman
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Words of Inspiration and Motivation
"My intrinsic motivation comes from knowing the services I provide to children, benefits them. It's of no benefit to me. I have committed to providing services I want to give based on experiences I was provided as a child. People offered me opportunities, now it's my turn to offer opportunities. I'm just wanting to make a difference."
"It's not all about you. You gotta take your ego out of it. It's about what's best for the child."
"Let us all take more responsibility, not only for ourselves and our families but for our communities and our country."
William J. Clinton
"We must teach our children to resolve their conflicts with words, not weapons."
William J. Clinton
"Education is not a problem. Education is an opportunity."
Lyndon B. Johnson
"We must open the doors of opportunity. But we must also equip our people to walk through those doors."
Lyndon B. Johnson
"Poverty must not be a bar to learning and learning must offer an escape from poverty."
Lyndon B. Johnson
"It's not all about you. You gotta take your ego out of it. It's about what's best for the child."
"Let us all take more responsibility, not only for ourselves and our families but for our communities and our country."
William J. Clinton
"We must teach our children to resolve their conflicts with words, not weapons."
William J. Clinton
"Education is not a problem. Education is an opportunity."
Lyndon B. Johnson
"We must open the doors of opportunity. But we must also equip our people to walk through those doors."
Lyndon B. Johnson
"Poverty must not be a bar to learning and learning must offer an escape from poverty."
Lyndon B. Johnson
Monday, September 20, 2010
Personal Childhood Web
My Aunt Sydelle-Aunt Sydelle was a school teacher and would always come get me and my cousin (who was also my best friend) and take us on different outings. My parents had four children, so rarely did we get to gout to movies or the fair or anything like that. My aunt would come get me and take me out to eat at nice restaurants or see a new movie. She would take me to shows and to Busch Gardens amusement park. She would always encourage me to do well in school and she was always funny. She would make jokes about different things that were silly and I would laugh like it was the funniest thing in the world. I remember telling her that at my college graduation this May, as I prepared to walk across stage to receive my degree I thought about her. When I was a little girl I watched her take out her lipstick and she said to me, "Let me put some paint on the barn door" I laughed and laughed. Well before I stood up to go across stage, I took out my lipstick and said, "Let me put some paint on the barn door for Aunt Sydelle!" I try to do some of the same things with my nieces and nephews because I want them to think of me fondly as I do of Aunt Sydelle. The most special thing she ever did for me was to rent me a limousine for prom because my boyfriend had broke up with me and he was going with another girl. I was crushed and didn't know what to do. So she decided she would make me the belle of the ball and rented me a limo. His face was shell shocked when he saw what he could have been riding in. She and I laugh about that to this very day.
My Aunt Juanita-Aunt Juanita was always available when my mom was working, to take me shopping. She would say well I have some cakes to make (She was a maker of decorated cakes-weddings, b-days, etc.) but I should be finished in enough time to take you to West Point. She would always let me wash her car and vacuum it so I could make money to shop with. I would always say, "I'm so hungry!" and off to the tasty freeze for cheeseburgers and fries we would go. She always made time for me, even when she really didn't have time. She would talk to me and ask about school or how I was doing, and showed interest in me. It felt so good to be around her. It still does, and my children love her just as much as I do. She treats them the same way she did me.
My Aunt Mayflower-Aunt Mayflower lived behind us back in the woods and she would always tell me stories about my grandparents who died before I was born. She made me feel special because of my Native Heritage. She would often talk to me about how proud I should be that of the fact that I was Native American. I remember her consoling me one day when kids made fun of me because I was Native American. they were laughing at me at school and making noises like TV Indians make. She talked to me that day and made me feel so much better. She made me proud of who I am and I still feel that pride as an adult today.
My Grandmother-Grandma was such a special person to me. She kept me when my mother started to work. She would always cater to me and make me feel important. She would cook whatever I wanted and we would watch whatever I liked on TV. She would sit and sing songs with me and we would work seek and find puzzles. It was quality time together. I miss her terribly. She died in 1998. I always felt so loved and safe with her.
"Ra-Ra"-This is another aunt who lived right beside me when I was growing up. She was always there to support me in everything that I did. She was there for every important occasion in my life up to my wedding day. She was the coordinator for my wedding. She was there for the birth of all three of my children. She stays involved in everything that they do. She supports them in sports and special occasions of their lives as well. When I was a child she would read to me. She would walk over and see me most every evening after school and bring me candy or soda. She would take for rides in her new cars. It would always seem as if she got a new car all the time. She was and still is so important to me.
My Aunt Juanita-Aunt Juanita was always available when my mom was working, to take me shopping. She would say well I have some cakes to make (She was a maker of decorated cakes-weddings, b-days, etc.) but I should be finished in enough time to take you to West Point. She would always let me wash her car and vacuum it so I could make money to shop with. I would always say, "I'm so hungry!" and off to the tasty freeze for cheeseburgers and fries we would go. She always made time for me, even when she really didn't have time. She would talk to me and ask about school or how I was doing, and showed interest in me. It felt so good to be around her. It still does, and my children love her just as much as I do. She treats them the same way she did me.
My Aunt Mayflower-Aunt Mayflower lived behind us back in the woods and she would always tell me stories about my grandparents who died before I was born. She made me feel special because of my Native Heritage. She would often talk to me about how proud I should be that of the fact that I was Native American. I remember her consoling me one day when kids made fun of me because I was Native American. they were laughing at me at school and making noises like TV Indians make. She talked to me that day and made me feel so much better. She made me proud of who I am and I still feel that pride as an adult today.
My Grandmother-Grandma was such a special person to me. She kept me when my mother started to work. She would always cater to me and make me feel important. She would cook whatever I wanted and we would watch whatever I liked on TV. She would sit and sing songs with me and we would work seek and find puzzles. It was quality time together. I miss her terribly. She died in 1998. I always felt so loved and safe with her.
"Ra-Ra"-This is another aunt who lived right beside me when I was growing up. She was always there to support me in everything that I did. She was there for every important occasion in my life up to my wedding day. She was the coordinator for my wedding. She was there for the birth of all three of my children. She stays involved in everything that they do. She supports them in sports and special occasions of their lives as well. When I was a child she would read to me. She would walk over and see me most every evening after school and bring me candy or soda. She would take for rides in her new cars. It would always seem as if she got a new car all the time. She was and still is so important to me.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
A quote about children
Working with children may not make you rich financially, but it has enormous benefits to your soul-Chinese Fortune
I received this while dining at Chinamen's Buffet in Colonial Heights, Virginia in January of 2007
I received this while dining at Chinamen's Buffet in Colonial Heights, Virginia in January of 2007
My favorite children's book
My favorite children's book is by Max Lucado Just In Case You Ever Wonder. I like this book because it tells the child about how much love you have for them before they even are born. It tells them about how God made a decision to make them, how he chose just the right family for them, how he made them unique and special, and then how their smile is like no one else, how their whole being is special. It makes me cry everytime I read it, because I think of my own three children that are so precious to me.
Friday, September 10, 2010
I Love my family
Building strong families will build strong communities. Support family building activities in your area. There is nothing greater than spending quality time with family. The benefits to your soul are priceless!
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