A bump in the road

Unfortunately due to an illness I had to take a leave of absence from my course work in my Masters program. This is just a small set back. Once I get my health back on track I plan on re-enrolling  (hopefullly in April). I need to learn how to take are of my self first and every thing else last.

Relationship Reflection

Relationship Reflection

My relationship with my mom was very special. My mom taught me how to be a strong, independent woman. She raised six children on her own after leaving an abusive marriage. Mom was there to help take care of all her grandchildren while my siblings and I worked. Our kids were always at her house on weekends and all summer. She taught our kids how to laugh and have fun.

 

When I married my husband Joe I was only 18 years old. We have been married thirty-two years and share a very loving relationship. He has supported me through my educational adventures. I don’t believe I could have made it through without his love and support.  My two children and their spouses are also a very important part of my life. They have given me much joy and taught me how to have a great deal of patience. They have also given me a wonderful daughter-in-law and son-in-law.  

The relationship I have with my two grandsons is indescribable. I have so much so much love for these two boys. Austin is eleven and loves to play practical jokes on his Mimi and spend all his weekends and summers here with us. Sean is now ten months old and learning how to explore his world. Watching these boys grow up is the best gift I can ask for.

This past summer I lost my closest companion my dog Buster Brown. He was by my side and under my feet for fourteen years. The hardest decision I had to make was to let him go when he became sick. I made the decision to never get another pet; I did not want to experiences the loss again. That was until I went on my home visits to meet my families last fall. I had a puppy choose me to be his new mommy. He has given much joy, and I believe Buster is here in spirit teaching him some new familiar tricks. Toby Noe is a very unique and loving puppy. The vet told me I saved him and he is helping me heal from losing Buster.               

           

My relationship with my co-workers is a professional one. We support each other during the school year. When someone is having a bad day, you can always count on a special note letting you know that you are valued and loved. We have been through trying times with the talk of budget cuts and losing some of our centers in the past due to budget cuts.

Every relationship has challenges. Without my relationship with all the people I have talked about I do not feel I could be the woman I am today. I have been taught how to love, laugh, learn through mistakes, how to have patience and wait for things to happen. I have been truly blessed for all the people that have come and gone throughout the years.

Thank you!!!

I would like to take this time to thank all the classmates for the wonderful posts that was shared during our class and here on blogspot. I have gained many new insights and wonderful information to take with me. I also wish everyone a Happy Healthy Holiday Season.

Children's Quote

The biggest mistake of past centuries in teaching has been to treat all students as if they were variants of the same individual and thus to feel justified in teaching them all the same subjects the same way. – Howard Gardner

Testing and children

I feel that testing on children should only focus on areas where the parent and or the teacher suspect a disability. It seems that when children are given tests during the school year, the only thing that comes out of the testing is comparing the children to each other and more testing. Children are being labeled at an early age due to testing and unfortunately for many children that label never goes away.

The first recorded use of standardized testing occurred in France at the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century. France began to require all students attend some school, and educators and administrators foresaw the problem of special education. To assess the abilities of children, the French government commissioned Theodore Simon and Alfred Binet to study this issue. They came up with what we now call an "IQ test."

Read more: Types of Standardized Tests for School Age | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5468064_types-standardized-tests-school-age.html#ixzz1gAujm6p9

Violence

Violence

I was exposed to violence in my home growing up. My father abused my mother almost daily, until she decided to get away and move out of state. At times I thought this was a normal way of life, until I started to visit my friend’s homes and realized that their father did not yell or beat on their mom. I grew up not trusting and male figure, except for my grandfather. When I met my husband and we moved into our first home, I told him that if he ever hit me I would make sure he never hit another person. Thank goodness he was not that type of man. My children are very fortunate to have grown up in a home where the parents never argued or fought in front of them. To this day I do not like to hear of a woman and or children being abused. I am a true advocate against violence in the home.

I read up on UNICEF, they help children in war torn Iraq. These children are around violence and think of that as a normal way of life. UNICEF is calling for schools within Iraq to be a security safe zone for children and their teachers. “Schools are a haven for children in times of conflict,” said UNICEF Iraq Chief of Education Mette Nordstrand. “They are protected under international law as zones of peace. No matter what the circumstances, the only proper use for an Iraqi school is to educate and protect Iraqi children.”   UNICEF has been assisting the children of Iraq since the war crisis has begun and will continue their support for the children and people of Iraq. UNICEF Emergency Specialist Luciano Calestini. “However, the psychological impact on children will be far harder to heal. It is absolutely critical that they see an end to this violence and can get back into school as soon as possible.”

Reference

Hajaj,C. (2008,April,21). Violence in Iraq disrupts Life and Education. Retrieved from UNICEF website: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/iraq

Benefits of breastfeeding

For the first three days after the birth of the baby a woman secretes Colostrum, a high calorie fluid (Berger 2009). In comparison to cow’s milk, a mother’s breast milk is at body temperature, sterile, and contains vitamins, irons and other nutrients for the body and brain. Recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics states that babies should be fed breast milk exclusively for six months, but can continue for twelve months if the mother desires.

Research has shown breast milk has many advantages. Breast fed babies have a decreased chance of developing respiratory and ear infections, asthma, bacterial meningitis, SIDS, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Research is also showing the advantage of being breast fed last well into adulthood. There is a decreased risk of developing breast cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

I looked at several cultures and their values on breastfeeding. The !Kung San (or African bushmen)  live in isolation on the plains of the Kalahari Desert. Over the past forty years, the! Kung has allowed scientists to observe their lives, including how they care for babies.

The ancient wisdom of the !Kung San focuses on three actors:

1. Constant holding

2. Immediate responding

3. Very frequent breastfeeding                  

!Kung San mothers breastfeed their baby three to four times an hour. This equals to fifty to one hundred times a day.

Reference

Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

http://www.happiestbaby.com/cultures/breastfeeding-other-baby-lessons-from-the-kung-san/

http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/importanceofhumanmilk.htm