Relationship Reflection

Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.
-- Brad Henry 

My whole life the most important thing to me has been my relationships.  Relationships with my family and friends.  Many of my friends became my family and I will continue to maintain those relationships for the rest of my life.  My immediate family, Mom, Dad, brother and grandparents, have been the driving force in everything I do.  They have cheered me on through all of my accomplishments, took turns in the hospital when I was sick, let me make mistakes and helped me learn from them, and have always stuck by my side. 

My family relationships have grown to include my closest girlfriends (and guys!).  My girls and I have been friends since we were young teens.  Despite normal teenage angst, boyfriends, going away to college, moving to different states now as adults, we have always stayed close.  We may not talk everyday, we may not see each other every time we are in town, but we have never lost the amazing bond we created almost a decade ago.   I am the luckiest woman in the world to have friends like my girls.  As I am writing this I am tearing up because I am unable to find the right words to describe how important these women (and man!) are to me.  We are all at different stages in our lives and have changed as we have gotten older but that has only made us stronger.  

Right now I am in the process of creating my own branch of my amazing family.  I recently got

married to the most incredible man.  I try not to boost or brag about my husband because so many people are not fortunate to find someone like I have (and I don't like to share him :)).  We have our own little family unit with our three fur babies and sometime down the line will bring a little one into our home.  My cats are there to greet me every morning and evening and keep me company when Tomas is traveling for work.  They are my pride and joys!  I dote on them as if they were my flesh and blood, they have their own bedroom in the house!  It's amazing to have something rely on you and give unconditional love.

Effective partnerships and relationships are based on give and take.  Everyone needs to be an active participant and want to make the relationship work.  I often look at relationships and partnerships as a balancing act.  Sometimes you need to carry others on your shoulders to continue on but more often than not you need to be working together.  As an early childhood professional, I think my ability to form strong solid relationships makes me a valuable asset to the field.  I am extremely emotional and compassionate, always worried about everyone else and that drives me to give 150% everyday.  You need to be compassionate and driven and selfless when it comes to working in the early childhood field.  The same goes for having a relationship. 

My parents & I, My husband and I, my girls & I