My Supports

I am so lucky to have an amazing support system each and every day.  First and foremost, my husband, is always there for me.  He is one of my biggest cheerleaders and while he may not agree with a decision I have made, he makes a point to hear my reasons and work with me to come to the best decision.  Next, is my immediate family.  My parents, brother, and grandparents call or text me at least once a day to check on me.  They truly care and like my husband support the decisions I make . They allow me to make mistakes and learn from them while offering love and guidance.  My friends, as I have previously posted are a huge support system and are part of my immediate family.  Lastly, my company supports me in my career choices and goals.  They listen to me, take my ideas into consideration, and when I want to go to a conference or professional development opportunity they let me go no questions asked.

A challenge that I choose to would be being a working mom and going to school.  I know how incredibly tired and drained I am at the end of the day after work and completing school work, it is hard to imagine having to do all I do with a family.  My career and education re important to me but I know it would take a back burner to my children.  I love with all I have and unselfishly.  If I continued to work and go to school with a family, I would need my husband, family, and company to be understanding of my priorities.  My husband would have to help me with the children and allow me to have time to get try homework done uninterrupted.  My family would need to be there to listen to me and offer advice when I am feeling tired and pulled in different directions.  My company would have to understand my responsibilities as a mother and give me the time to spend with my family.

Without these supports I would imagine my life to be extremely busy and I could struggle to give everyone in my life the time and energy they deserve.  I would have to rely on child care and caring people to help me provide love, caring and reinforcement of values I would teach my children at home.

I want to thank the amazing people in my life, I don't know what I would do without you!

My Connections To Play

Play energizes us and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities.

Stuart Brown, MD

Contemporary American psychiatrist

A child loves his play, not because it’s easy, but because it’s hard.

Benjamin Spock

American pediatrician

1903–1998

When I was younger, I often heard (and dreaded when) my father would say "you and your brother need to go do something constructive with your time."  Most of the time Brian and I went outside, stared at each other for awhile then BAM! one of our imaginations would explode into crazy games often requiring us to gather whatever materials we could find in the garage.  With those items we would build forts, castles, skateboard ramps, try to climb trees or a favorite game "Honey, We Shrunk The Kids.".  More often than not my dad would provide us with some tools and wood so we could build our own stuff.  He and my mom watched numerous plays or acrobatic shows we put on, pretended to eat the "delicious food" we made with whatever food ingredients we food in the kitchen, or sometimes just sat with us and played Mario Bros on Nintendo.   

Nowadays, I feel like kids do not get the chance to just go outside and explore their surroundings.
Kids don't know what it's like to be able to be outside all day playing tag with their friends or jail break when it gets dark, and knowing when the street lights come on its time to come home.  Children don't get the opportunity to truly use their imagination without the aid of technology.  I hope children get back to a time when it is safe to play outside all day, where play means going outside and playing and not sitting in front of a tv.  

Playing for me as a kid got harder as I got older because I would rather read a book or hang out with the adults then kids my age.  But I love the fact that my parents encouraged me to play and have lots of friends because I have wonderful childhood memories and I use those memories to remind me to
relax and enjoy life as a child sometimes.  

My favorite toys as a child....
 Books!
 Polly Pocket which I filled with lady bugs :)