Advice that needs to be used for all adults

When I Think of Child Development

Children make you want to start life over.--Muhammad Ali 1942

 

This quote is little but amazing.  Looking at life through the eyes of a child.  Wants you to go back and change some things in the past.

 

Measurements of education

My two little ones have grown so fast in the last few years that I have a hard time saying that I have an eight year old and a ten year old.  Both so ahead of most of their peers for example their size and their ability to socialize with their peers.  This week’s agenda has made me think more about my children and wondering if they are being measured/assessed in the right areas.  As a parent of school age children I have always imagined that my children would be measured in the following areas:

·         Socialization

·         Academically (Mathematics & Reading)

·         Cognitive Thinking

As an educator for the last fifteen years I have seen children not developed in areas of academics because of the environment, events that have taken place in the child’s life or just simply not interested in learning.  My children attend a magnet school where the curriculum is built on IB units.  These IB units are very important for this school and as well as their IB attitudes.  “Who we are, Where we are in place and time” are both examples of IB units that they taught within the curriculum.  Collaboration is encouraged as students make real-world connections using real-world skills and strategies.  We can give children all the education in the world, but to not have positive socialization among their peers will only damage their ability to communicate positively with others.  Academically, children should be assessed on their level of math and reading.  Both are needed to become a successful person in society.   Cognitive thinking plays in with the IB units.  Being able to deal with real life situations and have a successful ending with each situation. 

A country that does not necessarily follow the educational assessments that most countries follows is Japan. Japan is a country that has been in the top five rankings when it comes to mathematical achievements.   For example, most children attend special preparation schools (juku) besides regular classes.  Most schools insist of children writing entrance exams and this leads to competitiveness among their peers.  Japan is a highly education-minded society.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2150.html

 

Racism in my child's life

I have really never experienced any of the stressors that the class has listed.  One that I would like to mention though is racism.  I am a Caucasian woman married to an African American male.  I know that nothing I have experienced from racism is even close to what any person of another culture or race has, but I have experienced the ignorance that has come with being married to another race.  The side comments or that my children are half breed.  Those words hurt and at first I would fight back with words, but now I just smile and walk away.  My children are now asking questions why they are not my color or my husband’s color.  They have the prettiest shade of caramel skin.  They have experienced racism; ignorance at their young age.  That scares me, because my children do not deserve that.  They are wonderful and are so innocent.  They deserve to live a fearless life and able to experience life without feeling unworthy because of their race.  It angers me that my children have experienced it with family members that are supposed to not judge.  I shelter my children from everything and I think I overcompensate at times by assuring that they experience a healthy and happy life at every experience. 

I have always wondered what our children of today feel about racism or prejudice.  My children are now learning the correct words to call it and are able to say that someone was prejudice against them because of their belief or race.  We live in the 21^st century and we are still experiencing this.  Why?  I believe that racism is taught at home or by a group of people and it has to stop.  Stopping the hatred so that our children can live their lives happier.

Right in our country we still have some southern states segregating children in schools.  This is a true eye opener for me and it saddens me to see this going on in our country.  I just read about a school district in Mississippi that were stacking classrooms so that the white children were not with the black children. What?  This is crazy to me.  Can you imagine how those children feel?  That because of your race you could possibly get a better education.  How do we stop this? We need to speak up and get involved more with our children.  What are they experiencing in life and how is it making them feel.  I know that what I am experiencing is nothing compared to what others have experienced about racism, but I want be more involved with the ending of racism. 

My Choice...Breastfeeding

I was a breast feeder.  I loved each and every moment of it until I started back to my 40 hour career.  This was hard for the simple fact I was an educator in a classroom and finding time to do this was very difficult.  I had great supervisors and they were willing to assist in my classroom as much as it was needed but let’s face it ladies our classroom was chaotic when we returned.   Feeling guilty because I was getting special recognition for breastfeeding my child and my co-workers did not get that extra fifteen minutes to step out and get a breather.  I breast fed both my children for only six months and felt extremely guilty for the short amount of time.  But with the work load building up and my home life as demanding as they were my milk deplenished.   I remember crying with my husband and him just sitting on the couch thinking I was overly emotional.  Please do not disregard my husband’s crazy thoughts.  I thought I was going crazy myself.   But as an educator for my families I know that both my children got the best of me.  Having to breast fed both of them for six months is really a victory for all of us.

As the medical professionals from all around the world install in all mothers and mothers to be; breast fed babies are healthier, mothers are healthier, the cost is zero, and the wonderful bonding time spent between the mother and the baby is indescribable.  Looking back into my Irish background, it is evident that the mothers in Ireland do not bother to breast feed their infants.  In Ireland it is not discussed at the monthly checkups or expressed through conversations with other mothers.  Hazel Larkin, a doula in Ireland stated that the mothers either give up too early or think it is disruptive.  This is amazing to me.  But I am sure that with the advocacy that Larkin is pushing through her country she will see a difference soon.  I have attached the complete article below and other documentation of the importance of breastfeeding.

As an administrator of a child development center with a capacity of fifty six infants; I take that role very important. That is fifty six mothers that will need the encouragement from teachers in the classroom and as well as myself.  We have an area in each classroom that welcomes each mother in and if she chooses to breastfeed then that area is available to her.  I am an advocate for breastfeeding and I hope everyone joins me with this very important topic. 

http://www.breastfeed.com/nursing-mothers-life/nursing-facts

http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/

http://www.babycenter.com/breastfeeding

 

The birth of my two children

I was what one would say in my community older when I had my two little ones.  I was twenty five when I delivered my baby girl and twenty seven when I delivered my son.  Both births very different from the beginning.  They both were surprises to my husband and I.  But we would not have changed the way they were conceived.  My daughter was one of the easiest pregnancies for me.  She has been a delight since we found out we were pregnant.  She came into this world Aug. 28 at 4:47 pm.  I had an epidural and very proud to of had one.  See she was 10 lbs. 3 oz. 

My son came almost two years later.  Different pregnancy with him; I was rushed into emergency cesarean because of some complications that we were having.  On July 15 at 11:57 pm I had a wonderful baby boy at 9 lbs and 23 1/2 inches long.  What a joy!  I say that with enthusiasm.  See I had three miscarriages before my daughter.  I share with you all not for sympathy but because I knew I was meant to have biological children.  We were comfortable adopting but I just had a feeling.  The joy that both of these two little ones have given me thus far is amazing.  They are who I think of before I go to sleep and who I think about when I wake up.  I have attached pictures of my two at a younger age and a picture that was taken a few weeks ago.

I have read up on some countries that take care of the mother after the birth.  I have found that the Netherlands have a different approach than the United States.  Then the unique Dutch system of kraamhulp (maternity home care) is set into motion. For seven days we had a nurse come to our home, a benefit covered by insurance. Not only did she provide medical care, but she also cleaned our apartment, cooked, and instructed us in basic parenting skills.  This would be amazing especially with the amount of young families that are having children.  I have attached the website if anyone would like to read more.

http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/vaginal/birth-customs-around-the-world/?page=2

My children young and older